The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-02-28
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. D. G. Feb. %, 1878.
IN CONGRESS

w W
IN CONGRESS
Both houses have been actively en-
gagged during the past week in work
ing up the general business. Reports
of various committees have been re-
ceived, and only await their passage
to become laws, which when accom-
plished will give quite a general relief
to the commercial and financial re-
sonrces of the country. Indeed, from
all we can learn, the different avenues
of trade, as well as the laboring inter
ests already begin to feel the benefit of
the present partially finished iegisla-
ton, and we apprehend that by the
time Congress finishes up their work
at the end of the session, the country
at large will be considerably advanced
on the road to more prosperous times.
THE SENATE
settled all quibbles on the Silver Bill,
60 far as that side of the Capitol was
concerned, by passing the bill with
several amendments of an unimport-
ant nature, by vote of 4S to 81, a
majority over the stwo-thirds' vote,
which is a polite way of informing
Mr.. Hayes that it will be useless to
veto it. The Silver mon are in high
elee, and note with no little glorifica.
ton that gold came down upon the
passage of the bill, and that Govern
ment bonds held their own. The next
move will be to open additional mints
throughout the country, that suffi-
cient amount of silver may be coined
fast enough to meet the demand there
for. The silver men propose to keep
a watchful eye upon Secretary Sher-
man of the Treasury, as well rs the
Director of the Mint, who are very
hostile to the bill; and assert with
considerable emphasis that If Mr..
Sherman or the Director attempt to
defeat the object of the bill, an i'm.
peachment bp the House, followed by
in the Senate, will most
surely overtake them. The Finance
Committee have agreed not to take up
the Anti i-Resumption Bill as yet, Quite
a siege took place over the contest ed
nominations in the executive session
of last Thursday, and was as exciting
as der Di-viP over the case of Judge
Northrop, to be u S. District Attor.
ney for South Carolina. Rad. Ed
munds worked himself up TO fever
heat, froihed at the mouth, ripped and
tore like a mad bull, sitting down with
the exclamation that Northrop was
but the mouthpicce of Gov. Hampton,
and that ere long Ex-Governor Cham
berlain would be indicted and a req
uisition for his body be made upon
the Governor of New York, and that
he would share the same fate as the
Returning Board, but his appeal was
no co. for our side are determined
to have their way, and Judge North
rop was confirmed by vote of 81 to
%. This caused Rad Edmunds to
leave the Senate abruptly with the re-
mark that it was no use for the Judi
ciary Committee to waste its time in
the fitness of nominees
Not content with this our friends then
took up the nomination of Robeat X .
Smith, for Collector at Mobile, Ala
bama, which was also hotiy contested
with a like result as in Northrop's case.
and Smith, too, was confirmed, thus
two black eyes given the RAIDS
in very short space of time. 1t has
been dead bad week for RAIDS.
IN THE HOUSE.
more opposiron was manifested to-
wards the Silver Bill, as it came from
The Senate, than was at first suspected
but the better opinion favored the
Bill in its Senate amendments rather
than provoke unlimited debate and
return it to the Senate. there to be fur
her delayed, until, perhaps the end of
he session, and after considerable
and filibustering, our side
won, and the Senate amendments were
in by q vote much larger
han the two-thirds' required to pass
t over Mr.. Hayes veto, and it now
only awaits his signature to become a
aw. Some say he will, some say he
WON'T but we incline to the former
opinion. The Banking and Currency
have concluded 10 report
Bill substituting grecnbacks direct
rom the u. S. Treasury in place of
National Bank notes. A lively and
leated debate occurred over the con-
'ictlon of the Returning Beard, where
n Radical Hale fired off quite an
mount of pent up wrath against the
verdict, and whilst be conteuded that
t was i'm violation of an understand
ng that they should not be prosecuted
ie offered no proof to sustain his asser-
ion beyond his own word, and that
# others entitled TO no more credit
han himself. Poor-old man Garfield
elt sOrely afflicted over the affair, and
he tone Of his remarks were in strik.
ng contrast TO that of Hale's, bat his
litter partisansllip is so well known,
hat his insincerity produced only as
much impression as the moderate
one of his speech. His allnsion that
he people of the North wanted sby-
,oncs to be by-gones' was estimated to
mean that he and all of his type were
lot SO magnanimous when they con-
rolled both Houses, rs his magnanim
ty has only so suddenly taken hold OF
i'm, since he sees Judah's sceptre
eaying Judah lonely and forlorn. Had
he Radicals possession of both Houses
his sycophant Garfield would be as
|evilish in his nersecutiOn of the