Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-03-13
(From our Regular Correspondent
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. March


These are called dull times in Washing
ton. There are occasional gusts OF ex-
element in the senate and the house,
when belligerent democrat Or republican
pitches into the opposite, or, what is almost
as frequent now, into some member of his
own party, or when some question, bear
ing upon the late civil war, the recon-
struction laws or the electoral commission
is brought up, But this excitement is gal
vanic, momentary, and the apathy of the
majority of the galleries, and, it is be-
lieved, of the country, says plainly in the
slang of the day: " Give us a rest" o.
casionally, when Mr.. Conger and Mr..
Cox, the funny men of their respective
parties, try to be amusing, the house
laughs from force of custom, while the
galleries wonder if that is the standard of
wit and humor in the next to the highest
legislative body in the land. Mr.. Cox has
reputation for wit, and he labors heavily
under the consciousness of the reputation.
lie has written some flat essays in Har-
pers' Magazine on American Humor and
Uumorists, or some such title, but if he
ever said Il really suggestive and witty
thing, the record is nowhere preserved.
An essential of wit is spontanety and
suddcnncss; one of the elements of the
absurd is surprise. No one can be amused
if he is made to anticipate and inspect
critically the laborious wincing that pre-
codes the explosion. Wit is climax, with
the intermediate steps knocked from I'M
der. All Mr.. Cox's efforts are elaborate.
1t is known beforehand that he is to make
a set, so called funny speech, and as he
proceeds with the grace ola wooden legged
jig dancer, the groundlings may laugh,
but the judicious must gieye, both on ac-
count of the poorness of the performance
and the eXecrable taste that selects legis-
ative body for such displays.
From the large amount of business be-
fore congress, much of it of character
that ought not to be hurried over, it is pro-
blble that the session will be continued far
into the summer. Some appropriation
bills, especially those Of the army and
navy will not be passed without long and
aggravated discussion. Many thoughtful
representatives of both political parties
are of opinion that the expenses Of both
these divisions of the public service can
and ought to be materially reduced; but it
is doubtful if Il reduction can he effected,
for there is always such an insinuation Of
personal and selfish interests into what
should be questions of purely public poll
cv, that the ideal of Independent judicious
legislation is never attained. The repub-
icans will not us body vote for the Ban
ming bill, because they know that the
democrats will appropriate all the glory Of
economical legislation, and will be able to
90 before the people and boast in coming
campaigns. On the other hand some
democrats will decline to vote for the bill
because they have relatives and friends in
the army whose salaries will be reduced
by the proposed law.
A close inspection Of the secret springs
and motives of legislation and legislator!
here, is calculated to chill enthusiasm, anc
suggest reflection, in those who have beer
taught, from school histories, and by the
18th of July orations, that the Sun11eun
boVuDa of human government has beei
reached in the United States, and that thu
will of the people is accomplished through
popular suffrage, The greed and mean
ness of men find expression here just as il
monarchical forms, and there is the trou
bic that responsibility is not 50 easily fixed
and many II petty lawyer that is sent t.
congress has no other aim than to 50 " Fl,
things" by the distribution of patronage
that he may be elected again, or, if lie ha
no hope of that, to make the most @
money possible during the brief harves
that he is here.
There is now in progress Il most dis
gushing scramble for n few petty office
that are under the control of the house c
representatives. The scramblers us rul
are so vicious that men Of character ar
forced through self respect out of compeIi
ton. 1t is known that there are in wait
ing no less than twelve candidates for tn
office of the door-keeper of the house
which, they hope, will be made vacar
through the Investigation Of the preser
incumbent. The committee has conclude
the work of examination, and will 500
make report upon the conduct of Colont
Polk; it is not known what that report wi
be, but famished gang of political beat
are already preparing for rough IN
tumble race for the place and its spoil
There is nothing more contemplate tina
the savage greed exhibited by democra
for the pittance Of patronage that Il
house has at its disposal. 1t is n fact tn;
will be patent to any one who will tai
, the trouble to investigate, that, out
: the thousands of applicants for the fft,
4 four places at the disposal of the doc
! keeper, not more than ii score are mt
who would be eligible TO II place with
e salary of thirty dollars month in NJ
:. locality where they are known, or wou
: be hired on their merits for lcgitima
: work. They are mostly eX gin-slngel
bankrupt gamblers, confidence men, al
every variety of beat and hummer tn
G happens to have the endorsement Of son
s. member of congress whom he has helpa
" it is needless to say how, to elect.
|. Senator Lamar is reaping the rewa
NJ that man who lives up to his conviction
70 however unpopular they may be. is sure
,r get. The leading papers of Mississippi
T. though hot for the silver bill, cannot !
f. press their admiration of the man W
Ell voted against it because he believed
Id wrong, and, so far from being asked
at resign by the legislature, has received
70 letter signed by the majority of the st'
y indorsing his course. The fact is, the p