The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-28
MEN AND MEASURES AT WASHINGTON.
Prom Our 0iUn Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Nov. n, 1865

The Fortieth Congress has been construc-
tiyelv in session ever since IL was organized on
the lth of March, 1867. On this account tnere Is
less preparation for the third session, wnlcn
meets one week from Monday next than Jnere
would be under different circumstances Both |
the Hall OF the House and the Senate Chamber
have been in readiness for the assembling OF
Congress since the adjourned meeting neio
early in the fall. The arrival Of Senators and
members next week. and the presence OF
.treneers from all parts of the Union, will give
substantial tokens Of the beginning OF the regu-
lar session.
shArman's Funding Bill.
ore of the FIRST measures brought before the
Benate will be bill prepared by Senator suer
man for funding the national debt, ana re-
duoipp the present rate of interest Similar
measure, 1t will be remembered, passed ooth
bonses at the last session, but reached the
President too late to receive his signature. The
shape in which 1t finally passed was quite DIFF
terent from that In which It was originally
offered In the Senate by Mr. Sherman. He docs
not at all regret It's failure to become law, be-
cause he believes that q much better measure
can be passed at the approaching session. III Is
his purpose to Introduce new bill at an early
day, retaining all the good features OF the
former bill and introducing somo new
ones advantageous to the Government
interest fropa one. half TO one per cont below
the lowest f,gure heretofore named. The plan
of funding the debt will be slmplifed so as TO
preyent expense to the Government anu 1ncon-
yenience to the people, Senator Sherman, VINO
is at the head OF the Senate Finance Committee,
is regarded as one OF the aolest hnanclers In
Congress. He has given this question oil fund'
ing the debt very close attention Tor more tnan
n wear past, and will be prepared not only to
bS1t n 4
saints from whatever quarter. In this he will
ne seconded by nearly all the members OF the
Senate Finance Committee, and possibly by
clear majority OF the Senators. At the last
session the Funding bill met with considerable
opposition in the House, and only passed that
body after material modification. This, how
ever, 1t is believed, was more owing to q misap-
prehension of The provisions OF the bill than
opposition to the measure itself.
The Universal Suffrage Amendments.
Conversations with the various Senators and
members now here, as well as correspondence
with those who are yet at their homes, FORE
shadow the passage of q bill at the approach &.
ing session submitting to the State legislatures
an amendment to the Federal Constitution pro
yiding for universal suffrage in all the States
and Territories OF the United States. There are
those who regard this as of doubtful propriety,
while many fear the people are not ready for 1t,
and that 1t is, therefore, premature. A clear
majority, however, in both houses are Of opinion
that the present Congress cannot do less than
take the responsibility OF submitting such an
amendment to the people. Many of the ablest
and most prominent men Of the Republican
party regard the mission of that patty incom =
plete while any portion of the adult male popu-
lation OF the United States is disfranchised on
account Of race color, or previous condition.
There can be little doubt that at an early day
ba q m MT
will be introduced. Such one Is said to be in
course Of preparation by the Hon. William d.
Kelley, of your city. 1t is probable that he
will take charge of the measure In the House,
and the Hon. Charles Sumner will be Its cham
eion insthe Senate. II Will, of course arouse,
bitter opposition among the Democrats,
and may give rise TO q protracted
debate. Should Judge Kelley undertake the
management of it in the House, his wellknown
ability as a debater and his familiarity with all
the POINTS and precedents bearing on The sub.
1ect, will 60 far towards overcoming whatever
opposition may be manifested by tae Demo.
Gratis. Since the death of Thaddeus Stevens
Judge Kelley is regarded as the ablest man In
the House from Pennsylvania and his cham.
pionship of this or any other question of ma
tional importance will secure the active co.ope
ration OF nearly all the Republicans. In the
Senate Mr. Summer Will, of course, give it mis-
best energies
The Forty first Congress.
Although the approaching session will last
but three months, there will be no crowding Of
legislation, and consequently no more blum
ders made than usual. The Forty-first Congress.
assemblies on the fourth of March next, as will
be seen from the following, which is the first
section OF an act passed at the second session o
the Thirty-ninth Congress, and approved Janu
Rry %, 1867. Itis entitled "An Act providing fol
the meeting of Congress-" and reads as follows
Be 1t enacted, ETC., That in addition to the
present regular time of the meeting of Con.
gresB there shall be meeting OF the Forfeit
cessiye Congress thereafter at IL o'clock M, OF
the fourth day of March. the day on which the
term begins for whica the congress Is elected
Sunday the meeting shall take place at thu
kame hour on the next succeeding day.
Except this law should be repealed at the ap
preaching session (of which, 80 far as Cal
learn there is no prospect), the House of Repre-
sentatives elected last fall will assemble on tht
4th Of March Immediately after the dissolution
OF the Fortieth Congress. 1t has been custom
ary, after tue Inauguration OF new President
for the Senate to convene in extra session, by
proclamation of the President, for the purpos,
OF transacting executive business. As tn,
Senate however, is included IN the above act
dental proclamation.
The Presidents Message.
The forthcoming annual message OF Presiden
Johnson will excite less attention than any
public document, except, perhaps, the report o
Director Delmar, of the Bureau OF Statistics
Last year some OF the newspaper correspondent Il
paid as high as one hundred dollars for ad
vance copies of the message, In order that they
might get il before the public prevIous In M