The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1880-06-05
WASHINGTON LETTER,

Senator Gordsn's Resignation, Ex.
trocagdnce in Official Lite, But
Sere" More Working Days for
Congress. Appropriation Bills.
etc.
From our Regular Correspondence.)
Washington, d. G. May 9th 80.
The resignation of Senator CIR
don, OF Georgia has been the sen
sation OF the week. He had ba-
tore him nearly five years of un
expired senatorial term, and his
voluntary departure from such \
position is ALMOST without nrrce.
dent in the history of the Senate.
Senator Christiancy resigned his
seat, but it was to secure a more
lucrative office after his senate
rial term had more than half ex>
pred. Henry Clay resigned near
the end of his term, because Of
political disappointments and de
cllnlns years, but, finding private
lite monotOnous, he was again re
elected. General G Gordon assigns
as a reason for his resignation
that his salary is inadequate to
the demands Of pablo life in
Washington, and that he has
reached that period of life when
be can no longer delay making
provision for old age.
The influence of millionaire
statesmen, and the social splen.
dor that has prevailed in Wash.
lngton since the war, cannot but
De regretted. 1t is no exaggera.
tlon to say that a majority OF
members of Congress might live
III Washington with more Gle.
gance and comfort than surround
ed them in their districts with
half the salary they now receive.
But the imperious demands of an
artificial social life to say moth.
lngof an INDECENT constituency
always at his heels. make fright
ful lnroads on his yearly pay, I
know one member who saved
four fifths of his salary, but he
made a twenty dollar suit of
clothes last him through two ses
slons, and he never INDUCED in
the extravaganza of a necktie.
After looking over the whole
field the prospect Is not fair for
an adjournment on the 31st. TO
accomplish it both houses will
have to devote themselves ASST
duously to the appropriation bills
alone, and must sacrifice all 9th.
er subjects of general legislation,
including the tariff bills, the fund
ing bills, the Interstate Com
merce bill, the Ute bill, the sub
ject Chinese Emigration, the nav
ment ofpensions to Mexican sol.
diers and soldiers of the late war.
the Carlisle revenue bill, the ques
tiOns relating to the count of the
electoral vote, etc. 1t seems to
be very generally conceded that
if Congress does not get away IN
til after the Chicago convention
that the session will then be pro.
longed several weeks.
The passage of the appropria.
ton bills is an indispensable pre.
requisite to the adjournment of
Congress. Assuming that the
House was in earnest when the
resolution for adjournment on the
3lst. was adopted, they have re-
naming just seven working days.
The condition Of the public bust
ness which must be disposed of.
is as follows: The Pension Ap.
preparation bill, Army 'appropria
ton bill, Navy appropriation bill,
FOrtlhcatlODs bill, Consular and
Diplomatic and Indian appropria
tion bills have passed both houses
and most of them are laws. The
Postoffice bill, with the Senate
amendments, was sent to the
House Committee on appropria
tions early last week. The pros.
!pects of q speedy agreement on
it are not bright if the House
shall insist upon its amendment
providing for relating Of the
Star mail contracts. The Oppo-
nents of the amendment will be
livery likely'to demand = vote in
the House on the question wheth
er they shall recede from 1t.