Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-25
WASHINGTON CITY.
a DESERTED cAplToL-srArssMEN
AL Off FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
frlsbie Hoar's Efforts Ia nehaif OF the
Force Biii-its Final Outcome Doubt
ful--Cspitoi Christmas Presents.
From Our Regular Correspondent,

morning, and everything about the big
white building on the hill was as dull as
il well could have been. There we're
few members in the hall OF tho House.
but they did not tarry long. That BODY
took recess yesterday until Friday. and
on Friday there Will DO a motion made
10 take another recess until Monday,
aud 20 on until quorum OF members
return 10 the city 10 do business. IL will
probably take tho House four or FIVE
days into January before any business
can be transacted. The members will
be IN no hurry TO return 10 Washington,
The Republican leaders are almost
rs anxious as the DcIaocrsts TO
prevent the passage OF certain
measures, and the Democratic policy is
to obstruct rs much as possible TO pre-
vent unjust partisan legislation during
The two months thnt the whipped-out
party will remain in possession OF both
branches OF Congress.
THE sESATE's BRIEF SESSION.
The Senate remained in session this
morning a comparatively short time.
Old Uncle Frisbie wanted to keep
night ahead. Indeed, he threatened on
Monday he would insist upon the Sen
ate doing business on Christmas-day
even. But no had to back down and
pretend to be very muck in
iavor Of taking a rest. So the Senate
isn't going 10 meet again until Saturday
at II NJ. Meanwhile Uncle Frisbie "
% IL al 10 70, xaytf. .Cvt fnr no
Infamous force bill. He is perhaps as
intense q radical as any Republican in
the Senate, and is the kind OF statesman
that Benjamin Harrison adores.
HARD TO PREDICT.
The situation with regard TO the force
bills prospects is so mixed TINT IT is
hard to predict its outcome, though there
are Republicans high in authority who
admit that on account Of the financial
issues at stake it will be impossible TO
pass the elections bill this session. OF
course great deal depends on the dis
position that is made of the pending gag
rule. IL that should be adopted through
complete ignoring of the rights OF
the minority-in other words, if
debate is stihed, and enough
Republicans will sanction the
ruthless suppression of the minority
tho Radicals will carry the day party
pressure will be applied, and the mode
rate Republicans will be whipped into
the support Of the infamous election
hill The measure may, however. be so
amended az 10 disgust the Radicals, and
then they would in all probability not be
anxious 10 have it pressed 20 conclusions
10y the adoption Of conference report.
II will be almost next TO impossible TO
get the amended bill through the House
Things have changed Ia that body since
the recent election. and if the force bill
ever gets back TO the House IL will have
rough road to travel
SUBSTANTIAL REMEMBRANCEs.
Senator Stanford, Of California, to-
day remembered in q substantial way all
Of the pages Of the Senate by cash
Christmas presents and he also gave 10
the venerable Captain Isaac Bassett
gold snufi-box richly onamented with
iowels Captain Bassett has been lit
lie over fifty-nine years in tho employ
Of the Senate and is nearly eighty years
OF age.
Secretary Window to-day presented
each of the women who scrub the floors
and clean the Treasury building bonn
niul lot of table Injuries so that Christ
mas will DO made enjoyable for these
hard worked women. Each one received
a large basket containing turkey,
several kinds of meat, vegetables. fruits,
and various other articles that will glad
den the hearts Of many poor and hum
bic household this evening as they think
Of the feast that is in store for them to-
morrow.
A RETAIL HARVEST.
The leading business streets OF the
capital city were densely packed with
people to-day who were out doing their
Christmas shopping. The weather was
fine. and it made IA grand harvest for the
retail merchants Generally speaking
the masses here are much better off
than in the average city the size OF
Washington, and Uncle Sans
bounty is what keeps M Washington and
makes the place boom, together with the
thousands Of weil-to-do visitors who are
here nearly every day from sll parts of
the United States and Europe. The vast
array of Government officials, clerks,
aud EMPLOYEES generally are paid better
and more regularly than the correspond
aug number OF people in any city OF the
United States and money changes hands
rapidly here IL was on interesting
sight TO watch the shoppers to-day and
the great crowds at the Centre Market.
Tho street-cars had more business than
J.. 81 a VI
on all the principal business thorough
fares.
4 BAR uARBoR VETO.
President Harrison has vetoed the bill
providing for the erection OF n public
building at Bar Harbor, Me, which
place is located in the district represent
cd by the stormy Captain Boutelle.
Par liarbOr is summer resort and
similar bill was vetoed by MIR. Cleveland
when be was President on the ground
that the place needed no pubic
building. Ii was the proper thing
20 do and Mr.. Harrison has
done well in initiating his predecessor,
though II IL said that the vain little man
now in the White House remarked TO n
friend shortly after his Inauguration that
be would take pains TO do nothing that
lad ever been done 10y Mr.. Cleveland.
However. the approval Of the Bar Har-
Dor bill was too much even for Benla-
min.
CONSUL SINS.
Colonel W. l.. Sims, OF Virginia,
United States Consul at Colon, is here
on business before the State Department
and will remain i'll the city several days.
lie says that he likes his post at Colon,
though the work is hard and attimes com
Ylicated. lie finds there a pleasant United
States colony of several hundred persons,
mostly from the southern States. Colo
nel Riyes, of Albemarle, who is the chief
engineer of the Panama road, makes his
Headquarters there. and most Of his en-
lc,.....s 80 s.outbarD mon IolOnpl Sims