Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-05-04
Che fireman.
MONTPELIER. VT.
WEDNESDAY. NAY 4. 1881.
Affairs at Washington.

Secretary WINDOWS plan of continuing
the six per cent bonds that come due this
summer at three and half per cent until
Congress can provide for them next win
ter has been very successful and the great
cause that was urged for an extra session
is thus disposed of. 1t may here be noted
that the treasury statement for the first of
May shows the reduction of the debt
during the month of April to have been
nearly ten million dollars.
The deadlock in the Senate continues.
The republicans held a caucus and ap-
pointed a committee of seven to devise a
plan by which certain nominations can
be confirmed without giving up the test
for the organization of the Senate. Many
rumors have been floating as ia what this
committee has been trying to do. 1t has
been said that Mr.. Conkling was willing
to have the Senate go into executive ses-
sion il the nomination of Robertson could
be the first one taken up. as he is now
confident of defeating him. Other state
ments are to the effect that the New York
senator is set against any caucus and
against any going into executive session
ut all for the present.
The republicans were not fortunate in
their selection of a candidate for secretary
of the Senate when they took Mr. Cor
ham. He is bright man but erratic and
inclined to be in alliance with interests
that are not deemed to forward good
government. His Washington paper is
now largely occupied in sustaining the
course of Gen. Brady in the star route
contracts and the extravaganza of that
course will meet general condemnation
whether there was corruption in it or not.
The breaking up these contracts by Sec
Rotary James will save the government
millions of dollars aud while Gen Brady
makes lively defence of his action rs
lawful and rs sustained by congressman
representing the regions where the con.
tracts were made, this defence does not 90
to the point of whether the discre ton
given the department was exercised in the
best interest of the government.
Mr.. Gorham's course in the star route
question is such that ii is said to be no
longer certain that he can carry the full
republican vote of the senate and he must
carry it all in order to be elected. But
both republican and democratic senators
insist that it is necessary they should
stick" That being the case it is we'll that
both sides should be true to the high moral
ground each has taken. The senators pay
their own bills and get no more salary for
thus attending to duty than they would
had they not gotten themselves into this
snarl.
The democrats took a very unreasonable
position. 1t is the same course us that
which led the English house of commons
last winter to change its rules and put a
occasion. But having taken this position
we have never yet been able to see what
means the republicans could take to drive
them from it. If the democrats insist
they will not allow vote to be taken on
the org .nizttion of the senate, we do not
see why that does not end the matter.
They place themSev squarely on the
right of obstruction, and why it isn't just
as well to leave Them there we have never
been able to see, 1t don't do any good to
have them tell over their political doctrines
because any man who isn't asleep knows
what those doctrines are. They are no
better nor worse for being repeated.
But if the republican senators think ii
best to stay on the ground and worry their
opponents the republican party at large
has no objection. The game at distance
doesn't look as though it is worth the
powder, but there may be something
behind it all that makes it really of great
Importance. The way the democrats hang
on mas look about it as though they fear
the too solid south is going to melt before
long. They howl so about Malone that it
may be they know there is II great body
of white men in the south sick of bour-
bonsm and the mouldy leavings of
slavery and ready to break away whenever
the slide begins. Such a state Of facts
would justify either side in hanging on,
but outside of that the United States
Senate might just as well pack its trunk
and 90 home.