Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-06-28
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Correspondence OF the Bulletin.

WASHINGTON, D. G., June, 81, rs.
The closing scenes Of Congress are
always intensely interesting. In the
attempt to concentrate into the two or
three days preceding the hour Of adj
journment the accumulated business of
months, much excitement necessarily is
aroused not only among the Solons but
in the crowded Hobbies. Instead of act.
ing upon the Appropriation Bills during
the winter and spring, Congress invar
iably consumes it's time in winding de-
bate upon collateral and unimportant
issues leaving undone till the last mo-
ments that which should be done at
first. Millions of dollars are voted away
in the press and confusion without any
one on the floor of the House or Senate,
save some interested member who is
acting for the lobby haying the slightest
idea or knowledge of the matter or in
terests involved Every conceivable
form Of steal is tackled on to these APP
preparation bills until the riders amount
to more in amount than the original
bill called for, and then under the OBJ
lection which is raised to their consider
alton the whole omnibus is referred to
a conference Committee of six men,
three from each House who are expect
ed to reconcile all the differences in the
space of two or three hours and deter
mine what monies the countries need
inasmuch as the two Houses cannot Of
themselves. Such farcical proceed
ings never lose their novelty to us at
least, and Notwithstanding we have for
many years watched Congress as it hur-
ridly prepared for departing from the
Capital, the dash and din of factions in
the House are as interesting now as ev-
er in the past. On the night of the 18th
Ben Butler gave us an exhibition of
his pluck and tenacity of purpose. A
member moved the passage of the Fish
cries Award bill, at which old Ben bris-
tied up, in his fiercest style, and wanted
to make five minute speech in opposi-
ton. But the House would not cons ent
to hear him and for five minutes he
stood at his desk with his arms folded
coolly listening to the bowling of hun
dred or more men at him, who with
cries of order" sit down." etc were
drowning the calling and rappings of
Speaker. Nor could quiet be restored
until the Sergeant-at-Arms under the
Speakers order, stepped up to Mr. But
Ter and caused him to take his seat.
1t is rarely that the Speaker directs
the Sergeant-at-Arms to do his duty"
and only once before this session has a
member declined to heed the demand
''out of order" Whisky then was the
cause, pure Obstinacy in this instance.
This award matter is big thorn
in every members side and it will be
made only from sense of honor for we
have seen no one who comedies that
we owe England even a million much
less five. Years ago we argued
that the United States should not arbi-
trate her differences with England mas
much as the precedent she had herself
made would far better subserve our in
terests than arbitration. hence our ac-
quiescence in the award partakes of
the spirit which led Tom Corwin years
ago to make his famous American war
speech At last our District govern
ment is established, the Senate haying
confirmed the Presidents nominations
for Commissioners and Justices of the
Peace, though much opposition was in
voked by the disappointed applicants
We feel sure that the District of Col
umbia has the best municipal govern
ment in the United States and that its
real interests are better consulted and
cared for by its government officials
than those of any other city or district.
More watchfulness can be exercised
here than elsewhere, for every citizen
can appeal at once to Congress for an
investigation and for redress-an appeal
which has far more weight than resort
to the ballot box or to State Legislature
Washington never looked more beauti-
full than now The recent heavy rains
have washed its concerted sreets 'as
clean as pin" have whitened up the
marble fronts of our public buildings
and covered our many parks with living
green and flowers On every hand are
the evidences Of warmth and shower
and all nature, and Art too, is smiling
upon us with voice of gladness and sym
pathy. The appropriations made for
the District by Congress are heavy
Including the salaries Of our officials
the repair of the Patent Office, the
completion of the North Wing of the
State Department, and other improve
ments, the governmental expenditure
for the next fiscal year will amount to
nearly twenty million of dollars, hence
with what we regard as good city gov.
eminent our citizens feel that good
times are coming and that in a year OF
two at furthest we shall be in the full
measure of prosperity.