Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-09-05
CAPITAL GOSSIP.
Especial Correspondence.l
xsr A-.k ~

fhs6sosS" $780,
yermln make much trouble for the
Government at Washington. Until re-
Gently the White House has been Infested
with myrlads Of rats. They were clean
ed out at the beginning Of the Harrison
by an expert with ferrets.
lie carefully stopped up all the holes
except one, into which he introduced the
ferrets. The rodents few out OF their
labyrinthine underground passages
through the only exit left open, at which
trained Scotch terriers stood waiting to
seize and kill them with shake apiece.
On the occasion referred to the wooden
floors In the basement Of the Executive
Mansion were taken up and concrete
was laid down instead. This was done
mainly for the purpose Of keeping out
the rats 10 the future. The mice In the
building are comparatively few, by
reason OF the efficiency Of black and
white cat that strayed In and settled
down In the kitchen about four years
ago. When General Grant became Presi-
dent the first time the rats were 80 az
gressiye that Mrs. Grant demanded the
removal of the stable, which then adjoln.
ed the mansion on the east; but the de-
struction of the stable did not remove
the rodent pests. In fact, they were so
bold that one of them tripped up the fat
colored cook a. she walked across the
kitchen, and she killed Il by sitting
down upon II. The animals made net
work of tunnels undef the brick pave
ments and In the walls.
Many Of the department buildings are
oyerrun with rats and mice, and they DO
great damage to official papers. The
Pension Office Il one of their chosen
haunts. Swarms of them adopted the
building no their home while II was yet
In the process of construction, and now
the walls are alive with them and the
floors are full of their holes. In the
buildings Of the Post Office Department,
the Patent Office, the Treasury, and In
the War, State, and Navy buildings, they
are also very troublesome and do much
damage, and 10 the great Government
Printing Office they cause more waste
than any other one influence. :.
From the committee appointments, u
IA ouite apparent that the Southern ele-
ment of the Democracy viii dominate
this Congress. OF the fifty.fve chair-
manships of the committees, thirty-two
were conferred on members from the
Southern States, only eleven on those
from Eastern and Middle States, and
twelve on those from Western States.
Southern members were placed at the
heads Of the Committees on Ways and
Means, Appropriation Elections, Judi.
ciary, Foreign Afiiirs, and practically al
of the other very important committees,
while the most important chairmanships
awarded TO Eastern and Western men
were those Of the Committees on Bank.
ing and Currency, Naval Affairs, and
Manufactures. In consequences OF all thia
there Il considerable dissatisfaction
among Northern and Western Demo
crats. but they are unable TO help them
selyes, Their Southern brethren have
the numbers on them.
The Democratic House has been doing
uucommonly we'll 10 producing campaign
literature for the Republicans. A great
ma nv Democrats have been saying things
In the sllyer debate for which they will
be very sorry against the coming around
Of the next campaign. The Republican,
generally arc keeping quiet. The Demo
crsts have on their shoulders the respon'
ability Of betterlng the situatlon, and the
two shoulders do not carry even. Both
sides of the question ut Issue are repre-
scented within that party. The absorb,
ine question with the two factions oi
| the Democracy 10 the winning Or losing
Of the fight now on, and party lines An
| not drawn. Each man says what % uec
| essary TO his side Of the question at thu
time, and sight Of the future u lost q
them IN the cloud OF dust they Are kick
ine up. But the hereafter Il 70 come
though they see Il not now, and what
strsnes litsrature VIII the record OF till
specisl session make for the free and w.
dependent voters Of this country ont
year from next November. Tue people
have always been suspicious OF Demo
cratic platforms before thiss bat ~
6sxiblliiy, the India-vuhbsr stretch
iness OF TIE Chicago platform Of 1891
which has been shownby The tests ap
plisd 10 e 10 the present deoate 10 -
House. viii b . rsvslatlou 70 u
country.