Washington Letter

Washington Letter.
(From our Regular Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 24, 1894.
If proof were needed that the administration stands ready to meet Congress more than half-way on any proposition looking towards currency reform, it was given by the readiness with which Secretary Carlisle agreed to the substitute for his bill proposed by the democratic members of the house Committee on Banking and Currency. The principal differences between the substitute and the original bill are, that national banks will have the option of continuing to do business under their present charters until they expire, or of reorganizing under the new law, and that they are only responsible for the redemption of the notes issued to the extent of their quota to the safety fund provided for that purpose.
The bill will probably be further amended before it is brought to a vote in the house, as the present expectation is that a democratic caucus will be held within a day or two of the reassembling of Congress for the express purpose of acting upon the bill and any proposed amendments. Chairman Springer, who is in charge of the bill, says: "I feel that most the objections have been overcome by the substitute; and I think we will have a safe majority for the bill." Representative Bland, of Missouri, is one of the democrats who do not think the bill will pass. He says he intends to offer his bill providing for the issue of coin and coin notes by the government as a substitute.
Representative McCreary, of Kentucky, who has long ago demonstrated his right to a position in the front rank of the level-headed men of the house, says of the currency reform bill: "There are some things in the measure which I like, and many which I do not approve, but I take the position that if the Secretary of the Treasury and members of the Banking and Currency Committee say that this is a step in the right direction, I am going to vote for it. I think the democrats ought to stand together as a party upon a measure which the administration endorses. I have n idea that the bill will pass the senate, but I want to see the house do its duty. My own idea is, that when, in the last days of the session it becomes apparent that there can be no financial legislation, both houses will agree to a monetary commission, such as I suggested in a bill introduced some time ago."
It is said that Senator Sherman, whose thriftiness has never been excelled by any man in public life, owns one-half of the square of ground which a bill introduced by Senator Quay proposes to purchase for $1,000,000 to be used as a site for a residence to be erected for the president of the United States. There is no doubt about the president needing a residence, but there is much about the passage of Senator Quay's bill.
President Cleveland returned from his hunting trip, feeling splendidly and loaded down with ducks, some of which will garnish the Christmas tables of every member of the cabinet and of a few other personal friends. He was delighted with the South Carolinians he met, and expresses the wish that he may enjoy other trips to the same vicinity. He found the White House alive with preparations for the Christmas tree entertainment that little Ruth and Esther are to give to a few of their little friends.
The democrats of the house have no reason to feel ashamed of the record of their work during teh first three weeks of the session. They have passed three of the regular appropriation bills and a number of minor bills, and have devoted five days to a discussion of currency reform. The senate has done very little, and the little it has done is not apparent to the public, as it consists mostly of preliminary work on appropriation and other bills.
Some of the ex-Speaker Reed's friends say that he considers himself far in the lead in the race for the republican presidential nomination, and that he has no fear of either Harrison or McKinley, but thinks he may be defeated by some dark horse such as Senator Allison or Gov. Morton. Democrats would prefer the nomination fo either of the first three men, if they had any say in it. Either of them would be easier to bear than Allison or Morton, because of enemies in their own party.
Chairman Wilson, of the house Ways and Means committee, expects that his bill for the repeal of the differential duty imposed on sugar imported from those countries which pay an expoort bounty, will be reported to the house and passed soon after the recess. This is the duty that Germany claims to be a violation of the "most favored nation" clause of the treaty with this country, and which many believe to be partially, if not wholly, responsible for the action Germany has taken and has caused Denmark to take against American meat. There is little doubt that this bill ought to speedily become a law, but, as Senator George said of what the senate would do after the recess, "the business transacted will be what a small minority of this body decide it shall be."

About a Hole in the Ground.
Now, as to what would be the result of dropping a ball into a hole through the diameter of the earth, Dexter has become so much absorbed as to almost forget New Years.
Mr. D. C. Van Buren, a skilled diameterologist recently published a thoughtful article on the subject, which brings A. D. DeWitt out of the hole in the same paper as follows:
"A body on the earth's equator is moving in a circle of about 25,000 for the body to complete the revolution. Hence the body has a velocity of more than 1,000 miles per house. Now as it falls it continually passes into regions where the particles of matter revolve in smaller circles than particles on the equator, hence the circular velocity of the ball would be greater than the circular velocity of portions of the earth through which it was falling. This would be true and a body would rub the east side until the ball reached the center, when the facts would be reversed. But, Mr. Van Buren, this would not be true if the body were allowed to fall through the earth on its polar diameter, or axis of revolution. On this line and on this line alone would the body be free from rubbing the sides of the hole and according to 'Newton's First Law of Motion' it would vibrate forever. Of course the body must fall in vacuo, and in the above we bar all motions of the earth save that of its revolution about its polar diameter."
Mr. Van Buren is also heard from again, thus:
"Editor Leader--While I read and enjoy (as who does not?) the Argus' funny man, I must correct him as to my statement in the Leader concerning the conduct of a ball falling through the earth. I do not say, as he seems to think, judging from his illustration, that the ball would lose the motion of the earth and hence lag behind; if it should do so, it would rub the west side of the hole going down. My idea was that the ball would retain the motion of the earth's surface and hence would have an eastward motion greater than that of the earth at a point say 1000 miles below the surface. This would tend to make it get ahead of the earth and to rub the east side of the hole going down. I think that no one will question that after passing the earth's center the ball would lag behind and rub the west side of the hole going up. A hundred pound weight falling through a hole one foot in diameter would not have much room for lateral displacement. Could the ball fall through instantly, or could the hole be bored along the earth's axis, the rotary motion referred to would cause no friction. As in all other cases the ball is acted upon by two forces, one of which is accelerated at a diminishing rate all the way to the earth's center. To locate the ball at any moment of its flight or to trace the peculiar curve which it would seek to pursue, becomes a problem in calculus, to the solution of which I presume you would not care to give space."
The Argus has taken a deep interest in this discussion and the scientific phases which involve the subject. But it cannot contemplate without disquiet the thought of what might result should the ball in falling through the earth, happen to "hit the polar diameter or axis of revolution." It is very likely that such a thump would break the ex and leave the earth to go wobbling through space like a Christmas drunk from the back door of a closed saloon. Mr. De Witt has raised an apprehension not easily allayed. Mr. De Witt will please slide down the pole.

Monday night, in Northfied, solemn high mass was held at midnight by the people of St. Patrick's parish, Rev. Fr. McGrath, of Sanwich, being the celebrant, Rev. Louis P. Goldrick, deacon, and Jas. J. McCabe, sub-deacon.