The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-12-24
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER Z
From our Regular Correspon dent.l

| IOtil TIC iJdHu6E Ill WHICH uIIiS
are being scooped and thrust into the
hopper of the XLVIIth Congress, it
might be supposed that Congressman
think the great end and aim of man
kind is to make laws, or at any rate
| to introduce "bills." In all the leg
islatures of the land, as well as in
Congress, those who are elected to
such bodies act as if it were to be
supposed that all interests of the
State and Nation could be served by
the introduction of bills; that all
good objects are to Re promoted and
obtained by "bills ;" all wrongs are
to be suppressed and righted by
"bills.". "Bills" of one kind and
another go a long way, no doubt
"bills" in Congress. "bills of rights"
and Thousand dollar BILL" for in
stance. But one who stands back
and looks on at the average legislator
is apt to be reminded of the pelican
which sits on its big nest-largely
out of proportion to the size of its
body, and presumes by the display
its huge bill to over-awe all corners.
Senator Sherman has bill in The
Senate to give law, if not govern
ment, to Alaska, as it provides for
erecting the settled part of that seal
fishing coast into judicial district.
Mr.. Mottrom D. Ball is here from
that far-off north west corner of the
world with his memorial. seeking
to have Alaska habilitated with
territorial government, of which he
would like to be considered "deIe-
gate" He is eX-cOllector of that
region, having been sent up there by
Gen. Grant. He used to be news
paper man in Alexandria, Va; was
confederate soldier, and went for
Grant, like thousands of confederate
soldiers Of the "Old Dominion"
when Gen. Grant carried it for the
Presidency.
Under Speaker Keifer's hammer
all "Samrandallish" schemes for
rendering damp valleys nayigable
streams, will likely be knocked to
pieces when the River and Harbor
bill comes to be 'freighted up"
Gen. Keifer dOsen't seem to have
been in much more of a hurry to
make up his committees than Presi-
dent Arthur has to make up his
Cabinet; and he seems to have caught
ontO' the Presidents excellent idea
of keeping his own counsel, and only
asking for advice when he wants it.
1t is beginning to dawn on Washing
ton city that Arthur has inaugurated
a much-needed reform i'm the treat
ment of applicants for office using a
candid "yes" or respectful but de-
cided "no," instead of "diplomacy"
IN getting over the difficulty. He
has returned to the old-iashioned idea
of communicating his constitutional
information or messages 10 Congress,
instead of the newspapers has stop.
ped the leaks" in Cabinet and official
circles, and is also addressing him.
self to the work of remedying that
evil of dalliance in the matter of APP
pOintments, system OR lack OF
eystem-and practice that has so long
kept Office seekers on the ragged
edge" and been the cause of great if
not the most of the decentralization
among them.
Acting Vice President David DAVIS
still adneres to his 'sworn position"
(see his testimony in the Guiteau
triaD that he is afraid to trust him
self with either political party. So
he tells the Republicans TO take the
Senate committees and the Demo-
Gratis to keep the offices, and he will
continue to set on the top rail of the
political fence and look wise. He
proposes to see that those political
highWaymen, Mr.. Republican and
Mr.. Democrat, divide their booty
fairly, and will even help them a
little, on occasions, to acquire it but
none of such, party rascaliiy tor him |!
He's above it-up on the top rail of
the fence-has the chief seat in the
"sup-agogue," or in the "temple."
W ere these "unclean political mon
ey changers" do business. His lawful
condition. reminds one of FaIstatf:
"Dost thou hear, Hal?
Thou knowest in a state of inno
cency. Adam fell and what shall
poor Jack Fallstaff do in days of
villainy?
Thou sees L have more flesh than
other men; and therefore more Of
fraiuy."
While the grave and dignified Sem
ators are discussing and inqniring in
, to the practicability of preventing
the advertising and sale of lot
terry tick ts in the civ i'm order tn