The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1880-12-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
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1
dent will have been given 10 the
country. Little Is known ia advance
concerning the message, but 1t Is not
likely TO bea very startling or Inn
portant document. None Of Mr..
Hayes messages have been especially
marked, as state papers, and the most
conspicuous thing about them, usual
ly, Is the signature Of a man whom
God Almighty never Intended should
subscribe himself President # the
United States. II lngersoll, "Royal
Bob" as Garfield calls him, were
called upon TO explain the cIrcum-
stance he would doubtless classify It
as one Of the "Mlstakes OF Mosesg-
or Joe Bradley. But the things
which so constantly remind US OF this
dlsgraceful episode In our national
history will soon have passed away
and whatever may be thought Of, or
como from, the next occupant OF the
White House 1t will DO worth some
thing TO him and TO his administra-
ton TO have II said that he was elect
ed.
The short session OF Congress Is
generally an active one. The limit
Of its duration Is known and there Is
not 80 much time for taking things
easy. Among the members with
whom have talked tho impression
prevails that very little miscellaneous
legislation will be accomplished dur
iug the present session. The appro-
priation bills and such other routine
business rs may be necessary will at
best occupy q large share OF the time,
which, deductlng The usual holiday
recess, will be but about seventy
working days. The calendars of the
two houses already embrace very
large number Of measures OF moro or
less importance-a great many more
than can possibly be disposed of, even
II no other business was 10 be brought
forward. There are pending in Com
mit,ee OF the Whole, In the House,
over TWO hundred bills, all involving
TO a greater or less degree the ex-
penditnre OF money or the donation
Of public property. Grouping them
into classes they may be partially de-
scribed as: bills TO provide for the
payment OF the public debt and to
facilitate the refunding thereof bills
affecting the revenue bills affecting
the coinage bills relating to the pos
tsl service bills relating 10 the pub
lie printing; bills relating TO the Dis
trlct of Columbia, and miscellaneous
bills. Then Oh the regular calendar
are oae huud cd and fifty other bills,
among which Is enc TO restrict Chi
nese immigration, one in relation 10
national banks, one providing for the
transfer Of the Indian Bureau TO the
War Department, and one for the re-
lief Of Fitz Jshn Porter. All OF
THESE, -.--- stA~s~ 80 ..s..-e.-ss,s "a
meation, must cause much discussion
when taken up for action.
The extra ssIon talk has In
measure subsidized. Those RepublI-
cans who are especially anxious to
get possession of the House offices
hope TO see matters so shaped that an
extra session can be secured, but the
moro sagacious AL respectable men,
bers Of tho party do not favor 1t, I'M
less there should prove TO be genu-
Inc reason for it. The Senate VIII Of
course be convened after March 4:h
for action upon General Garfeld's
Cabinet appointments, and there Is a
possibility that complications in con-
nection with our Chinese relations
may also demand attention at the
hands of that body. But with the
Senate in the hands Of the Democrats
as 1t Is almost certain to be, special
session for political ends would be
worse than useless. The stalwart
wing of the Republicans declare =
purpose TO prevent the new appor-
tionment for members of Congress
being made this winter, with view
of reducing the representation Of cer-
tain Southern States after they get
control Of Congress. But If their
party does not have a majority in the
Senate the scheme would fail, and
the attempt would not do its project
tors any good.
Speaking just now of GarfieId's
Cabinet reminds me of Deacon Rich.
ard Smiths report that no found a
general feeling in Washington in IA
vor Of making General Grant Secre-
tary Of State. That is about the best |
joke Of the season. l have knocked
around Washington among that sort
Of people who talk about these things
a good deal, and TO my certain knowl-
edge the bare mention of the thing
causes smile. Was there ever any
thing to equal the insane toadyism
displayed by an element in the Re-