The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-09
MEN AND MEASURES AT WASHINGTON.
From Oar oson Correspondent.


70 work. 1t is seldom that anything Is done AZ
the beginning of a session until after tue Preei-
dents message has been received. Tomorrow
at l O'Clock we shall have the message la Con
Rress and after that the work of the session
will commence In earnest.
The Naturalization LAWS.
The unblushing frauds practised by the De
mocracy at the receut elections In nearly all
the States, but especially in New York aud
Pennsylvania, have attracted the attention OF
Congress, and before the close OF the session It
Is more than PROBABLE that some measure will
be passed modifying the naturalization laws Of
the United States. The very first day OF the
session some half dozen bills were presented
In the House, and one or two In the Senate,
locking to this end. Strange to say, but one
came from among the members from
PennsylvauiR and New York, though
those two states suffered more
than any others from fraudulent natu-
rallzation papers. A coD parison OF notes. how.
ever, among members from different sections
of the country shows the practice to have been
general upon the part OF The Democracy. They
have over chtd themselves in their rasCality
tc such an extent as to insure the enactm ent OF
. law which will make the repetition OF the
operation exceedingly difficult and hazardous
II not impossible. Toe Onairmen both OF the
judiciary Committee OF the House aud of tue
stringent aud guarded measures are necessary
to protect the ballot: box against the m sohtna-
tions of unscrupulous aud desperate psrtissns
The various measures introduced upon this
subject have been referred to these committees.
and IL is proOable that at an early day they will
all be oigested into one pill, which will be
speedily put upon rs passage.
The Finances.
If the entire American people are not as
tal n,
as they should be, 1t is certainly not owing to
any lack of agitation of the subject. During the
late campaign IL was the most fruitful theme OF
discussion both in the public press and upon
the stump. II seemed yesterday as II every
Senator and member had been discussing the
subject since the adjournment last July. Nearly
every one had q bill In his pocket containing
his ideas on the ques ion. II is remarkable thai
n majority OF them pointed towards a speedy
resumption OF specie payments. And IL is maui
feat ,fIom personal conversation with members
and Senators, that q determination exists TO
come to the "hard PAM OF specie basis at the
earliest day possible. Even the diplomatic and
scholarly Senator from Massachusetts, Mr.,
Summer, has turned his attention to this most
difficult branch of political economy. Among
the great batch of papers which he presented
yesterday-he scarcely ever rises in the Senate
except he has i've or six bills aud resolutions
in his hand-was one to provide for the resump.
tion OF specie symests on the fourth of July
next That would be "a very good day to begin.
but this bill and all others must pass through
the crucible of the Finance Committee, at
whose head presdes The cautious aud conser-
vative Senator from OHIO. Mr.. Sherman.
1t is probable that q clear M u 1rity of bot b
houses are In favor of speedy resumption, but
scarcely dozen of them could be found to
agree entirely as to the mode. Horace Gree
ley's theory that the easiest and shortest road
TO resum ptiou is to resume" looks very plain
upon paper. Whether i, would be so easy
should tho Secretary of the Treasury attempt
to carry it iuto effect Is not quite so clear. The
Finance Com mmlLtee of tue Senate and the
Ways and Means Committee OF the House
manifestIy regard the whole question as one
difficult OF solution; and before any measure is
reported from either com mmiLtee providing for
q resump ption OF specie payments, the subject
will receive careful consijert.i ion.
Manhood Suffrage.
As late as last winter the question OF estab
fishing msnhood suffrage throughout all the
States and Territories of tue Uaited States was
regarded as one of extreme delicacy. Some
went SO far as TO doubt both the proprlety and
practicability of ii. TIE vote of the great State
of Ohio on this question n year ago and the dis.
estrous defeat 1t sustained, had the effect OF
demoralzlng to some extent the more timid
and time serving OF the Republicans in aud odt
of Congress- The hand ome m jority piled up
by the noble State OF Iowa ia favor OF manhood
suffrage this year has had correspondtngiy
inspiring effect upon the Republicans.
The radical wing of the party is, OF course
bolder than ever, while the conservative wing
Is thrilled with new courage wnich they did
not suppose themselves capable of experie1
cling. IL was amusing yesterday in the House
to notice how many members were eagarly
watching their opportunity TO obtain the fl Ior,
as TO be the first in the race and carry of the
honor of being the first TO get in a resolution
amending the Constitution of the United 3 ates
providing for manhood suffrage. Your distin.
gnished Representative rom the FOURTH
district, Hon. William D. Kelley, was the lucky
man. I intimated in this correspondence some
time ago that Judge Kelley would probably
take charge of this subject In the House. IL
was emineBtIy proper that he should be the
H. st TO move in the matter. The question Is
not new one with him. and in its advocacy
he has been far In advance of many OF his con
temporaries. Kelley was quickly followed by
Broomall, of the West Chester district, who pre-
scented a similar joint resolution. They were
all referred to the judiciary Committee; but IL
must not be supposed that they Will be allowed
20 slumber there for any length of tine
The UmrecOnstrueted States.
The anomalous condition of Virginia. Mssls-
sippi. and Texas will receive the early attention
OF Congrs So. Already two or three resolutions
have been introduced, directing the Committee
on Reconstruction to examine and report what
legislation Is necessary 10 make life and pro
perty as safe In these states as in others OF the
Union. Delegations are here In the interests o.