Telegram-herald., 1890-07-14
WASHINGTON ECHOES
Some Queer IDEAS Concerning the
Dead Letter once.
COyCRESSNEs II FLlSSLL SHIRTS.
Dsnserafis Casssdasss az . Time " astsr
-Assfaias hsxsrs-oaesr Las Ia the
DL.lxiet OF Colambaa- se sitll&a's
Ekn-fhs Gsaaas.

wAsHIssroS, July l2.-It i peculiar
what queer IDEAS some people have OF
the functions Of the government The
dead letter Office, from It's name sup
pose, suggests 70 many people that It .
a kind Of centralized detective and gen
eral information bureau, an idea m
creased BY the fact that from time 70
tine statements are published showing
how clever the Office - in finding out
the addresses On letters with a very
shght clue on which 10 work.
Whatever the cause, the Office IS con-
stantly ia receipt Of letters from all
parts Of the country IN which il IS re-
quested 70 furnish the writers with IN
formation concerning the whereabouts
OF missing persons and 10 give other N
formation OF a similar character. Some
OF the letters received are very anus
ing, Others are SO ridiculOusas not 10 be
worth a moments consideration, while
lnere are frequently in tie correspond
ence letters which are touching ia the
plaintiye appeals which they make, and
which show that they are written IN
good faith and with sublime reyer-
ence IN the power of the government
70 DO everything and anything. 1t is
rather q peculiar thing and at the same
time one worth noting. that while the
south is opposed to central govern
ment, yet the common people OF the
South seem TO have 4 stronger belief IN
the power of the Federal gov
ernment TO regulate every and
anything than DO the people
OF any other section. OF course when
these letters are received at the dead
letter Office nothing can be done with
them except to acknowledge. This is
always done.
In this hot weather Congress goes in
for coolness and comfort and is willing
to sacrifice some of Its dignity if 1t can
make life more endurable. Speaker
Reed has set the example by wearing
a silk shirt and the colored sash which
the fashionable young man of the day
delights in. 30 far only one other
membcr-Coleman, of Louisiana-has
initiated him in the matter of the sash,
but flannel shirts are plentiful, and so
are light thin coats Of every color and
variety. The average member these
days exposes considerable of his shirt
front and does not consider il detracts
from his personal appearance If he does
not wear vest. In the Senate the idea
of dignity is 80 much stronger that no
one has yet had the courage to come
out in a flannel shirt. Last year Mr..
Edmonds did so, and as he is such a
stickler for the etiquette of the Senate
il made good deal of commotion.
This year he sticks to the starched
front, and until he sets the example il
Is not likely that any one Will break the
rule. IL is noticeable that while the
eastern and western men suit their
clothes 10 the weather the southerners,
who know more about hot weather
than the others, practically wear the
same clothes IN August that they do
in January. The House and Senate
chambers are supposed to be kept cool
by air being pumped in from the out
side. This ar passes through n tunnel
from the capitol grounds and Is forced
INTO the chambers by fans. ItCoOls off
the air little. but II would be much
better if the arr passed over ice, which
could be very easily done.
The Democrats in the House have
been making a good deal of a spectacle
OF themselves by delaying all business
by ObleCung To everything unless there
we're enough Renu biicans present "a
vote them down when 1t came to q
matter OF strength between the tive
parties. AZ this time Of the year there
are Of course good many members ab
sent from NasGIngton-peIhaps a.
many Republicans as DenOcrats-and
this is likely 90 leave the House Al
times without a quorum. Simply on
Of pure "cussct ness the Democrat.
have insisted that not even the journal
shall be apprOv d unless there - 4
quorum. and SO snever "unaumous
consent has bee requested they have
objected and w iCd much valuable
time bv demand roll calls, and every
time the roll = called SOME three-quar
ters Of an hour is ousumed. No party
advantage Il to be gained from tins
There are no great measures pending
out of which poi tc1l capital can be
made. There Is considerable business
on the calendar of the House which
might be transacted while the Senate is
considering the tariff bIli f the Demo
Gratis would not delay matters. but sC
long as they see tt % make use Of o0-
siructivc tactics, hardly anything can
be done. II The Republicans. however,
have anything of Importance they want
g. put through the House they can DO
a. without any difficulty hv Simply
bringing their men here. as it has been
proved before tbs that the present
rules are very successful IN expediGng
business.
II this connection there VS. quite =
lau1hable incident IN the House or
Thursday. Rogers. Of Arkansas. hss
been the ifader ~ tne Democratic 0b.
sirgetionarv tactics during the last few
dtvs. ~pra ser Reed does not Ike Mr.
Eorers. and ths the latter knows very
well 0n Thursday Rogers. who = tat
snd t1n and has = very loud voice, got
uD to debate . question connected with
the approval Of the Journal "foT wbal
Chicct does the gentleman risef ssSet'
Eeed as Eocers gCt up. Rogers hsrn-
explained. Mr Reed settled himself
back n his char. and with the curt r..
pv. ~fAe gentleman Wat proved.
efssCf l.s aauds srd n look Of reslE-