The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-12-16
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 3r,

washington LeCters
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3rd, 1880.
Congress is again in full blast and is
proving itself as much a windmill as
any of its predecessors. On Monday
both houses convened with the quiz
etude and informality which charac-
terize the opening hours of the last
session of Congress. The receiving and
reading of the Presidents Message is
usually the main duty OF the day, and
yet, in this instance, the groundwork
was laid for a winters debate by the
introduction Of the electoral count
measure before the country knew what
Hayes had to say upon the political
matters of the Government. Now the
House is busted wrestling with that
exceedingly indefinite and vexations
problem involved in the counting OF
the electoral vote, and dear only knows
whether any other question will be
considered until the windmill exhausts
itself. Mr.. Garfield is elected-all ad-
nit that-but the manner of declaring
the fact is the weighty conundrum be-
fore the average Congressman, and
every other political interest of the
country will have to suffer pending the
solution. 1t is astonishing how many
bills similar to this in real uselessness
have been resurrected by members
ambitious of nOtOriety at home, with
certain classes of constituents, or with
the press. And yet all know that un-
less the present program in debate is
dropped the last session Of the 46th
Congress will be as barren of useful
legislation as that of tho 44th, when
! Mr.. Hayes admission to the White
House had to be determined. The
Senate, however, is pegging away
quietly at sundry matters, and dispos-
ing of them with it's usual dispatch,
when its windmill is not aroused into
activity by some purely political breeze
Senator Voorhees, is vigorously push
ing his bill for the erection of u Nation
al Library. He, and his Committee,
have unanimously decided against fur
ther occupancy of the Capitol for Lii
brary purposes, either by extension OF
the building or by the use of the pres
ent rooms, which are so wholly made
quate for the daily needs, and will rec
ommend the erection of an ample
structure upon some one of the Gov
ernment reservations, probably Judi
ciary Square, which is one of our largest
parks. Two most important matters
have appeared in the Senate. One
looking to the purchase from the legal
| representatives of the ex-COnfederate
Generals Bragg and Polk, their private
papers relating to the late war; the
other, the announcement or MI, RAN
dolph that he will, on Monday next,
ask the Senate to consider the bill re-
storing Fitz John Porter to the army
without pay. Both these measures
will provoke extended debate. The
proposed purchase does an apparent
wrong TO the ex-Confederates who
have freely given their private papers |;
the country knows the objections
which are urged against the restora-
ton Of cashiered officer. 1t is our
belief, however, that some form of re-
lief will be given him as a sequence of
his persistent fight. He was evidently
in the wrong at the time he is alleged
to have disobeyed Pope's orders, but as
it is admitted that other generals
shared his unwillingness to fight under
Pope, aud quite as openly and directly
were guilty of fdisobediance, the feeling
is undoubtedly growing here that Por-
ter should have fair play, or rather,
should not be made the scapegoat for
all the denominations of the fall l-cam-
paign of 1862. 1t is settled that we are
to have an Agricultural Report for 1879,
Senator johnson has ascertained that
the delay in publicatiOg has been
caused by the difficulties experienced
in getting the illustrations for it. The
Public Printer informs the Senator
that the Report will be ready for dis
tribution a,out Christmas. 1t is very
voluminous, much more so than any
of its predecessors, and. in so far as we
have examined it, we regard it as con-
farmers generally than any of the
series for many years past. 1t is so GUS
tomary to deride the Agricultural Re-
port, that the public have come to re-
gard it as one of the means used by
Congress to waste our revenue. but the
truth is, that no other official report
contains more valuable information
for any one class than this of the Ag-
ricultural Department. 1t covers the
Investigations of experts and scientists
into the causes leading to the losses of
farmers in all directions, and ridicule
it as we may, the country reaps an inn
mense benefit from this published
| work of the Commissioners of Agri-
culture. 1t should have an immense
distribution.
The feeling is undcubted in Con-
Sress that the present taxes on matches
and bank checks must be abolished.
The pressure against the taxes, partic-
| ulariy on matches, was very strong
| last winter, and now seems to have
assumed shape in the guaranty of re-
moval. So few people are troubled
with bank accounts that the two cents
required upon a check does not draw
forth universal protest like the penny
on matches.
Meeting Of the Portage County
Medical Society
RAvENNA, Dec. =, 1880.
Society convened in DIR. Alcorn's
office and was called to order by the
President, DIR. Hugus. Secretary DIR.
Morath being absent, DIR. Alcorn was
appointed Secretary pro tenn.
The minutes OF the last meeting were
read and approved.
DIR. Leonard presented two cases for
| opinion and treatment; one a case of