Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-12-17
Iron our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON LETTER,
MAsamslos. y. O.. Dee, ~. lsl

iNNNEn NV ""''S 49,
renely ~ the capitol. beyond the
passage at joint resolution TO aa'
Iouen Tor u Christmas holiday on the
10Th instant, aud ,he confirmation OF
a couple OF appointments by The sen-
ate, nothing specially noteworthy mas
been done by Congress The recess
il 10 last until January 6th-lwo
weeks, Meanwhile, the House Ap'
propris,ions Committed viii endeayor
10 Get three of their small bills
through before Adjournment The
deficiency bill Tor lhe payment Of
marshall fees will nol be acted upon
until after ,he recess, There was
sonns surprise NJ the exceedingly
prompt aud entirely unanimous eon'
irmaion Of Secretary MeCrafy 10 he
United States judge, but tho Demo-
cratic Senate I. not disposed to he
cap,ious. Ex-senator Ramsey was
hoisted into McCray's place IN . j'iiy'
and entered al once upon the duties
Of the War Office. This VIII put
Gen, Tecumseh Sherman IN a better
humor than he has been recently, Tor
Il IL quite generally believed that the
Secretary viii be little more Than u
chiei clerk. waile Sherman bosses the
Army aud Department, lie did not
have full control under McCrary, Tor
tho latter Ia n man Of brains aud pur'
pose, and there was, ] understand,
some jealousy The Shcrmaas like
mower and command-rspeola'ly dots
the General-and between Tccnmsch
and John the government is now pr'e
" much under the eoul,ol ol the fam
iiy. Hayes aud Ramsey are 'igure
heads,
AS little has been done IN Congress,
ZONE humorous inlerthanges OF rel0r
and banter between membeis have 90
cured. The other day Mr.. Frye, OF
Maine, ia the discussion OF the bill to
regulate the compensation OF the Sn
premc Court reporter. got ~ u neat
Bit Of repartec on Gen. Keller VINO
said that while there might be 1000
men in his State Of Ohio competent
to perform the hnilcS OF 'hl" CLERK,
shin, he would not consider them paid
according to their deserts Ut $4,000,
Mr.. Frye quickly answered Ina; 80
far as he could ascertain, ID, vast ma
iority Ut the 1000 competent men OF
Ohio we're already installed in fat OF
Gees. Keiier made poor mouth 1T
this, und accused Frye Of stealing
democratic thunder. Gencral Tom
Browne. Of Indiana. IN speaking on
the same question. remarked that the
services ui erca, many Ut The states
men now in Congress would he dear
to the country at $4,000 n year
Speak for yourself" shouted Il mem
Der on the republican side, ~ do
sneak for myself" meekly replied
Thomas. And think he spoke the
solemn trutU, TOO.
II is stated that the Supreme Court
is about ready to announce decision
AZ to the consti,ulivnality OF the Fed
eral election laws, anl nothing bear
ing upon them will be taken up N
Congress until this Ia known Report
saws the court is equally divided, jus
tees Clifford. Field, Bradley and liar
Ian, that the laws are unconstitutional
while Chief Justice Waite and Judges
Strong, Miller onl Swaync, hold TIT
contrary opinion. Justice Hunt is OF
the bench by reason OF i'll health
Such division OF the judges on TIT
question, while making tie, wou(
really leaye the laws in force. 1t i
not expected that Justice Hunt will
) ever resume his place. IN fset, i ]
rumored that his resignation has beer
rendered, and that Mr.. Hayes has OF
fered the vacant place to Senator Ri
munis. They deny this at headquar
tiers; nevertheless it is generally be
lieved. Should Mr.. Edmunds take
seat on the bench. the election law
and all the other partisan Legislation
} Of the republican party would be sus
| tanned. 1t would be an unusual thin!
/ Tor the senate to refuse to confirm
prominent senator appointed TO IN.
other office, but I really do not Sc
how Il democratic senate could TAX
the responsibility of permitting suc'
. au intense partisan to be seated on tn
Supreme bench, Notwithstanding hi
} ability.
Governor elect Foster, of Ohio, wa
here the other day, and told an inter
viewer that Garfield had pretty sur
thing OF the Senatorship. This re
minds me of a scene in the House o
8 Monday last II object to the readin!
+ of the memorial" said Mr.. Garfield
e when Mr.. Aiken, of South Caroi'n'
: desired to have II paper vent to tn
> clerks desk read. "'Vell, then, It yo
!. do" said Mr.. Aiken, Il will with
draw it," What IL it, any way !
said Mr.. Garfield. "Why." repli,
Aiken, sit IN u memorial from tn
Patrons OF Husbandrv' sob all
ahem I withdraw the objection, sal
Mr.. Garfield. and the memorial wa
:, reaa PMoNo.
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