Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-06-19
From Our Regu lar Correspondent
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON.

From Our Regula lar Cores pondent.l
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, June Is.
As the hours for adjournment of con-
gress are now easily counted, the legisla-
ton now becomes more and more interest
ing. The disinterested visitor to the capt.
tol--that is, one without personal
interest in any bill or measure pending
is enabled to view with unprecedented eye
the various "ways that are dark and tricks
that are vain as practiced by our savants
and their coadjutors. Alas! for those who
are not thus disinterested, but whose pres
ent happiness or future veal depends upon
some hoped for legislation. To such an
anxious watcher of events it is hard to "let
Patience have her perfect work." viii lie
the quibbling goes on below. A single
objection kills Il measure for the remaining
session and there are many in congress
upon whom the mantle OF Holman Tex
member from Indiana, commonly called
1.-The Great American Directory seems to
have fallen, not to mention the members
with spites to crafty and axes of their own
to grind; those chronically predisposed to
the contrary side," whatever it may be,
and bound to thwart every measure Of the
enemy, however just; and others whose
breakfasts have disagreed with them, or
upon whom last nights dissipation hangs
heavily and who are consequently rs cross
us school ma'am after a protracted visit
from her " vital spark" Upon the adj
ournment of the present congress there
will be many heartaches; the passage of
private claims, bills and lobby schemes
will have been few and far between, and
with no better prospects in store for the
three short months of third session yet
remaining to complete the forty-fifth con-
gress, the memory Of which, if it be
remembered at all, will 60 down to poster
ty as n very bungling and imperfect piece
of work-slver-lined perchance, but with
an Indifferent exterior of pdpier- mache-in
spiritual parlance, " not sufficiently mate
rialized," or, Us the gamin would say,
{" too thin"
An audience estimated at from 5000 to
5000 people, the later being nearer the
truth, assembled at the east front of the
capitol last night to enter a protest against
the adjournment of congress without Civ
ing some material aid to the toiling masses
in the fearful struggle now waged by them
against enforced ideness, suffering and
poverty. The passage of the eighthour
law and the repeal of the resumption act
were the salient points of demonstration
intended to be made and the great number
present, the earnest, manly appearance OF
the crowd, and the ceremonious respect
paid by them to the requirements of law
and propriety commanded the commenda-
ton of all who were present. The steps
and portico of the main east entrance to
the capitol and the wide open space in
front, far beyond were packed with people
the vast majority of whom were working
men out of employment. Too little con-
sideralion has been given during the pres
ent session TO questions in which the mass
es are directly interested; questions which
mean 10 them something more than poll
tics. What are politics to them? They are
not loaves Of bread that they can eat; they
are not labor rolls on which their name!
are placed for daily work and daily pay
they are not offers of assistance when TIE
wolf of hunger guards the door and haunts
the hearth. Legislation should be made
f not only for the imposition of taxes, no
only for the collection of revenues so pro
vided and not only for the campaign sue
cess of this or that party, but also fo
those important questions which affect tn,
life and wellbeing of the masses.
! This species of legislation has beer
wholly forgotten or else temporized will
in most pussianimous manner, ant
} those gentlemen Of both houses who 90 tC
their homes after the adjournment, mus
} pass through the bitter ordeal born of {
dissatisfied constituency and q depressed
} trade.
Before the Potter committee the ret-
cence of Matthews and Sherman is due tc
the fact that they are aware of the plot
which the democrats are trying to work
out, and they are willing to appear at a
disadvantage before the country at present
rather than allow themselves to be entrap.
ped in the snareS of the manipulators of
this investigation. The friends of the adj
ADMINISTRATION are confident that everything
doubtfal will be explained and that Presi-
dent Hayes will come out all right tn the
close, but the country must not be sur
prised if u cloud should temporarily be
thrown on the leading members of the
administration Theae was great deal
of crooked work in Florida and Louisiana.
especially in the latter state. and those
who profted by the illegitimate doings
will be objects of II great deal of suspicion.
And even prominent republicans are frank
enough to admit that first appearances
will be against their party chiefs. but are
satisfied that the final conclusion of the
Investigation will be a vindcation of the
presidents personal friends.
The extraordinary order Of the senate
Stanley Matthews investigating commit