The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-10-30
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
6UIl wAsHINTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. d. c. Oct, 2S, 1880.

" AoHANNibNt - - NNNI ~ @N'NNs
There is considerable hustle at the Capital
preparing for the approaching session of
Congress, which is now only about six
weeks distant. The house is already in |
shape for the session. The carpet has been |
laid and the furniture placed in position.
The carpet down is the old one, II relic of
two sessions, o little the worse of for tobac
co spit and wear and tear, In the colonade
TO the rear Of the Speakers stand there has
been a good deal Of fresco work done during
the recess, which has considerably tighten
ed up the space. On the Senate side Of the
house carpets have hot yet been laid.
The next session of Congress, il is hardly |
expected, will do much more in the shape
of legislation than pass the regular appro-
priation bills. This, for the reason that it
will have but little time TO do anything else.
In the first or long session of a Congress it
is generally the approach of dog days before
the last of the appropriation bills are passed.
The present Congress expires on the 4th of
March next and between its meeting on the
lst Monday in December next and March
4th, in addition to passing the necessary
money bills, the electoral vote is also to be
counted. The great prominence given to
| the tariff question in the impending presi-
dental campaign makes it highly probable
| that the question will be a serious one with
Congress. The probable outcome will be
that the Eaton bill, providing FOR a commits
sion to inquire into the subject of tariff re
vision, will be passed. 1t is expected too,
| that the pressure will again be revived by
the newspaper publishers against the pulp
monopoly. This will afford something like
test vote between the parties on the ques-
ton of free trade or protection. On every
important matter Congress will have to meet
at once, is to prescribe some regulations for
the counting of the electoral vote. Since
the abolition of the joint rule No. %, there
has been no prescribed rule for the guidance
Of the two Houses in joint connection. In
1876 the matter was very seriously discussed,
the Republicans holding that the President
of the Senate had the right to count the vote.
The Democrats OF the House insisted that it
was the duty Of that body. The agitators
of the question caused good deal of feeling
which was Ollayed, however, by the passage
of the bill creating the electoral commission.
If the pending election should happen to be
at all close, the excitement would, without
doubt, be renewed in intense form, and the
manner in which the vote should be count
ed would again be the uppermost question
confronting Congress.
The House Committee on Appropriations
will meet in this city, abolt the 10th Of No
vember, to prepare several of the appropria-
ton bills, to have the same in readiness to
be acted upon when Congress meets, Decert-
Der 9th. Chairman Atkins has not yet no.
titled Clerk Stevens to issue summons for
the members, but he expects the meeting
will be about the date indicated. 1t is ex-
pected, il the estimates are forthcoming that
the army, tue navy, the pension, the mill
tsry academy and diplomatic bills will be
0 in an advance state of preparation by the
Z time Congress meets.
good many of the clerks who went tc
!, Ohio and Indiana to vote have not returned
and it is thought most of the will stay until
S after the November election. Those who
,, live in other States have already commenced
) leaving, and in a few days the department.
: will be almost bare Of ofemployes. The heads
a of all the departments haye been away near
ly the entire period since the lst of July
n last, and with the clerks gone too, the gov
n ernmeht will literally run itself.
= The forthcoming annual report of Min
l. Director Burchard will contain a continua
:, tion Of the examination fthe course of prices
+ published in his annual report of last year
/ This examination has been made upon lead
ing articles Of export comprising 81 per cent
i of the total domestic exports, and shows tina
" y, during the last fiscal year the prices realized
on American exports were about 10 per cen
higher than for the previous year. This in
crease was on manufactured articles as wei
as agricultural products, the principal beinJ
cotton 25 per cent, cotton manufactures l:
5 per cent, bread-stuiIs 20 per cent, and iror
and iron manufactures 40 per cent. Tht
,, better prices realized, it will be shown, die
:, not result from short crops or of lesseneC
amount of manufactures, as the past yea1
has been one of bounhful crops, unusua
/. business activity and general prosperity.
r. AuousT.