The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-02-06

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.
The Senate took a rest last Thursday,
to last until next Monday, and the city
and country has in o0nst quence enjoyed
a welcome surcease OF silver gabble.
The awful thought is suggested. how
ever, by the Pest of this morning, that
the only object Of the unusually long
adjournment is to give Senators time TO
hunt up something new and original TO
say on the subject. II this surmise be
well founded, 1T is perfectly safe to pre-
dict that the Senatorial effort at orig.
inality will end in failure, for every man
who knows anything knows that the
subject was exhausted before this Con-
gress met. That the honorable gentle
men are busiIy engaged In placing plati-
tudes together, however, there can be
no manner OF doubt, and that they will
be launched on the country is equally
certain. Probably the whole OF the
week will be consumed In the discussion
OF the Bland Bill, and no vote upon it
may be expected until next Saturday,
aud bly, the weary war will 60 on
for several days longer.
The Democratic majority in the
HOUSE
continues to render itself ridiculous In
The eyes of the country by its persistent
display OF feeble btundering. The intel
tectual weakness OF Mir. Randall's CON-
mittees is past revolutionizing the
methods OF Legislation in the House. In
olden times the majority, through its
chosen committees, dictated the tate OF
nearly every measure that passed
through their prelIminary mills, aud the
Chai. man OF the leading Committee, that
OF Ways and Means, was the recognized
leader of his party. Now scarcely
measure comes from an important CON-
mittee that is not slaughtered on the
floor by the stupidity OF the Randall
ability OF the experienced leaLers OF the
Republican minority.
Witness the late of the Army Bill ad-
voca ID by Atkins, Chairman OF the
Committee OF ApprUprlatlons,d during the
extra session, and The equally humlli-
aling defeat OF the WHISKY Resolution
reported by the Ways ana Means This
week! And the worst feature of the
case, from Democratic standpoint, is
the TACT that nearly all of the able IN n
wuom Mr.. Randall sent to the rear sit
back aLd ia her enjoy the discontinue
OF their feebler but more favored COL
leagues. Next week that embodiment
OF dignity. and venerable specimen oil
stately style, Fernando Wood, seIf-as-
sumed leader OF the House, viii report
Tariff Bill, and the country will proba-
bly, be treated to another display OF
Democratic stupidity, ending in practi-
Cal victory tor the minority.
In fit OF -
vIRTUoUS WRATH
the House has ordered the vigorous en-
turcement of the rule excluding every.
body except few favored dignitaries
rom the floor. This is decidedly rough
on The small army Of lobbyists that, ike
The poor, we have always with us, but
does not by any means prevent a prose-
cution OF the business Of influencing
legislation by paid retainers on the
floor, as the guileless public may be led
70 believe. lhe main effect of the order
is to render the business OF floor lobby
ing monopoly in the hands OF ex.msm-
bers OF Congress, who, DelDg privileged
characters under the rules, will here
a ter be able to command higher figures
for their services. 1t may be mentioned
here as mere matter of news and not
as thing likely to destroy the useful
ness o, these ex-honorables to their eli
ents, that each Of them is required to
sign a pledge that he will not use his
privilege Tor the purpose of 'iurthering
any interest before receiving his card of
admission. OF course they all sign il.
The conscience OF an ex-member Is,
generally speaking, a very elastic insti-
tuition. -'-'
Speaking of the House naturally
enough recalls the fact that the
DooRKEEPER,
Colonel Polk, has been called upon by
resolution Of the House to pass
through q course OF investigation winch
promises TO eVentuate in an obituary,
Tie closing line Of which might very ap-
proprIutely be written thus:
"Gono 10 meet Fitzhugh,"
Of course this prediction is based
upon the idea that the Committee Will
do it's full duty; Tor if it does salt can't