Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1881-04-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Irrori, our regular Correspondent
WAsHINsros, April 30, 1881.

to have an all summer session Of th'
Senate unless some action on the par
Of the President brings the presen
dead lock to close. This is the gen
eral feeling on all sides now. Tn
Democrats are more firm than ever il
their determination not to permit tn,
corrupt bargain with Malone to b
completed. Senator Pendleton sait
yesterday in his reply to Senato
Dawes: "You forget what the Senate
is. You forget the character Of til,
work in which you invited our coop
Grafton. | tell you now. tell you
here, you will not have that co-opera'
ton for that purpose at any time.
Senator Vest, in one of the best spec
ches of the session thus referred to the
temper of the Democratic side of the
chamber: Rather than see the real
Democracy Of Virginia stricken down
after this fashion we will stay here
God willing, until the ice again gorges
the Potomac and the SHOWS Of Decem-
Der wreathe these hills in their wind
ing-sheet." This fairly illustrates the
feeling among Democratic Senator'S,
and there is no possible danger OF any
backdown from the position taken. 1t
is not mere contest for the few Offices
Of the Senate, but for the protection
OF the honor of the Senate against a
disgraceful trade, and to deprive the
renegade repudlator from Virginia OF
the fruits Of his traffic. To defeat the
election of Riddleburger at this time
will be worth thousands of votes to
the regular Democratic debt-payers
ticket in the Virginia State election
this fall.
On the Republican side there is
equal determination manifested aud
neither now expects the other to re-
lent. Among Senators the belief is
now that each side will keep enough
members here to watch the other, and
that the formality of sessi n win 60
on right through the summer. There
was talk of inducing the President to
change his decision and call an extra
session of both houses to compel a
break, but this idea has been abandon.
ed. Ia one other way President Gar
field could terminate the struggle, viz: 4
by prorogulng the Senate, as he has
power under the constitution to do. |
This would relieve the civil service OF
some embarrassment, as the President
could then commission all his late ap |
pointees and they could legally enter
npon their duties without confirmation
until the regular session in December. |
Between three and four hundred an
pointments have been sent TO the Sen. |
ate, OF which only the Cabinet officers |
and about twenty others have been
acted upon. Not only are the appoint
ees made miserable by this delay but
III many cases there is serious distnr-
hance Of public business. The Dis
tr'et OF Columbia, for instance, has no
marshal aud the criminal court is com.
pletely blocked. Fred Douglass the
marshal whose term has expired, can
not act and his successor ON no qua.
ify until confirmed. The new Com.
missioner of Indian affuirs, Mr.. Price
cannot qualify though his services are
urgently required by the Department
and it was finally determined to com j
mission HIM as chiefcerk. that officer ;
being empowered to act as Commits
sloner IN any temporary vacancy. II II
IS not unlikely that the President my j
put an end to all this folly on the part
u his partisans by ordering the Sen
ltors to retire to their b, mes.
The embarrassment to President
fairfield growing out of his New York