The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-06-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our regular correspondcnt.)

WASHINGTON, ID. c., May "a, 1880.
The resignation of Senator Gordon, of Geor-
gia, has been the sensation of the week. He
had before HIM nearly five years of unexpired
senatorial term. and his voluntary departure
from such position is almost without prece-
dent in the history of the Senate Senator
Christiancy resigned his seat, but 1t was to Sc
cure more lucrative Office after his senatorial
term lad more than half expired. Henry
Clay resigned near the end ofhis term, because
of political disappointment and declining
years, but, finding private life monotonous, he
was again reelected General Gordon assigns
as reason for his resignation that his salary
is inadequate to the demands of public life in
Washington, and that he has reached that pc
riod of life when he can no longer delay max
ing provision for old aye.
The influence of millionaire statesmen and
the social splendor that has prevailed in Wash
ington since the war, cannot but be regretted.
1t is no eXaggeraton to say that majority Of
members OF Congress might live in Washing
ton with more elegance and comfort than sur
salary they now receive. But the impcrious
demands of an artificial social lite, to say moth
ing OF an indignant constituency always at his
heels, make irightiul inroads on his yearly pay.
know one member who saved fourffths of
his salary, but he made a twenty dollar suit of
clothes last HIM through two sessions, and he
never INDUCED in the extravaganza of a neck
tie.
After looking over the whole field the pros
pect Is not fair for an adjournment on the 3lst.
To accomplish 1t both houses will have to de-
vote themselves assiduously to the appropria-
ton bills alone, and must sacrifice all other
subjects of general legislation, including the
tariff bills, the funding bills, the Interstate
Commerce bill, the Ute bill, the subject of
Chinese immigration, the paymentof pensions
to Mexican soldiers and soldiers of the late
war the Carlisle revenue bill, the questions
relating to the count of the electoral vote, etc.
1t seems to be very generally conceded that i'll
Congress does not get away until after the Chi
cago convention that the session will then he
PROLONGED several weeks
The passage Of the appropriation bills is AN
indispensable prerequisite to the adjournment
of Congress Assuming that the House was
III earnest when the resolution for adjournment
on the 3lst was adopted, they have remaining
just seven working days. The condition Of the
public business which must be disposed of, is |
as follows: The Pension Appropriation bill,
Army Appropriation bill, Navy Appropriation
bill Notifications bill, Consular and Diplo-
matte and Indian Appropriation bills have
passed both houses and most of them are laws. |
The Postoflice bill, with the Senate amend |
mcnts was sent to the House Committee on
early last week. The prospects
Of speedy agreement on it are not bright, if
the House shall insist upon its amendment
providing for re-letting Of the star mail con-
racts The opponents Of the amendment VIII
De very likely to demand vote IN the House
m the question whether they shall recede from