Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-12-18
W4SHIYGTOY LETTER.
Tie Third Session Of the F6rty-sirth Con
gress. Grant for Captain General. Pro-
posed Holiday adjournment.

Tie Third Session Of the F0rty-Sirth Con
qress. Grant for Captain General Pro-
posed Holiday adjournment.
FROM our Regular Correspondent
Washington. ID. c., Dec IL, 1880.
The opening of the third session of the
Forty-sixth Congress was not particularly
interesting. There were fewer than the
usual number of sight-Seers at the Capitol,
but the galleries, except those set apart for
the Diplomatic corps, were well-filled. In
the House, before the Speakers gayel fell,
the members were dem0nstratiye and noisy
in their mutual greetings; in the Senate,
they were cordial but dignifed, As becomes
members of the American House OF Peers.
To those. however, who understood what
may be called the private social history OF
Congress. it was interesting 10 Distinguish
the greetings of cronieS from those who
shake hands automatically or politically
The average American politician has, per-
haps, thinner venecringOf deceitiul polite
ness than his prototype many other country.
The chaplains of the two houses were very
brief in their religious services, and Con-
gre,s was soon ready for Mr.. Hayes clrcu-
Jar. which was of unusual length and novel
". He recommended that General Grant
be made "captain-general with a suitable
salary. for life. and General McCO0k has
introduced bill in the House to give legls-
lative effect to this recommendation. The
bill will certainly not be unanimously favor
ed bv the Military Committee, and 1t issald
that Gen. Joseph f. Johnston will oppose 1t
i'm committee. if not in the House. General
McCOOk's bill has been the subject OF much
discussion in military and political circles.
Ii is believed to embOdy the wishes OF the
coming administration, and probably to be
part OF the pact at Mentor The intro
Queer of the bill is not one of the crowd
who has made fetch of Gen. Grant, but
he is warm personal friend OF General
Garfield and the bill will certainly not be
vetoed 10y the coming President, II II shall
reach him.
The week has been spent by the House
mostly in useless debate on the subject OF
the electoral count; Democrats holding that
the vote for President should be counted by
Congress and Republicans holding the other
theory that the Nice-Prcsident of the United
States is alone competent to open and au-
nounce the result of the Presidential election
returns
The House Appropriations Committee,
divided into subcommittee, has gone yigor-
ously to work on the general appropriation
bills, but it is not probable, at the rate time
IS wasted now, that any of these bills will
be passed until after the Holiday recess
Adjournment for the Christmas vacation
will probably be from the 22nd Of Decem-
Der to the 2nd of January. Some Western
and some Southern members are opposed 10
any adjournment for the Holidays, but the
usual rule will be followed, and Congress
will soon take rest of at least ten days
from its not very arduous work.
On the 9th instant the Senate adjourned
over until Monday, the 18th.
Senators Hampton, Conkling, Lamar,
Edmunds, Butler, Logan, Sharon and Jones
of Nevada have not vet made their appear
aucc i'm the Senate Chamber
Ex-Secretary of the Navy Robson got so
far at sea in a recent debate as to address
the House as Gentlemen of the jury"