The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-03-14
AFFAIRS IN WASHINGTON.
From Our Regular Correspondents.

From Our Regular Correspondents.
These are called dull times in Wash
ington. There are occasional gusts of
excitement in the Senate and House,
when belligerent Democrat or Repub-
lican pitches into the opposite, or, what
is almost as frequent now, into some
member of his own party, or when some
question bearing upon the late civil war,
the reconstruction laws or the electoral
commission is brought up. But this e1-
citement is galvanic, momentary, and the
apathy of the majority, the galleries and,
it is believed, of the country, says plainly
in the slang Of the day, "Give us rest"
Occasionally 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 a reputation for wit, and he
labors heavily under the conciousness Of
the reputation. He has written some
fiat essays in Harpers Magazine on Amer
lean humor apd humorists, or some such
title, but if he ever said really sugges-
tive, and witty thing, the record is no
where preserved. An essential of wit 10
spontaneity and suddenness; one of the
elements of the absurd is surprise. No
one can be amused if he is made to an
ticipate and inspect critically the. .labori-
Gus mining that precedes the explosion
Wit is climax with the intermediate steps
knocked from under. All of Mr.. Cox's
efforts are elaborate. It's known before
hand That he is to make set--so called
funny-speech, and as he proceeds with
the grace of wooden-legged jig dancer,
the groundlipgs may laugh, but the judi
cious must grieve, both on account of the
poorness of the performance and the e1-
ecrable taste that selects legislative
body for such displays.
From the large amount Of business be-
fore Congress-much of it of a character
that ought not to he hurried over--it is
probable that the session will be contin-
ued far into the summer. Some appro-
priation bills, especially those of the
Army and Navy, will not be passed with
out 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 ma
terially reduced; but it is doubtful if a
reduction can be effec.ed, for there is al
ways such an insinuation of personal and
selfish interests into what should be ques-
tions of puyely public policy, that the
fideal of independent judicious legislation
is never attained. The Republicans will
not as body vote for the Banning bill,
because they know that the Democrats
will appropriate all the glory Of econom-
.ical legislation, and will be able to go
before fhe 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 rhose salaries will
be reduced BY the proposed law.
A close inspection o. the secret springs
and motives of legislation and Legislators
here is calculated to chill enthusiasm,
and suggest reflection, in those who have
been taught, from school histories, and
By 4th of July Orations, that the SUM
mum bonum of human government has
been reached in the United States, and
that the will of the people is accom-
plished through popular suffrage. The
greed and meanness of men find express
sion here just as in n,onarchial forms,
and there is the trouble that responsible
ty is not so easily fIed, and many Il
petty lawyer that is sent to Congress has
no other aim than to SO "ix things" by
the distribution of patronage, that he
may be elected again, or, if he has no
hope of that, to make the most money
possible during the brief harvest that he
is here.
There is now in progress most dis
gusting scramble for a few petty Offices
that are under the conrSol Of the House
of Representatives. The scramblers, as
rule, are so vicious that men of charac-
ter are forced through self-respect out of
competition. Itis known that there are
in waiting no less than twelve candidates
for the Office of the Door Keeper of the
House, which, they hope, will be- made
vacant through the investigation of the
eresent incumbent. The committee has
concluded the work of examination, and
will soon make report upon the con-
duct of Col. Polk; it is not known what
that report will be, but fsmished gang
of political beats are already preparing
for rough and tumble race for the
place and it's spoils. There is nothing
more contemplate than the savage greed
exhibited by Democrats for the pittance
of patronage that the House has at its
disposal. It is fact that will be patent
to any one who will take the trouble to
| investigate, that out of tie thousands of
applicants for the fifty-four places at the
disposal of the Door Keeper, not more
than score are men who would be eligi.
LIZ 70 O ,,lana with q salary nf thirty dol.