Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-01-14
From Our Regular Correspondent.l
Washington Letter,

WASHINGTON, D. c.. Jan. 10, 1880.
Congress has re-assembled after two
weeks holiday recess, and. though a few,
here and there, have talked of an early
adjournment, the prevailing opinion is
that the session will last until sometime in
June. The House has shown disposition
to hurry along the appropriation bills,
and. even if the Senate should be moved
by tho same spirit, it will not signify a
short session. In the first place, this is
what is termed n "new congress-" That
is, it is largely made up of men who have
not served before. All these new men,
bers, as well rs the old ones, desire re.
election. and every one of them. perhaps,
has some pet measure, or maybe II dozen,
the passage of which will add to his
strength and popularity in his district.
Before another session shall convene the
congressional elections will have been
held, and therefore these bills must be
acted upon at this session in order to assist
the sitting member to another term, 1t is
true the new members had the advantage
of an extra session, but the political ques-
tons then before congress monopolized its
attention. 10 the exclusion Of general and
special legislation. Since the organization
of the present congress many hundreds of
bills have been introduced, and not twenty
of them in all have yet been acted upon.
To say that congress will adopt the plan
attributed 10 Speaker Randall of passing
appropriation bills and forthwith adjourn
ing, is TO suppose that the members intend
to sacrifice the interests which their dis
tricts, respectively, have entrusted to them,
TO an idea that the party might be benefit
ed by " short session." II any one can
suppose such II thing he can learn better
by conversng with few of the members
as to what they intend to do with their
special bills. Each member will answer
that while he is willing to defer to the
interests of party, his first duty is to his
constituents, and that he means to serve
them first. Then, besides the unusually
large number of bills pending, there is
the financial question, which will lead to
a discussion Of considerable length in the
Senate, if not in the House, too. Some of
the senators have devoted their holiday
recess 10 the preparation of speeches upon
the subject of finance, and they expect to
deliver them before many days. There
are other bills, too, that will have to be
debated. For instance, Representative
Townshend, of Illinois, says that he in
tends to press his bill regulating the
transfer of causes from state to federal
courts, over which there WAS such n con-
test in the House during the extra session.
This became party measure. the demo.
cras urging it and the republicans oppos-
ing it, and there has been no change in
sentiment upon the proprety of the bill,
Congress will scarcely adjourn before
June.
The sentiment in congress which has
been cropping out for long time in favor
of abolishing foreign missions, Or of. Al
least, modifying the system and reducing
the expense, has been given voice in the
shape of II resolution submitted by Repre-.
sentative Townshend. This resolution
directs the committee on foreign atf,irs to
inquire into the expediency of abolishing
ENJOYS extraordinary and ministers resi-
dent from the United States to foreign
countries, and report to the House the
conclusions reached The opinion that the
rapid means of communication now exist
ing between this country and the capitals
of the world, can be utilized 10 transact
international business more promptly and
more economically than by ministers, is
not altogether confined to democratic con.
gressmen, but Just to what extent it pre-
walls cannot be ascertaincd until Mr.
Townshends resolution shall come up for
action.