Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1879-12-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular Correspondent.l
WASHINGTON. Dec. Is I81

| hihs5o u'C tiosH'b 4uiCAit duu sc
renely I the capital. Beyond the pas
Usage of a joint resolution to adjourn
for Christmas holiday on the 10Th in
stant, and the confirmation of a couple
of appointments by the Senate, moth
ling specially noteworthy has been
done by Congress. The recess is TO last
until January 6th-two weeks. Mean
while, the House Appropriation Com
|mittee will endeaver to get three Of
their small bills through before adjourn
ment. The deficiency bill for the pay
|ment of marshaPs fees will not be act
led upon until after the recess. There
was some surprise at.the exceedingly
prompt and entirely unanimous conhr-
nation of Secretary McCrary to be Un;-
ted States Judge, but the Democratic
Senate is not disposed to he captious.
Ex-senator Ramsey was hoisttd into
McCrary's place in a jify, and entered
at once upon the duties of the War
Office. THIS will put Gen. Tecumseh
Sherman in better humor than he has
been recently, for it is quite generally
belle, ed that the Secretary will be lii
tie more than a chief clerk, while Sher-
man bosses the Army and the Depart
ment. He did not have full cont oil un-
der McCrary, fer the latter IS man of
brains and purpose, and there was,
understand, some jealousy. The Sher-
mans like power and comn,and-cspe-
cially does the General and between
Tecumseh and John the Government Is
now pretty well under the control of
the family. Hayes and Ramsey are
figure-headS.
As little has been done in Congress,
some humorous interchanses Of retort
and banter between members have oc-
Cured The other day Mr.. Frye, of
Maine, in the discussion q the bill TO
regulate the compensation Of the Sd
premc Court reporter, got in neat Bit
of repartee on Gen keifer, who said
that while there might be 1000 in his
State Of Ohio competent to perform the
duties Of his clerkship, he would not
consider any of them paid according
to their deserts at $4,000 Mr.. Frye
quietly answered that so far as he could
ascertain, the vast majority of the A.,
600 competent men of OF Ohio were al
ready comfortably Installed in fat of
fees. keifer made a poor mouth at
this, and accused Frye Of stealing
Democratic thunder Gen. Tom Browne,
of lndiania, speaking on the same ques-
ton, remarked that the services of a
great many OF the statesmen now in
Congress would be deal to the country
at $2,500 year. "Speak for yourself.
shouted a member on the Republican
side. Il do speak for myself meek
y replied Thomas. And | think he
spoke solemn truth too
1t is said that the Supreme Court is
about ready to announce decision as
to the constilutionality Of the Federal
election laws, and nothing bearing up
on them will hc taken up in Congress
until this is known.
Ref ort says the court is equally di-
vided, Justices Clifford, Field, Bradley
and Harlan that the laws are uuconsti-
tutional, while Chief Justice Waite,
and Judge Strong, Miller AMI
Swayne hold the contrary opinion.
Justice Hunt is off the bench by rea-
son of i'll health. Such division of
the Judges on the question. while max
ing tie. would really leave the laws
in force. IL is not expected that JUS
tice Hunt will ever resume his place
In fact, it is rumored that his resigna-
tion has been rendered, aad that Mr..