The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1879-12-10
WILMINGTON LETTER.

fFrom Our Regular Correspondent. /

WASHINGTON Dec. 9th, 1879.
Not within the memory of the old
est inhabitant has Congress made
such q mild begianingasit has made
this session. Correspondents and
reporters are at their wits end for a
sensation, but as yet nothing has
been found that win make hair
lifting headlines. At first it was
thought there would be internal d.
vision on the financial question, but
even thermost sanguine lover Of dis
cord has ceased to hope for excite.
ment from this source. The first day
was unusually quiet and common
place. Notwithstanding the perfec-
ton Of the weather, (for week
Washington has been like summer,
even to the extent Of an occasional
mosquito) but few people attended
the opening session, and, FIRST time
in memory the galleries were. not full
on the first day. On Thursday Con.
Egress adjourned until Monday
Many members are asking leave to go
home until after the holidays, and
there seems to be wide spread dis
inclination for real work. From
past experience it appears almost
useless to have Congress assemble be-
fore the 1st Of January. Tohave the
session open on the first Monday in
December, and then adjourn two
weeks for holiday, without having
accomplished anything beyond leg.
islative dilly-dallying, is, to say the
least, Improbable.
There is considerable talk in polit-
ical circles about presidential pros
poets and candidates, but, when sift-
ed and Invested Of the oracular hum
bugry of interviews with prominent
men, nothing more has been develop
ed than has been known for the last
month. 1t is evidently too early to
discuss this question now. There
will be time before the conventions
assemble to nominate candidates for
more than one term in the political
kaleidoscope. Republicans believe
they can elect either Grant, Sherman,
Blaine, or Conkling. Democrats talk
mostly of Seymour, with Bayard for
second choice.
1t is expected that The committee
on elections will soon present their
reports on the sixteen contested seats
in the House. Four are ready to be
heard now; the briefs are all printed
and the contestantsarei in attendance.
The only contested seat in the Sen
ate is that of Kellogg, of Louisiana.
He will probably not be lnolested
until late in the session, but, when
ever the subject shall come up, there
will be another long rehearsal of the
familiar Louisiana question. No
previous question rule can gag orato-
ny in the Senate.
The Postmaster General evidently
feels the vantage of his position in
his fight with the lottery companies.
Yesterday formidable array of law
yes; beaded by Senator Matt Car
pente., appeared in the District
Court to argue he service of an in
junction upon Judge key;, to prevent
him from OBTAINING letters addressed
to lottery companies. Chief Justice
Carter who, with Justice James, oc.
cupied the bench, declined to inter
rupt the regular order Of business to
hear the case, which was referred to
the Court by Justice Macarthur, who
also fixed day forargument. They
would hear it on regular motion day,
Monday. Senator Carpenter said he
could not be present then, but could
on Saturday. The court then an.
nounced the latter day for the hear
ing, and proceeded with the case on
trial. The post,oflice department
was not represented, nor had any APP
pearance been entered or other notice
taken of the process which had been
served on the Postmaster General
II is understood that the latter has
decided to leave the entire RESPONSE
bility with the court to determine
whether it will assume jurisdiction
in the matter. C. A. S.
1t is stated that during the month
of November the revenues of the
Government amounted to about one
million dollars per day. The cues