The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-11-26
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.

An Extra Session of Congress. --Pros-
poets thereof. Some Of the Work to
be Done. The Disposal offhe Bal
dace ofthe Alabama Awayd.
WASHINGTON. d. C.. NoEvMnrRes, 1880.
The question of an extra session of
Congress Is inst now attracting public
attention here. Congress meets two
weeks from to-day, but enough men,
bers are not yet upon the ground TO
give an Intelligent opinion rs TO what
measures will come up, the failure of
which would make such n session nee
cssary. OF course the Democrats do
not want 1t, and will do all In their
power TO defeat Il, because an extra
session means that the three hundrt Il
employees of the House will be changed,
that the rebel soldiers who now hold
office, will make room for those whf
fought for the country. Should thorc
be no extra session. tho present Demo.
cratic incnmbeuts will hold over until
December, 1881, giving them eight
months longer to fattcn at the public
crib.
1t is strongly urged that tho forty.
sixth Congress cannot get through its
work and thus avoid special session.
Commencing on Monday, the sixth of
December, and ending on the fourth
day OF March, as it must, gives eighty
eight days; deductihg twelve Sundays
and fifteen days for the usual holiday
recess; and there will remain about
sixty workingdays; provided the usual
speech making Saturdays arc utilized
for public business.
The regular business of the session
will be, the passage of the twelve rcgu-
lar appropriation bills, the counting OF
the electoral vote, the superintendent
for the forty-eighth Congress, under
the 10th censns, and the appropriation
10 pay the Deputy United States mar
shals of elections. This bill will cause
a political discussion, which will lead
to long, heated debate, unless the con-
sentative element in tho Democratic
party should join with the Republican
majority aud attach to it one of the
general appropriation bills. am OF
the opinion that the sound threshing
received by the opponents of the Fede-
raj election law at the late elections will
teach them wisdom, and that they will
make no further usless factious opposi-
ton to this long delayed appropriation
Secretary Sherman, it is said, will
recommend either the discontuuance
of the coinage of the silver dollar, OF
an increase in its value sufficient 10
make it equal to the gold dollar
Should this subject be taken up, nc
one eau tell when the discussion will
end.
The apportionment bill may be an
tagonlzed by the majority, but opposi
ton to it will avail nothing in the end
as the next Congress, being Republic
can, will take the matter III hand, and
dispose of it without delay.
The bill for the distribution of the
balance of the Geneva award will
claim the early attention of Congress
The mere proposition of Senator Eator
at the last session, to cover it into the
treasury, aud make it part and parce
ofthe sinking fund, has aroused ant
provoked the indignation of those who
suffered SO largely by the raid.
of the rebel cruisers. They can
not see, cannot understand, why sen
ator, why any one who has the leas
knowledge of the basis of the award
can for moment advocate such ,
measure. TO take the money paiC
over by Great Britain as an indemnit,
for the loss, and well nigh total destruc
ton of our own shipping interest,
nd put it 10 any use except the one
designed by the commission that a
warded it, would be an unheard O
wrong and injustice. l think there
need be no fear. Senators and repre-
sentatives are human, and when actor
is taken in respect to this matter, nc
one wonld be found to join Senator
Eaton in his insane policy, but rather
o make immediate provision for distri
button TO the real losers and sufferers
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