Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-03-17
WASHINGTON EETEEEs.

WASHINGTON EETEEEs.
WASHINGTON, March 5, 1875.
Dear Courier: On last Thursday,
/ the 4th instant, at 10 O'clock, tho gavels
of both houses fell, and the work Of
the 43d Congress was terminated.
1t was q short and boisterous ses-
sion, and its acts, whether for veal or
woe to our country, must now pass
into history, As much OF the business
was crowded into the closing hour by
the persistent fillibustering OF the
Democrats, IL was feared that en- extra
session of both houses would be neces-
sary to pass all the appropriation bills.
But as IL was made known that Prcsi-
dent Grant would not, under any cir
cumstances, call an extra session, the
necessary appropriation bills were
crowded through.
During the closing proceedings the
galleries of the House and Senate were
packed to their utmost capacity, an d
hundreds could not gain admission.
A motion was made and carried in the
House to admit the ladies to the floor.
Speaker Blaine delivered brief but
very eloquent closing address. Mr..
Blaine has filled the ardnous position
of Speaker for six years, and is ex-
tremely popular with all parties, o wing
to his impartial and unbiased action
ae presiding officer.
During the closing hours Of the Sen.
ate, the greatest interest seemed to be
ccntered in the Bill to protect elec-
tors, which was known as the "Force
BILL" Itwas supposed that the DEM
ocrats would make the most desperate
fight of the session over il. But 1t
failed for some reason to become q
law. Tho bill to Equalize Bounties
also failed to become law, after hav.
ing passed both Houses, much TO the
disgust OF claim agents who thought
they had 8 fat Job on hands. The bill
originated in the House and passed
without serious opposition, and upon
going to the Senate, was passed by
that body with some slight amend
ments. When Il returned to the
House the amendments were non-con-
CURED In, and II went before the Con-
ference Committee. The Senate amend.
ments were finally agreed to by the
House, after being approved by the
Conference Committee. The bill then
went again to tho Senate and was en-
rolled, and the Conference report was
on motion Of Mr.. Sprague laid on the
table. The bill as enrolled, was not
passed by the Senate, but by mistake
Il received the signature of the Vice.
President and was laid before the
President for his approval. There
was q good deal of doubt ss to the ef-
feet Of the Senate's proceedings.
They,seemed to have got into kink
which they could not unravel. The
question was whether the bill II fsigned
by the President would become a law.
However, the President, who knew
nothing about the tangle, and who
supposed the bill had been regularly
passed, refused to sign it, owing to the
present condition Of the finances. In
this decision he was supported by the
Secretary Of the Treasury and all the
members of the Cabinet who said that
the amount required by the bill would
reach from $4,000, 900 to 100000, 600,
and would bring the Treasury to bank
ruptcy.
AT IL o'clock ON Friday, 9th inst,
the new Senate convened In extra ses.
sion pnrsuant to the proclamation of
the President. Tho business.-of this
extra session will be chiefly tho con.
firmation Of appointments by the
President, and the ratification Of
treaties. The case Of Senator Pinch.
back will also be taken up and decid-
ed. At the opening OF the session the
Senate galleries and the corridors sur
rounding, were all densely crowded,
and curiosity was on tip.toe to see the
new Senators. The names OF the new
Senator'S who were then sworn In, are
~ f0l!ows: -.
s.aM Sfrm nrns,de ns ~ Hrrss snrnn "a Mss sni
SXiscnrs;n Chr;st;sncv of M;chiran.
ns wss ~ Msas Eaton of Conn Ed.
numSs n vermnnt Hami;n of Maine
Andraw .Iohnson ~ Tenn Kerran III
Nav York Mcmillan Of Minnesota.
Paddock Of Neb.. Randolph OF N. j..
Thurman Of Ohio. wallace Of Penn.
Whvte Of Md. Caperton of West Va.
Cocfarell Of Mo. .Iones of FLORIDA
Marev Of TeYas. and W;thers of Va
The isst five mentioned Senators
were ali ex.rebcl officers, who served
In the Confederate army and ali took
the modified oath. As a matter of |
course. thew are All Democrats. Gen.
Bnrnside si,cceeds Spragne. tho polit.
ical abort;on from Rhode Island. who
went off anest. .hidinpD in the Demo-
cratic camp. ANDY johnson sncceeds
Rrownlow from Tenn. Christiancy
assumes The mantle Of old Zsck Chan.
dler 81 Michioan. who has represent.
ed that state in the Senate for the last
eighteen years. Dawes goes mn from
the House. and succeeds Washbnrn. Of
Mass.. who filled ont tho nnexnired
term ~ sumner. and IL. therefore.
really Summers successor. Cameron.
~ W;scorair takea the rI.co of Matt