The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-03-13
THE WAYS OF WASHINGTON,


THE WAYS OF WASHINGToN.
News and Go sip from the National
Capital. The New House--Soaper's
Sorrows Susan Anthony and the
Drummer Honest John Goes West.
tFRoM OUR sPKorAL CoRREsroSpENT.]
WASHINGTON, d. c., March 8.-Thc
! principal events Of last week in this
city were the closing acts Of the Forty
fifth Congress. This body, during the
last two weeks Of the session., seemed
suddenly to bo seized with a super
abundance ofofencrgy and patriotism.
and the closing days were
distinguished by continuous day-and-
night scssions-including the last two
Sundays. Many of the members, too,
had no doubt an ultcrior motive, to
make figure at the close of their politi-
cal career.
The house assembled ut 0, n. m.,
Sunday, af,cr Il recess ofn few hours,
having been in session all night. The
bill inregard to arrears Of pensions
was then passed. The original bill
appropriates $4,000, 900 for this pur-
pose. The committee on the "legisla-
tive bill' reported disagreement, and
the committee on the repeal Of the iu-
rors' test oath, supervisors law, and
deputy marshals, were unable to agree
up to the close Of the session.
The Senate, after taking recess
from $3.50 to 10, a. H., assembled at
the latter hour. Mr.. Ferry was elected
president pro tenn, Mr.. Wheeler hay
ing given notice that he would not
again preside at the session.
The only business of special public
Importance was tho passage of the
House bill to prevent the Introduction
and spread of contagious diseases.
An executive session was held from
halt-past ten to halfpnst eleven. Dur
ing this time, the crowd in tho halls
aud corridors became so great that the
door-kccpcr had to put them back two
or three times. When the doors were
thrown open n rush was made for
seats, and the galleries were soon
crowded to their utmost capacity. The
spectators had not long to wait, as the
bills from the House we're being read
rapidly, and with them time sid by
swiftly. At 1883 a suggestion was
made that the presiding officer turn
his attention away for moment, and
this being, gracefully accomplished
a.
back to five minutes to twelve. This
drew applause from the galleries. As
the time piece ran up to that hour the
gavel Of the presiding officer fell, and
the Forty-tifth Congress was "nuinbcr-
ed with the things that wcrc."
AS previously stated, an extra scs-
sion has been called for the 18th inst
ostcnsibly to provide for the army !;
and it is curious coincidence that the
Democrats will come into possession of
the Senate with the same majority
they had when they last controlled it,
| eighteen years ago. The following is
an estimate of the new Con gress !:
Senate-Dcmocrats ~, Republicans
80, Independents l, vacancy /. House
democrats 1873, Republicans 128, Ma
tionals %, vacancies 6. This is the
calculation made by the Nationals.
The Democrats claim, however, one
hundred and forty-six, exclusive of
Independents and vacancies. AS four
OF the vacancies in the House are
from California, which is almost sure
to 20 Democratic III consequence of
the Presidents veto of the anti Chinese
bill, the Democrats will be almost sure
to control the new House, as they
also have undisputed control of tho
Senate This extra session is the
seventh in the history Of the
country, two having been called by
Mr.. Hayes. Owing to tho shortncss
of the vacation, most Of the members
reelected to tile new Congress remain
in the city.
The Potter Committee sent in their
report before tho adjournment. Tho
majority report, signed by several
cmbcrs, covers eighty-tive pages of
closely printed matter. Their charges
of forgery of the Florida and Louisi-
ana certificates in the last Presidential
election arc supported by such mass
of evidence as cannot be successfully
confuted. This is supplemented by 4
separate paper, signed by Gen. Il. r.
Butler, and agreeing in the main with
the majority. The minority report of
three members maintains that tho elcc-
ton was fair; refers at length to the
cipher dispatches, and condemns the
manner in which the investigation
was conducted, &c. =.
AS this IL Lent, visiting in fashiona-
bio circles Is on the decline; still there
are occasional receptions. In recent
ono at the house Of Senator Blaine,
Senator Gordon, the most battle.