The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-11-03
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

Randall are reported to have con-
ferred together relative to the rapid
dispatch of business with view to
as early an adjournment as possible,
it is the prevailing belief that there
will not be a longer interval between
sessions than a week or ten days at
the farthest. 1t is presumed that
Mr.. Randall will announce the Com
mittees to-day, when the message
will be appropriately referred; but
the several recommendations have
got to be considered, discussed and
talked over in the Committee rooms
and a report made to the House be.
fore the work that brought Congress
here in extra session can be disposed
of. 1t almost always happens that
there are one or more members
watching opportunities to spread
themselves in the Record, for the
instruction and editication Of the gen.
eral public and the voters of their
District particularly. or from other
disinterested motives; and notwith-
standing the fact that every apprO-
priation asked, save three compare
lively insignificant ones, were ex-
haustively discussed last winter, it
would be strange if the House should
be found without some of this class
of interesting statesmen hence, linn
iting their number to the smallest
average and promising that no con-
ference committees will be necessary,
several working days will be needed
to dispose of the matters imperatively
demanding attention. Aside from
this, the bills already introduced or
which will be this week, relative to
reconciliation, repeal of the re-
sumption act, for grants of land and
loans of money to citizens desiring to
emigrate to the public lands, and the
distribution of the balance Of the
Geneva Award, are deemed of
enough Importance if pushed, to con-
sumo about all the time between this
and thanksgiving week and there
has already been filed a food Of others
of less general importance, but of
sufficient moment to particular class
es and localities to justify their orig
inators in demanding the early at
tention of their associates. 1t is felt
by every Republican and likely by
not a few Democrats, that the refer
ence of Belford's case to the Commit
tee on Elections was very shabby
trick and the precedent established
will often return to plague the inven-
tors. Ee had the Governor GER
titicate of election, and had, it is
contended by lawyers of such calibre
J0cte right to his seat as any member
in the House. What was attempted
in the case of Cronin was accomplish
ed or partially SO in Belford's case.
Following the usual course it will be
Weeks,-quite as likely, months
before report is reached, Colorado
meantime remaining without repre-
sentation in the lower House. Last
session the same spiteful end was
attained by contending against the
sutficiency of a Presidential procla-
nation to make Colorado State,
though there had been full compli-
ance with the enabling act.
The Senate Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections have the case of
Kellogg, Spoffdrd and Eustis under
consideration, had not, at their last
session, determined as to the exact
scope to be given the inquiry. 1t is
evident that Spofford means to make
his fight almost wholly on the act of
the Executive in recognizing the
Nichols government and no one
familiar with the atrocities of the
Centennial campaign in Louisiana
wonders at his earnest protest against
any review of the bull -dozers acheiv-
ments, as proposed by Kellogg. The
vote authorizing the Committee to
send for persons and papers is con-
strued as favorable to the latter gem
tleman and consistency would seem
to demand similar course when the
rival claimants from South Carolina
present their claims for adjudication.
Though many will regret the reopen
ing of old wounds, the possibility
could only have been avoided at the
expense ofjustice, and by allowing
the control of the Senate to fall into
the enemy's hands by default.
Theprobability Ex-senator Morton's
early death is now generally, though
as reluctantly as ever, admitted,
From the tone of latest dispatches
and the rather evasive statements of
DIR. Bliss, just returned from pro-
fessional visit to the Senator, there
appears no reasonable hope that
fatal result can be long postponed.