Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-01
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
The Asssssin's Cool Impudence-The
Fight for the SpeakershIp-The
Surplus Revenue-Prudent Pro-
tectiOnists-Jaek Browns Delu-
siOn-CabInet Gossip.

WASHINGTON, November 29.-The week
opens with only two real questions of i'm
portance on the Washington surface. They
are the trial of Guiteau, doer Of antics and
assassin of President Garfield, and the con-
test for the Speakership Of the next House.
Public interest continues to attach itself to
the Guiteau trial, because of the antics of
Guiteau alone. He manages to make things
lively. 1t is never dull while the trial is
going on. He keeps things a going by
speech and by his actions. He seems to make
1t point that he shall be heard from
just so much every day. That extent is CO.
relative to his idea of self importance, which
is great big idea. Judge Cox, who is try
ing the case, is said to be too lenient, and
by many to be too incompetent Judge to
maintain the dignity of the court. The
newspapers are belittling him and giving
him lectures on the duties of Judge and
judicial decorum. Even the English snobs
are telling how the trial should be conduct
ed. Now all this is the purest nonsense.
There is no better Judge on thebench than
Judge Cox; there is no sounder and better
read lawyer than ne; and he has had
ap expeftence that does not often fall TO the
good lot OF Judges. He knows what he is
Guiteau would be by gagging him. The
wirv little egotism who is on trial for his
crime, could be silenced otherwise. It is
possible that Judge Cox will have him gag
ged If he does not behave himself. But
Judge Cox is 10th to do this. He wants the
trial to be as free from any evidences of
persecution of the criminal as it possibly
can be. The dignity of the court has not
yet been outraged so very horribly
that there is not even small
remnant of it left. Judge Cox will see that
the ends of justice are met and proposes to
conduct the trial as In his opinion Is the
best way. And he can be safely trusted
to do this. IL would be much better-de-
spite the snobbish and oficious advice that
is being showered upon him-that the case
go on without the exercise of any force to.
wards the prisoner. That is the common
sense view of it, and until such force be-
comes absolutely necessary it will not be
applied by Judge Cox.
Members of Congress are rapidly fling into
town and the canvass for the Speakership
goes on more brisl1ly. In fact, it is becom-
ing very animated. The several candidates
are button-holing and promising all manner
OF things for votes. The relative strength
of the candidates does not appear to be
changed. Kasson continues in the lead, and
works as quietly and indefatigablY as ever.
There are talks of combinations against
him, but none have yet been made. 1t be-
gins to look as if Kasson would to-
wards the end scoop In the
support of number of the other candi-
dates by offers of good places on the House
committees to them and their leading sup
porters.
1t is current gossip that at least two of
the candidates are in the field only that
they may be bought by good committee
places when it becomes more of a fxity as
TO the exact point of the compass that the
jumping cat will 20 towards. Whisky and
other liquids are beginning to find
their way into the headquarters
of the different candidates; and the
casual member or supposed man Of influ-
ence who drops In is invited to refresh him
self. As the rule runs, such Invitations are
seldom refused. The "Colonels' and
Judges" who hang around the hotels here,
and who live, yet have no visible means of
support, are having a hey. day. The
"Judge" and the Colonel" invariably
have an extensive acquaintance among
members of the House, and in their conver-
sations talk as il they dictated all of
the measures of legislation and all
matters of Congressional policy. Upon occa-
sions when there is to be new elective deal
in the House they pan out their best. They are
now at home They can get drink by simyly
calling in at a candidates headquarters, and
they do not forget to call. They know it
all, and can tell to a certainty how many
votes each man is to get. But they do not
tell this to the candidates. They tell the
one with whom they happen to be talking
that he certainly has a walk-over in the
race. Their noses are getting redder, and
they look much more comfortable than they
did few short days ago.
THE MEETING OF CONGRESS.
mapfs nnXt MOD6aV- There
is less talk than usual about what is going
to be done at the long session, or what i'm
portant matters of legislation will be upper
most. It is a new Congress, and nobody
can even speculate at all accurately concern
ing the forthcoming Legislature. Certainly
nothing will be done for some time. The
Speaker and new set of officers will have
to be elected and the committees
appointed before anything looking
like work can be started on the way. This
will be some time, and the chances seem to
be that nothing of importance will be inau-
gurated until the holiday recess Is over.
About the only subject around which there
seems to be any great attention focused is
the always bobbing up serenely topic
of the tariff aud internal revenue.
More than ordinary interest in these sub
jecGs seems to be taken now by members of
Congress. The probable cause for this Is
the contemplation of the immense surplus
that is now in the Treasury vaults, and
which Secretary Folger does not yet see any
way of getting out without manifest disaG-
vantage to the government, in paying big
prices for its bonds. This surplus now
reaches the enormous figures of about $780,
1000, and it continues to pile up. Money
which should be in the mart and
is locked in the Treasury vaults,
where it does no good and can do none.
Then why not reduce the taxes which
brings this money In? is the very peril
nent question which even the average mem
Der seems 10 be giving more attention to.
1t is a great day for the country when the
average member finds time to give his at
tention to any measure of public import.
The question of a reduction of the revenues
derived from the people being up, they take
along with them, of course, the matters of
tariff and internal revenue. Just where
to reduce IN these two systems of taxation
will have to be decided. It is a hopeful
sign that the heretofore high protectionists
do not raise a gale of horror when "tamper-
ing with the tariff" as they call all efforts
at reform in that direction, is mentioned. A
large number of them admit that the tariff
system could be changed greatly for the
better. There are SO many interests that
would be affected by either tariff or internal
revenue changes that 1t will only be after
much discussion that anything is accom-
plished. 1t is at least certain, however, that
the trial will be made.
THE CABINET AND OTHER THINGS.
Everyb ody remains in the dark about
Preside Mt Arthur's Cabinet. There is even
no news gossip sfloat about it. 1t is still
believed that ex Senator Frelinghuysen will
succeed Blaine in the State Department,
and that Lincoln will remain in the War
DaDsrsmeut When the State Department
change is to be made no one knows. Secre-
tAry Folger, Of course, remains in the
Treasury Department. 1t is thought that
on the opening day of Congress at least
two of the Cabinet places will be
filled by nominations to the Senate. Some
say that all the new Cabinet nominations
will be sent in that day. But nobody knows
anything about It or who are to be the men.
Chauncey j. Filley, Of Missouri, is acting
SO suspiciously that it looks as IL he were to
succeed James. The President, however, is
keeping his business to himself. He will
certainly send his first annual message to
Congress on the opening day. There,
again, he keeps his counsel. What he is
going to recommend in that document no
body ever guesses at. Heretofore, long ere
this time, facts from the message
have leaked out, and 1t has been
often well known what the contents Of that
document are to be. frequently two or
three days before hand verbatim copies of
the document have found their way into
newspaper hands. Now nobody has any
idea Of what the new President is going to
say to Congress, and 1t is pretty safe to
wager high that the message will not get
into the newspapers before its delivery to
Congress.
AS PARENTHEsIs,
/ would say that for the first time in many