Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-05
Our Washington Letter.


WASHINGTON, d. G., March l, 1879.
hessrs. Editors. 1t IL the hour OF midnight.
The scene opens at the Capitol. Both houses are
In session. and although Sabbath morning IL
about to dawn, the members Of the Senate, how
ever " grave and reverend 3" they may be, are pre-
pairing themselves for an all-nght session. The
House is voting on proposition to take re-
cess until nine o'clock In the morning, and the
prospect is that the motion will pass. And all
this trouble hustle and worry is made to stave of
AN EXTRA SESSION.
Notwithstanding IL all IL still looks IN MANY as ~
special session of both houses would have TO be
called The principal reason for this necessity Is
Of course a political one. The real business of
the country Ia easily accumulated. and nil this
wranple Of debate and waste of time ia due tn
those political questions which are injected into
measures of great importance to the country. and
the interests Of the nation are ;eopardized wb,le
the advancement Of marty canital ia unon tho
Garnet The legislative hill ia nj this hour beipg
discussed in the Senate I'm this hill is that meatv
bone of politica contention. the renea of tho an.
poryisors of election law This ia the real essence
Of the contest now in progress and which makes
an extra session Of Congress probably necessary.
II being Saturday night the Capitol IL alive with
spectators even at this hour, and great interest
Is manifested In the proceedings The Senate is
nearly all together, and few absentees are noted
Two or three appear to be worn out by their hard
davis work. but nearly all are busy at their desks
and on the watch for whatever may come M.
Judge Davis the fat man Of the Senate ia atreched
ont at full length on a sofa: Mr. Edmunds ats
beside him in high-backed chair, motionlesa but
IN tho aIert and Governnr Kirkwood 10 sobariy
enjoying cigar IN the doorway oil the cloak room
vote is demanded and Immediately the scene
changes heclning senators are no" on their
leet ana everybody ATTENDS 10 the business gong
FORWARD Inc Nice-rresiueht Calls Eunuhds 10
Tue chair' ana on mot'oh tne uoots are closed ior
oriei executive sessioh "iter WHICH inc ieg'sla-
1--WE ppl ~ 10 ne considered
Inc SENATE VIII s'r'he ou' 'ne c'ause repeating
'he erection laws 'he HOUSE VIII reinse 10 agree
committee OF conference VIII be appointed and
then the fight will be begun in earnest, only to be
ended by the expiration OF the present Congress
a. Twelve CLOCK iuesuay noon. Although the
congress "iii oe e"ueu 'ie ''o"o.e WIN no'' anu
Tpec''' oon'e"'"s VI 'ne "e" congress VIII oe
necessary W garry U" '"o government a,'er 'ne
emu Vi .he presen' ns'a'' year ih's II Tue way
,ne iahd lies NJ tne present "r'tng' mere are
o.ner points OIL ulnetehce oe'"een tue TWO houses
"hich VIII DC o'''lcui. 10 harnonize' put 'ne one
reierreu 10 ny iar 'he 'nos. ihe' r'enus
VI 'ne sc"en'e W 'eo'san,Ae inc army are possioy
strong enough 10 de'ea. 'he passage OF 'he army
app,'p'"'''o" WI" anu '.o p'''s commune o''''e
is ",So q" oono y, 'Vn,e".'on "o ''",'''eo Vi
y" ''e o''' 90 So w u''"s, 80
anu WIN 81 'ep'i', anu ""''"e' 'oin"'''' viii ''
"'''''''' :" INV
THE CLOSING BUSINESS
OF the session is enormous, and every honr OF the
sixty remaining OF the expiring congress must be
put to some use in order to see out oil one-haf the
labor required The defeat in the House OF the
sugar bill, the bill amending the patent laws, and
the Northern Pacific Railroad bill, has democrat
lied the lobby completely, and the members
thereof have folded their tents and silently stolen
away-and with but very little happiness in their
hearts or plumber In their pockets Despite the
fact that the arrears OF pension bills has been
passed. no provision has yet been made to carry
it out, and there is great danger that the bill will
fail. The Senate last night, added an amend
ment to 1t, offered by General Shields, to pension
the Mexican war soldiers. This the Republicans
will resist unless the democrats will vote directly
to pension jeff Davis as separate PROPOSE
ton. The friends OF the Brazilian subsidy have
been slaughtered in the House, and the mat
ter is before the conference committee. 1t is
so serious that the committee can never agree
and the post-offce appropriation bill is thereby
endangered The House, yesterday, agreed to
the conference report the International revenue
oll, and the PRESIDENT has signed It, This is the
Dill "hich proViues ior the reduction OF the To-