News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1893-02-23
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, D. c.:

Feb. II, '93
Mr. EDITOR,-Social as well as pO-
litical life in Washington could write
over it's door this week, "This is my
busy Day." and not be accused OF
falsehood. With the closing recep-
tions-by the Cabinet officers and
their wives, as well as the many who
90 out of Washington life with the
changing of the administration and
bv some of those who remain-an-
nual banquets by the Loyal Legion
and some other societies, and the eX-
ira attraction of week of Denman
Thompson in "The Old Homestead"
the social and pleasur2-loving world
has been in a whirl all the time.
OF the banquet by the Loyal Legion
more than a passing word should be
said. This society, as doubtless your
readers know, is composed of officers
of the army and navy. regulars and
volunteers, who served during the re-
bellion, and their nearest lineal male
descendants; and to greater degree
than in any other place in the world
this city is their chosen abode, con-
sequently the local commandery is
large and fourishing, and their an
nual banquet is the gala day of the
wear to them. This year. to the num-
Der of more than four hundred they
gathered in the spacious dining
rooms of the Arlington and discussed
the choicest viands and fine wines,
for not all the old vets of eitherrank
or file are followers of Neal Dow,
though quite sprinkling are. After
the physical man was we'll filed and
cigars lighted, they listened to some
fine speaking, the principal responses
to the regular toasts being from Sec
rotary Noble, who is a member of the
order, and from Senator Chandler
and Representative Sherman Hoar,
who are not.
In response to volunteer toasts,
short and witty speeches were made
by Rev. John r. Paxton. Senator
Brice and Congressman O'DOnnell,
all old soldiers And if the reverend
gentleman who heads this list is as
sharp in the pulpit as out, it must
be a delight to sit and listen to his
preaching, if he is not preaching at
your pet sins. Prof. Goodwin Smith
also made a few remarks on En-
glands course during the war.
Among the invited guests, besides
those already named, were Secretary
of State Foster, Senators Dawes,
Gibson, Hawley and Stockbridge,
Gen. John C. Robinson, old, feeble,
and blind, Gen. E A. Carr and 9th
ers. As members were present Gen.
Parks, the last Commander of the
Ninth Corps, Gen. FL. q. Wright, of
the Sixth Corps, Assistant Secretary
of War Grant, and also others of
national fame, but $50 we'll known
to your readers. Altogether it was
an occasion long to be remembered.
Hawaii has occupied a large por-
ton of the political field of view, and
the general opinion is that annexa-
ton is the only thing, though there
are many opponents. For a little
while it looked as if the contesting
legislators in Kansas might be the
means of bleed ny" Kansas again,
in reality, but at this writing it is
less Warlike.
The debate on the Pension Bill and
the attempt being made to order
eight hours work in the departments
attract great attention here, when
so many thousands are employees. |
predict if the bill passes with the add
ed time, it will diminish rather than
add to the amount of work done
Six hours of steady mental work
such as is required in much of the de-
partmental work and in such places
as many of the rooms are, will pro-
duce as much work, and of better
quality, than longer time. There
was a clause stricken out of the bill
which if been retained, and honestly
and fearIessly executed, would have
raised the efficiency of every depart
ment,-and that was that a certain
per cent. Of all the clerks, taken from
those whose " efficiency records were
lowest, land those records correctly
kept determine the worth of the en-
ploye), should be discharged at the
close of each fiscal year. By this
means worthless clerks would. have
been removed, but it would have left
peoples proteges out in the cold, and
it was stricken out.
A perusal of the debate will show
that the old veterans do not lack de-
tenders, though the majority of the
House seems to be against them.