The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-04-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.

tcrest and at times exciting. To-day, the real
tug OF debate will begin, both parties are pre-
pared with magazines of ammunition in the
way OF cut and dried speeches. Columbads
of invcction will roar, pctardS Of rhetoric will
hoist the individual congressman, who will
however, always fall on his feet and return the
compliment Personal engagements will give
pquancy and variety to the grand onslaught,
while the battle will rage beautifully all along
the line. The forces are so evenly divided
that it will hardly be known, when the roll
is called on resolutions, amendments, and
bills, which side will have the victory. The
democratic majority is small, and the phySl-
cal disability of some of their members,
| as McssrS Stevens, Acklcu and Lay, makes
their strength an unknown and very interest
ing quantity. 1t may he IN the power of
OF the republicans, Ivy tilibustcring, 10
postpone, indefinitely or even to prevent the
passage of the bills with the obnoxious
amendments 1t is conceded that not less than
a month will suffice for the Senate to ay Its
say on the proposed measures, all the promi-
ncnt leaders on both sides are preparing
speeches, and at least thirty are booked on the
Speakers list to be heard. General Garticld's
speech on Saturday, and the manner in which
| twas received, leave no doubt rs 90 the re-
publican attitude on the question of the pro
posed amendments Gen Garfield sad plain
| ~ that he did not propose To argue on the
merits or dement's Of the democratic position,
but that his party saw signs of a new rebel.
! lion in an attempt to cngrat political lcglsla-
ton on appropriations, and as in 1861, the
republicans would meet the mCipient rebel
lion in united phalanX. The speech created
II decided sensation on both sides OF the House.
At its conclusion nearly all the republicans
came and shook hands with him, indicating
their approval OF his words and his stand. The
democrats had not expected the republicans
to assume quite so defiant IN attitude. Gen.
Chalmers, of Mississippi, has the floor today
| for the first speech on the democratic side.
He will reply fully to the speech OF General
Garfield The general understanding is that
the House will go on with the debate on the
army bill to-day and continue it until finally
disposed Of 1t is not improbable, however,
that other questions may be brought up that
will consume good deal of the session. The
several resolutions that have been offered,
looking to a change Of rules, may be brought
up to-day for action. The members who Of
tered them are DESTROYS to get them before the
Committee on Rules and in this they are large
| " supported The proposition to divide the
work of preparing the appropriation bills
among the various committees of the House
has many friends in both parties. The resolu'
ton introduced by Mr. Cox, OF New York a
few days ago, Authorizing the appointment, at
| once. of select committees on the census, on
the revision of the mode of electing Presi-
dent, on epidemic diseases, and on ventilation
will be reported tavorably to-day by the Com
mittee on Rules. Alta meeting Of this com
mittcc held yesterday, the resolution OF Mr.
CoN's was agreed to- and it was also agreed to
increase the following committees TO the mum
Der given:
Committee on Privileges and Elections, on
| Agriculture and on Commerce to fifteen mem
bers each; Committcc on Enrolled Bills from
five to seven members; Committee on Print
ing from three to seven, and committee on
Coinage, Weights and Measures from seven
Ito eleven members. The committee Will meet
again to-day, and the expressions yesterday
indicate that they will decide to increase the
Committee on Appropriations, on Judiciary
and on Ways and Means from eleven, the
standard number, to fifteen members each.
! This week the Senate Committee on Priv
llegcs and Elections will begin an examination
of the charges made against William Pitt
Kellogg by Judge Spaflord, Of Louisiana the
claimant Of Kellogg's seat in the Senate. The
majority report on the claim of Charles IL
Bell. to be admitted as Il Senator from New
Hampshire by appointment by the Governor
will he made The majority report in Bells
lease is against his title To the seat, on the
ground of lack of jurisdiction in the prem
Uses by the appointing power OF the State
Kellogg is aware that an attempt will be made
Ito unseat him. lie will resist the attack by
lcharging fraud against his opponent
There seems 10 be no definite knowledge a.
to what the final position of the President vii
be with regard to the proposed appropriations
hills with their amendments. 1t is said tha
he has assured the republican leaders in Con
rress that if they will obstinasely and unanl
: lmouslv resist the proposed legislation in the
two houses. he will veto the bill when itcome'
: to him On the other hand, II Is reported ina
lboth SchurZ and EvartS, who have more lntlu
u once with him than Sherman, Thompson, anC
McCreery, are urging him to sign the bill.
G. \. 5
TIN. Rockford Gazette, a stalwart republican