Middletown transcript., 1877-10-27
Washlng1on Letter.
WisHrslrnn D. q Oct. "a. 1877.

Il ECOlgreSS mas haQ SmO0Ln SdulDB SO
+ far. IN its first week the House was
simply organized, and was thereafter
as It still is, engaged in discussing
rights of individual members to seats,
| So far the Democratic majority has
been extremely liberal in its treatment
of the minority. The case under dis
eussien now is that of Belford and Pat
terson, from Colorado. Belford will
probably be sworn in, not so much on
account of any right he has to the seat,
as because of the Democratic liberali-
ty before mentioned. By apparent
conhivance between the Speaker and
Republicans this Colo ado case was
considered Mondsy to the exclusion OF
the regular business Of that dly-the
presentation Of bills, petitions, etc. The
object of this was to exclude a resoEu-
ton, to be presented by Democrats, en-
dorsing the Southern and civil service
policies Of the administration. This
was intended as a trap for the Repub-
licans who naturally dreaded it, and
randall either took pity on them or
believed the resolution would be as
damaging to his own party as to the
other. Meanwhile, the Republican
members are consulting each other,
members of the Cabinet, and even Mr..
HAYES himself, to find out some way in
which harmony may be made to appear
to exist in the party. The contribu-
Jon of the latter gentleman to the ac-
complishment Of SO desirable result is
a concession to members in the matter
of appointments. 1t is semi-oficially
stated that hereafter the advice Of Sen
ators and Representatives will be heed
ed unless they have shown themselves
unsafe advisers in such matters. It is
also explained that the civil service
order is not intended to prevent the in
reference of office-holders after nomi-
nations are made These concessions
are forced from Mr.. Hayes in various
ways. The Senate refuses to act on his
nominations, or even to refer them to
committees. Thus is taken out Of re
form as promised by Mr.. Hayes, any
heart that it ever had. 1t will be we'll
for the country when another party,
not controlled by the ofice-holders who
have fattened on the country for half a
generation, shall come into power.
In the Senate Mr.. Edmunds 'yester-
day secured the passage of his resolu-
ton for the appointment of commit
tee Of seven Senators, to act with eleven
Representatives, whose duty it shall be
to consider the laws governing the
counting and declaration Of votes for
President and Vice President.
Mr.. Davis, of West Virginia, it has
been agreed, shall hisspecial COM
mittee to investigate the Treasury De
partment.
In the Senate, also, numerous bills
have been presented authorizing the
coinage of silver dollars, to be legal
tender to any amount in payment of
debts, public or private, where their
payment in gold is not by law or con-
tract made binding. Senator Jones
prepared an exceedingly elaborate re-
port on the propriety and expediency
Of remonetiziDg that metal. This re-
port was presented to Congress in
March last, but is now published as re-
vised during the time since then.
General Sherman yesterday returned
from his extended Western trip, in
good health. He thinks there will be
no further Indian outbreaks of impor-
tance at present. and fayors generous
treatment Of Chief Joseph, who, he
says, conducted his warfare according
to civilized ideas. How would it do
to retire one Of our Brigadier Generals,
and give the place to Joseph? There
would be no difficulty in making the
selection.
The second laugh Of the session
the first being against Mr.. Hale, as
noted in my last letter-was at the ex-
pense Of Mr.. Garfield, late Of the Eight
to Seven Commission. The PROPOSE
ton having been made in the Senate
to raise committee Of seven to con-
slider the method of counting and de-
claring the Presidential vote, resolu-
ton to appoint a committee Of eleven
to act with them was presented in the
House. Mr.. Garfield suggested a re-
duction in the number, but Harris, of
Virginia, settled the question by saying
the Democrats insisted on eleven to
seven this time. SoLoN.