The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1880-01-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Congress Again. Prospects OF q
long session. The new member
anxious 10 hear himself talk
Mr. TOWnsIlend proposes.
[From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 1880.

wAsHrSdros, Jan. 10, 1880.
Congress has re.assembled after a
two weeks holiday recess, and,
thougha 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 the same spirit, it will
not signify a short session. In the
first place, this is what is termed a
"new Congress" That is, tits large
ly made up Of men who have not
served before. All these new mem
bers, MS well as the old ones, desire
reelection, and every one of them,
perhaps, has some pet measure, or
may be dozen, the passage Of which
will add to his strength and popular
ity in his district.
Before another session shall con-
vene the congressional elections will
have been held, and therefore these
bills must be acted upon at this ses-
sion in order to assist the sitting
member to another term. 1t is true
the new members had the advantage
ofan extra session, but The political
questions then before Congress mon
opolized its attention, to the ex-
clusion of general and special legis-
lation. 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 Con-
gress will adopt the plan attributed
to Speaker Randall, of passing ppro-
priation bills and forthwith adjourn
ing, is to suppose that the members
intend to sacrifice the interests
which their districts, respectively,
have entrusted to them, to an idea
that the party might be benefited by
a short session" If any one can
suppose such thing he can learn
better by conversing with a 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 consti-
tuents, and that he means 10 serve
them first. Then, besides the unus-
ually large number of bills pending,
there is the financial question, which
will lead to discussion of some
Length in the Senate, if not in the
House, too. Some of the Senators
have devoted their holiday recess to
the preparation Of speeches upon the
subject of finance, and they expectto
deliver them before many days
There are other bills, too, that will
have to be debated. For instance,
Representative Townshend, of Hi
nois, says that he intends to press
his bill regulating the transfer of
causes from State to Federal courts,
over which there was such a contest
in the House during the extra ses.
sion. This became party measure,
the Democrats urging it and the Re-
publicans opposing it, and there has
been no change in sentiment upon
the propriety Of the bill Congress
will scarcely adjourn before June.
The sentiment in Congress which
has been cropping out for along time
in favor of abolishing foreign mis-
sions, or Of at least, modifying the
system and reducing the expense,
has been given voice in the shape of
a resolution submitted by Represent
alive Townshend. This resolution
directs the committee on foreign af.
fairs to enquire into the expcdiency
Of abolishing ENJOYS extraordinary
and ministers resident from the
United States TO foreign. countries,
and to report to the House the con-
illusions reached. The opinion that
the rapid means of communication
now existing between this country
and the capitals of the world, can be
utilized to transact international
business more promptly and more
economically than by ministers, is
not altogether confined to Democratic
Congressman, but just to what extent
it prevails cannot be ascertained un-
til Mr.. Townshend's resolution shall
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