The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-01-26
Correspondence FLoRxDIAN.1
Letter from WashlnEtOn.
WASHINGTON ID

WASHINGTON, D. c., January 80, 1885,
Editors Floridian.. The message of the Prcsi-
dent endorsing the majority committees report of
the Pacific Railroads has been referred to a Sc
lect committee of the Senate to be appointed by
the President. A bill has been introduced In
the Senate to increase the pension to $50 per
month Of persons who are entirely deaf and %
proportisnate rate for partial loss of hearing.
Some people are so unchartable as to think that
the passage of the bill will very much increase the
number of those who are hard of hearing. If the
old adage is true that none are 30 blind as those
who will not see, it can be improved upon by
saying none are so deaf those rho will not hear.
1t is to be hoped that the President will not be
deaf to the petition OF suffering humanity, but at
the same time will not go it blind" in his de-
cision 10 approve or veto the bill.
Mr.. Blair commenced his speech on the edu.
cational bill on Tuesday last and has continued
1t from day to day, and no one can tell when
the end will come.
The direct tax bill has passed the Senate. 1t
directs the Secretary of the Treasury to credit
each State with all collections, made therefrom,
or from citizens thereof under the direct tax of
States under such act.
Senator Brown spoke on Wednesday last In
favor of the Blair bill. The venerable Senator
has but one gesture, and that is striking
the side of the desk with his right
hand. 1t is thought that this will be his
last term in the Senate, as he is too much of
high tariff man TO represent Southern Demo
cratic State.
Senator Edmunds is chatting under his defeat
in failing to have Mr.. Lamar's nomination re-
jected; he sits in his chair with an elongat ed
face, with down cast eyes, his fingers inter-
twined in each other. twirling his thumbs
have never seen the Senator smile, but it is said
that he does sometimes snnik In the committee
room.
Associate Justice Lamar took the oath of Office
on Wednesday, and after donning his official
robes the court and audience arose, the new
Justice bowed to his associates and then to the
audience, and then took his seat at the extreme
left Of the bench, or rather luxurously cushioned
chair.
was In the House at the presentation, by the
State OF Massachusetts,, OF the portraits of
three former Speakers from that State,
Messrs Varnum, 6edgwick and Banks.
The portraits were exhibited in front of
the clerks desk and attracted much attention.
Mr.. Long, from Boston, made the first address,
and explained the circumstances that caused the
presentation. It was the portrait Of Robert G.
Winthrop who was Speaker OF the Thirteenth
Congress, which was presented after his cetennial
address at Yorktown, that presented such o
striking contrast 10 the poorly executed engrav-
ings of the former speakers that suggested the
idea Of the portraits. Mr.. Lsng 10 very short
gentleman with intensely auburn hair which ID
parted In The middle He 10 considered good
elocutionist, but 10 not IN orator. The other ad-
dresses were made Hy members representing the
districts 10 which the former speakers resided.
Mr.. Randall introduced the resolutions Of accspt-
ance In few remarks and the ceremony IVES
concluded BY an address nom Mr.. Breckenridge,
Of Kentucky, who u thought 70 BE- the most elo-
quent man In the House.