Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-28
GOSSIP OF THE CAPITAL.
Democrats Preparing to Argue
 the Tariff.
COLLECTING FACTS AND FIGURES.

Sressmen Who are HI from Disappoint-
 ment and Other Causes-Approaching
 Contest in West Virginia.
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S-The Democrats of the house are preparing themselves for an other discussion of the tariff before this congress expires. The clerk to the ways and means committee MT. Talbott, has been set to work to get up information relating to the senate bill, part of which is for the use of the senators in attacking the bill between the 2d and the 21st of January, and part for use in the house a little later on. Prepara- tions are active for determined fight upon the bill in the senate within the limited time fixed for debate. Some Democratic senators are sanguine enough to think that they could defeat the measure in the senate by a square vote. This hope is not, however, very gen erally entertained, and the Democrats in the house expect certainly to debate the bill there. No meeting or conference of the ways and means committee has been held to con sider the policy to be followed, except that the Democrats have come to the understand ing that when the bill comes to the house they will have to discuss it.
 A CLOSE CONTEST IN WEST VIRGINIA.
 Aspecial dispatch to The Star from Charles ton, w. Va, says: The concession by the
  Golf to the governorshipi is virtually admitted by the announcement here that Judge Elem ing has completed his notice of contest and will serve it in few days The Republicans have been expecting this, and while not totally unprepared, have done little toward collecting material for a reply. The contest will be made before the legislature, which is Democratic by one majority. Every Repub- hcan member has been urged to let nothing L;- of the legislature, the absence of one or more Democrats would throw the control of the organization the settlement of the guber- material contest and the election of United States senator into Republican hands Sena- tor Kenna is here looking after affairs. Ex- Senator Davis, who for while loomed up as a possible and dangerous opponent to Kenna, has lost bis prestige in consequence of the importance his name has received in the al- legged movement on the part of Gen. Harrison to break up the solid south, and his personal intimacy with Gen. Harrison, s. B. Elkins, Mir. Blaine and other prominent Republican leaders.
 DISAPPOINTED AND SICK CoNGREssMEN. Congressman Maffett, of Pennsylvania, Is confined in private asylum, the result of overwork and excitement incident to the recent campaign. This has called attention to the fact that over half dozen congress- men who were defeated for either renomi- nation or reelection have so far this session not appeared in the house.
 In several instances they are reported as suffering from melanoholia incident to their defeat. Senator Paddock, of Nebraska, said 1 that Congressman Laird, of that state, who was reported dying several days ago, is | now on the fair road to recovery He is ex- pected here in few days, and will then pro ceed to the springs near Suffolk, Va. He will be accompanied from here by Congress man Cutcheon, of Michigan, who is suffering | from the same complaint as MT. Laird-in- somnia.
 | INAUGURAL CELEBRATERs MUST VALE The great Republican army coming here to attend the inauguration ceremonies will l probably be somewhat staggered when they learn that Chairman Britton has decided that there shall be no carriages in the parade, excepting those for President Cleveland, , President-elect Harrison, the new vice presi- dent and the joint committee for the senate and house of representatives Thus only about four carriages will be in line. It Is long walk from the Capitol to the White House, and many Republicans expected to ride. The livery stable keepers of Washing ton are in rage.
 | TO IMPROVE LEAGUE ISLAND NAVY YARD.
 The report of the commission appointed to discover ways and means of improving the League Island navy yard, at Philadelphia, is now before Secretary Whitney for his con- l sideration. The recommended expenditures amount to $4 GOO, 900, There is now on hand | $55O, 900 for the construction of q dry dock and $75, 900 for the building of wharf or sea wall locations for both of which are sus- | gested by the commission