The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-12-19
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENTS.
WASHINGTON, !
Dec. 10, 1917

Ane Oeuate, perhaps because OF
physical exhaustion Of its members,
is doing very little In the way Of
legislation. The House, however,
made little progress yesterday.
Bill to repeal the 'iron-clad oath''
was passed. Also one in relation to
jurors in United States Courts. AS
the law now stands all are excluded
from such jury service who sympa.
thized with the South during the
war, or who, in the judgment Of the
Court, "were in any completely or
conspiracy to defeat the objects Of
the civil rights bill and the enforce
ment acts" There was an eminent
propriety in the repeal Of this latter
act, as, if construed as it was intend
ed to be, it would have excluded from
jury service a majority of the JUS
tices Of our Supreme Court, suppos.
ing them to be otherwise eligible.
Speaking of the Supreme Court,
I may say that General Harlan, who
was confirmed at the extra session
for the position of Justice Of the
Court, but in whose case 4 motion to
reconsider was entered, is considered
as having been confirmed and will
be here in few days. It was I'M
doubleday the wish Of Senator Ed
munds to prevent confirmation in
this case, but Harlan's friends called
the case up and confirmed him while
Edmunds was absent.
Our Freedman's Bank lobbyists
are on hand promptly at this session,
and. are not as modest as heretofore.
They not only propose that the Gov
eminent shall pay $3.50 tor the
Bank building here, but that it shall
purchase also from the Bank q
County seat in Florida. It is enough
ia say, Of the, building here that it
would: not -brisg in the market to-day
oneshaH the amount 1t is expected
the. Goverhment will pay for it. ]
suspect many Southern members are
draHn,iuto this questionable scheme
bys good national desire to help the
Bank to declare another dividend for
it's swindled and deluded depositors.
It will be cheaper in the end and far
more honest, TO vote the money di-
recty out of the Treasury.
The message Of Mr.. Hayes IL !
more acceptable document than I
had expected, in that it shows 20
title yielding TO the radicals who
have OF late 90 fiercely attacked him
and his various policies" Senator
Bayard was basty in saying it was
the first message for many years that
did not violate syntax and the Con-
stitution, but there is general con-
servative commendation Of il 30 far
as it relatestto matters other than
the currency and resumption. On
these subjects, without regard to par
! ty OF locality, men differ, and Mr.
Hayes was sure to make both friends
and enemies BY any stand be might
have taken. m IS aeaa .af
This morning our Court decided
that Patterson's position AZ Senator
ofthe United States took him out Of
the class ofIpersons known u .fugi-
tives from justice" and therefore
that he should not be surrendered
on the requisition Of the Governor Of
South Carolina. This is a very i'm
portant question, and certainly not
free from legal difficulties, but one
can readily see practical dangers 70
both States and the Senate in the
establishment Of this decision. II .
decision OF the highest Court Of the
country can be secured in the case,
it should as the law in such cases.
There has been much discussion
among Democratic Senators Of late
as to the, policy Of asking for q larger
representation on the Senate Com.
mittees. The best opinion seems to
be that that matter may as we'll rest
for the present. In no single case,
where any party question was up,
did the Senate during its special
session endorse partisan report on
partisan grounds. The case Of Kel-
! logg isnot an exception, for Kellogg
4 was admitted only after the Repub-
;, licans had agreed to admit Butler
} and Eustis. II might be on some
accounts desirable to have faires
distribution Of Senator'S on the Com.
mitteess but as the Senate ii NOW
constituted y Is not politically i'm.
: portssit:: So MEMO.
] HS ST Lonis Republicon very