Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-12-12
Onr Washington Letter.

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Our Washington Letter.
wAsHISGToN D. c., December 8, 1877
Messrs. Editors Both houses Of Congress have
agreed to adjourn on the 10Th instant, until the
10th Of January, making the holiday recess an un-
usually long one.
THE WORK OF CONGRESS
during the seven weeks Of the special session,
which ended on Monday last, has been mainly
confined to the business Tor which the extra ses-
sion was called. Eighteen hundred bills were In
troduced in the House and referred to commit
tees The only bills that were passed by both
houses and have become laws were the army APP
preparation bill for the current year and the navy
deficiency bill The bills to remonetize silver and
to repeal the resumption act were passed by the
House, but received no consideration by the Sen
ate The Paris Exposition bill and the general
deficiency bill were taken up and passed in the
Senate with amendments, but the amendments
have not been acted on by the House. All the
unfinished business, however holds It's place in
the present regular session after five days have
elapsed The present week has been devoted to
lulScellhneOns OuSlneSs III uotn DIhuVntS VI Non-
gress resolution offered by Senator Edmunds,
has been passed calling on the Attorney General
for lis; Of all criminal prosecutions in the dis
trct court of South Carolina since January I'd,
1873 A bill has also been passed for the relief Of
the Huron sufferers On account Of delay on
the part of the elections committee the case Of
Mr. Eustis, the prospective Senator from Louis
lana, has been set for Monday next and its con-
sderation is liable TO last for several days. A
bill has been introduced by Alexander r. Stephens
in the House, supplementary to the act incor-
pOrating the Texas Pacific raro d. No chairman
has yet been designated for the House committee
on Pacific railroads, and much conjecture is rife
as to who the man will be.
THE SILVER BILL,
which passed the House, came mp before the SEN
ate on Thursday, and the relative strength Of It's
friends and opponents was pretty well shown
Senator Allison, of Iowa, wanted the bill made the
special order for Tuesday next, and every day
thereafter until it was disposed Of Objections at
once were made by Senators who are known to be
opposed to the bill, and before the latter realized
the fact the silver men were warmly combating
the objections and expressing their advocacy of
the measure Senator Morrill, offered an amend
ment that the bill be made the special order for
January 18th, and it was favored by the known
opponents of the silver bill Mr. Morrills amend
| ment was voted down by vote of eighteen to
| forty, and Aison's motion carried by similar
vote. The opponents Of the bill include among
their number Senators Morrill,. Bayard, Blaine,
Dawes, Lamar and Ben Hill, while the advocates
of the measure include Sc ators Allison Of Iowa,
| Jones of Nevada, Booth of California, Oglesby OF
Illinois and Matthews of Ohio. The silver men
are much elated by the vote, which they con-
sidered true test. Many of them believe they
have votes enough TO pass the bill even over the
Presidents veto.
Two resolutions were introduced in the House
on Thursday relating tn Cuba, one by Colonel
Joyce NJ Vermont and the other by Mr. Blair of
New Hampshire. Objections being made, how
ever, they were not acted upon
COLONEL JoYCE's RESOLUTION
rectes in its preamble, the situation Of affairs in
/ Cuba, to the effect that the people Of Cuba did,
in 1868. set up standard Of revolution from the
despotism of Spain, and at a convention held at
Yara in the Island Of Cuba, framed and adopted
q constitution of government, under the provi-
sions of which the island was divided into -four
separate departments or states; that the patriots
have held possession of three Of said departments
against the military power of Spain, establishing
their own invincible power; that in this struggle
for liberty fifty thousand Cuban patriots have
been sacrificed, while the war. on the part Of
Spain, has been carried on with spirit of blood
thirsty revenge, which has shocked humanity and
aroused the just Indignation of the world,
PERSONAL SKETCHES.
General MANNING C. Ilutler the new dpmo tif
Senator from South Carolina, is an attorney by
profession, though somewhat engaged in plant.
ing lie was general in the confederate service
and lost IA leg in the battle of Brandy Station In
person he stands nearly six feet in height, but i,
efemnate in looks, dress, and ac,on-being in
his personal appearance far different from the
boodthirsty person he has so often been de
scrihed His lameness is hardly perceptible
walking easily with cane. He dresses in solemn
black, his clercal-looking coat buttoned up to tn,
neck He is said to be about forty years of age
but looks younger; is trfe bald and wears
light-brown moustache He has an intellectual
face, clear blue eye that is not afraid to lool
into another's, and the general bearing of a quie
gentlemen. lie is now engaged in preparing
defense of himself from the charges made agains
him in connection with the Hamburg massacre
which he will soon deliver in the Senate.
Ex-Governor William Pitt Kellogg the newly
seated Senator from Louisiana, was formerl,
known as Montpelier boy" by many of you
readers years ago, His life has been an eventfu
one since his graduation at Norwich University
and its events have left their impress upon hi
personal appearance, to some extent In persoi
Governor Kellogg is slight of figure, about fiv
feet ten, quick and nervous in action with n &c
NAL smile and ~ hearty welcome to all his oil
friends. His sharp, attractive face is cleanl
shaven, all but the upper lip, while his moustach
and head are pretty thoroughly silvered by tn
cares and responsibilities which have fallen t
his lot during the last fifteen or twenty years
lie occupies a seat in the Senate on the extrem
back row of the Republican side, and during tn
week it has been reception day with him iron
morning until night
Mr.. ]. B. Eusts, just admitted to fill the sena
tora vacancy from Louisiana, has more i'm
pressiye figure than either of the two Senator
mentioned He is tall, large in form and broad
shoudered, with a red face and black hair dashe
with gray He has been patient as Job 70
these three years, and his patience has at las
been rewarded
, OTHER ITEMS.
Sergeant-at-Arms French of the Senate
: charged with removing Republicans and appoint
r ing democrats in their stead The Republca
Senators are investigating his case Mr. Ordway
o: New Hampshire, who formerly held the office
1 is on the ground and will take the place again
the Senate insists on it,
The doorkeeper Of the House is in trouble alsC
! He has made forty appointments more than tn
law allows, which necessitated their discharge, an
now the unfortunate forty are clamoring for thei
2 pay. The doorkeeper is to be investigated an
will probably be displaced
D The House committee on elections have re
ported in favor Of giving Patterson, the democrat
his seat as representative from Colorado. II hei
seated by the House the Centennial state
0 should come in body and kick him out
The "bar" of the House is soon to he denote
by railing and curtain for the protection of tn
d occupants Of the outer row of seats.
: Senator Bayard, the democratic Senator froI
Delaware says the message is the ahlest commit
nicaton sent to Congress in his time.
President Hayes is intending to attend the Me-
England Society dinner in Boston, on the %
Q instant
+ Professor Peter Collier, formerly OF the Unive
sty of Vermont, has entered upon his duties a
chief chemist of the Department OF Agricutur
here.