Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-03-31
From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. D. G.. March %, 1880.

WASHINGTON, d. G., March q, 1880.
The best half of this week has bee
consumed, or worse. wasted, in a fruitles
wrangle between the free traders and pro
tectionisls. There has been much fillibus
tering, and Il development Of bad feelin!
between the two parties, and even betweel
individual members of the same party
The contending factions were led respect
lively 10y Messrs. Blackburn and Garfield
The deadlock was broken on Thursday b,
n sort of compromise, which will enabl
both the belligerents to claim victory
but which, to the unbiased locker on
seems simply drawn battle. The pro
teCtionists and free traders. rs was shown
by test vote, do not divide on party lines
Discussion has been silenced for this ses
zion, but it will doubtless be a burning
question in the future. The House, rs a
present constituted, is protection House
The same may be said of the Senate. TIL,
speaker of the House is n high tariff man
But how will it he in two years, when ;
new cancus has given the west an over
whelming preponderance in the nationa
legislature?
During the controversy in the House
over Mr. Townshend's tariff bill, Speaker
Randall has been the recipient of many
uncomplimentary criticisms by his free
trade democratic colleagues. Notab,
among those who denounced him was Mr.
Blackburn Of Kentucky. During Wednes
day night session, while Mr.. Blackburn
was denouncing the speaker, and declar.
ing him traitor to the democratic party
which would be benefited by Randall.
removal, bag and baggage, into the re
PUBLICAN party, he was confronted by Mr.
Cofl'roth Of Pennsylvania, who defended
his colleague, and declared that the Ian.
guage Of Mr.. Blackburn would Justify
him (Coffroth) in striking him. Blackburn,
much enraged, said: "Well. you have
heard what have said, and if you mean
to say it is not true you are liar" By
ISLANDERS prevented collision, and as Mr.
Cofftoth moved away he said to Black
burn: There is one charge you cannot
impute to him. lie never was IL traitor t,
his country"
The long debate in congress over the
election laws has ended more satisfactoril,
than seemed possible u year ago. The
decision of the supreme court has had
much to do in settling the question. The
democrats in the House have now passed
an amendment to the law, giving the APP
pontment of these deputies to the United
States circuit judges, and providing that,
instead of being all of one political party,
they shall be selected in equal numbers
from both parties, and shall be persons of
good moral character, and we'll known
residents of the voting precinct in which
their duties are to be performed. There is
some talk of this being opposed by the
in the Senate rs it was oppos.
ed ny some of the republicans in the House,
On the ground that it is Il "rler" to the
bill, but the president, it i,
announced very positively, will approve it
f passed.
The present commissioner of patents,
ike all his predecessors, has handed in his
'esignation after II very brief tenure OF
oilce. He expects, like all the commits
;ioners who have gone before him, to 90
nto the practice of patent law. His
is hailed with delight by the
employees Of The patent office, as we'll as
~ inventors and their attorneys. MANY
lew and confusing changes have been
in the rules and practice during
lis incambency, and it is predicted that
lis predecessor will have great deal to
lndo.