The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-12-22
From Washington.

From Washington.
ADJOURNMENT.
Both houses of congress adjourned last Satur-
day to January 10th, so that Washington has
] fallen back to its old time dulness The Presi-
dent also proposes to leave the city during
part Of the recess, spending few days in Il
visit to New York, possibly to enjoy the hos
pitalty as well as receive the advice and in
structions of the Wall street money kings, after
which he may make a flying visit to Ohio,
BUSINESS DONE.
| Very little business was perfected previous
to the recess. The bill appropriating $4,000
towards proper representation Of our country
att the Paris exposition next summer, havingiail-
ed to pass at the extra session, was finally taken
! up in the house.on Friday and the senate amend
4 mcnts concurred in, 50 that it has become law.
The bill provides for one commissioner gener
al with an assistant from each state, we believe,
and provides for the free transportation to Pa
riS and hack of whatever articles may be offer
ed for exhibition at the grand fair. Hcwit's
"corndodger" amendment was rejected.
Another deficiency bill was also passed, in
Guiding an item, tackled on by the senate, Of
$4,000 for new post routes in the south and
west This item was bitterly denounced in
the house as Il steal, but the mail contractors
had address enough TO lobby it through.
A bill was also passed to deiray the expenses
fof burying the victims Of the steamer Huron
The board Of inquiry into the cause of that dis
aster lay the blame TO errors in navigation and
lack Of seamanship ON the part OF Capt Ryan
and Lieut.. Palmer doth dead) The decision
is rather hard on the naval school at Annapo-
lis, of which both were graduates.
: The resolutions of Stanley Matthews, declar
ing L. 5. bonds payable in silver &c, failed to
reach final vote in the senate before the
recess.
GORDONCONk1ING FUSS.
] All Washington was in a tremoi OF excite
ment on Friday and Saturday over the rumor
of hostile meeting ION the taps" between
Senators Gordon and Conkling. The trouble
arose during the executive session OF the senate
on Friday. Gordon was holly opposing the
confirmation of Wade, a republican appointed
Is collector for the third Georgia district The
debate had already been prolonged to tedious
less when Gordon asked for the reading OF
report of the committee of commerce in the
case. Conkling said, "Oh, let us go on with
the calendar" The tone in which this was
slid dsplcascd Gordon, who replied; The
senator from New York Is debating to the
chair how business shall go ON Conkling
did not hear this remark, but his attention
being called to it, he jumped TO his feet and
after having Gordon repeat it said, IF the
-''"',.r nncdns that l l;o.--'-s '--'' -
business of the senate shall proceed, he simply
piled I'VE will settle that elsewhere" Conk-
ling replied, 1--WE can settle It now and here, if
you desire" NO" said Gordon, "we will
settle it elsewhere"
1t is little strange that although this oc.
'Curred in executive session, where every per
son present was sworn to secrecy, the senate
ha1 barely adjourned before the whole bust
ness not only in general, but in its minutest
detail, was known all over Washington and
next morning appeared in all the leading daily
papers Of the country.
Thurman, before the senate adjourned, un-
dcrtook to snroothe the matter over on behalf
|of Gordon, and Hamln on behalf of Conkling.
but the gentlemen themselves seemed stubborn
and doggcd, and made no corresponding re.
Spouse.
All Friday night and Saturday everybody
was positive Conkling would bc challenged,
and the topic of discussion was, what will he
do? VIII he accept: viii he fight? and so
on. But no challenge passed, and on the meet
ing OF the senate next day Mr. Hamlin present.
ed resolution reciting that although slight
misunderstanding had occurred the day before
between senator's Ccnkling and Gordon, the
newspaper reports had greatly msrepresented
and exaggerated it and then proceeding to
state what really had occurred declared that
there was nothing in ii nj which either could
take offcnsc, and both the parties themselves
and the senate being ready to treat the matter
~ u nothing lad occurred, UNANIMOUSLY put
thi, statement upon the record, and there the
matter should drop. Gordon and Conklng
thereupon clinched it by shaking hands, and
the ierment about pistols and coffee for two"
was over. Yet the newspapers and the gossips
will not he done with il for Il month To come
CONFIRM ATOMS.
The senate did very little business all last
week but act OH executive appointments, many
of which were rejected, among which a nota
bic one was that Of Mclinn, Il member of the
Florida returning board, about the last of that
breed of scoundrels whom the President had
failed'to reward, and whom he had appointed
associate justice of New Mexico. Conovcr
said he was totally unfit for the position, and