Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-12-29
Prom our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, u, Q, Dee, IS, issI

uhNo kphc HVbio, w n"'"V""''e WV w
spend It, Comparatively lew remain
here. In fact there has not been
much more than q quorum here this
session 10 far, which partly accounts
for tho taNly progress Of business II
10 rarely the case tina. leas Ia accom-
plished before recess than has been
done this year. Thu position Of At
fairs at this time strongly indicates
that an extra session of the next Con-
gress will he called aher tho inaugra'
ton Of Garfield. The ono hundred
and Ahy odd employees Of the House
seem TO he about the only ones max
Ing any eIerlion TO avoid II. Their
salaries aggregate about halt a million
dollars per annum, and ihcy will draw
pay till next December II there is no
extra session. Ga tho other hand, the
two or three hundred Republican isl'
lows who want their places are posi-
lively certain that an extra session Is
Just what the "business interests OF
the country" require. And the pres
sure they bring to bear upon Republl.
cen members is having the desired ei-
feet. .',
But there are other reasons why
the Republicans want an extra SEES
sion. The aalwart policy that Is 10
be adopted towords the South, cannot
be inaugurated too soon TO please That
element Of the party, and they pro-
pose 10 bring to bear, in framing
the new superintendent. 1t Is diff
cult 10 see just how any political ad'
vantage can be obtained by means OF
the apporlionment except through n
very arbitrary course with reference to
certain southern States, and that is
Whist will be attempted. Upon the
claim that the colored population is
defrouded OF its vote, the ratio OF rep.
rescntation is to bo largely reduced,
thereby decreasing the influence OF
the South in Congress, and in the
electoral college. The Republican
party is equal 10 almost any political
outrage, but ! do not think this
scheme can succeed. The Senate,
though close, must certainly stand in
the way Of any such legislation. Nor
am yet convinced that the hold Of
the stalwarts upon Garfield is strong
enough to secure his influence or CO.
operation. However, it is certain
that no appo,,ionment bill can be
passed by the present Congress.
Even if Mr.. Cox, chairman Of the
committee, now very i'll in New York,
were here, and if the tables Of popula.
ton were ready, the Republicans
would flbustcr against any action.
This is fully determined upon.
The exciting scene that occurred in
the House just op the eve of the. re-
cess il one that will be remembered
al long as the American Congress
exists. Nothing equal to it has been
witnessed since ante bellum days,
when the passions that cngcndered
the war on one or two occasions came
to the surface. For this disgraceful
episode Weaver, late Greenback can
didate for President, is chiefly rcspon.
pible, having been the aggressor.
The first epithet came from him. and
he first pulled off his coat for fight,
like bully in a bar loom brawl.
Weaver is not much of a man. The
Greenback wave which passed over
iowa in 1873 brough him to the sur
face in some unaccountable manner,
and on the 4th OF March next he will
drop into oblivion just as suddenly.
His course in the late campaign, when
as there is every reason 10 believe, be
was in the pay Of the. Republican
committee, did not earn for'lim much
respect, especially among Democrats,
and when he came forward in the
discussion on the funding bill, accu.
sing other members of Inconsistency
it was no more than natural that his
own record should be rather pointedly
referred to. Sparks OF Illinois, took
a hand in. this exercise, whereupon
Weaver called. him a liar. Sparks
retorted holly that Weaver was a
pcound,el, and then they advanced
towards one another, Weaver pull
ing of his coat and Sparks prepared
to do likewise. "rhere's hell ito pay
now" said the members to each other
aud general melee seemed imminent
It really did look as though the su.
perintendent Of the lower regions had
taken contract to run things. Sew
eral excited members came forward
and remarked that If there was to. be
= tree fight, they wanted some Of It..
But the cooler ones spparated the