Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-01-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Jan. IA, 1873

WASHINGTON, Jan. IA, 1851.
Since the holidays, Congress has
pitched into its work rather more
earnestly, and business is moyin g
alorg fairly. The appropriation bill s
are as far advanced as usual at this
stage of the session, and will not ne :
cessarily stand in the way of other
legislation. Yet there are few meas
ures likely to be- passed. The ap-
pointment bill for members of Con
gress under the new census may get
through, but it is very doubtful
The committee has not as yet per-
fected its plan, and Mr.. Cox, the
chairman, expressed a very poor
opinion of the scheme contemplated
in the bill introduced by Mr.. Spring
er, which embodies the minority-rep-
resentation plan similar to that by
which the Illinois legislature is chos-
en-. One sign that Congress realizes
the near approach of its latter end
is the activity of the Elections Com
mittee in disposing of contested
seats. Several cases have been con-
sidered this week and discussed, in
GLIDING that of McCabe against
Orth, of Indiana. What farce it
is to see a Congress deciding in the
very last days of its existence that
the members who have occupied
seats all through the session are, or
are not, entitled to them, and then
vote pay to both contestant and con-
testee. If there is any virtue in a
contest, it would seem proper to
have the right of the matter deter
mined at the beginning. Certainly
it ought to be settled during the
first session, and not dragged along
through a whole term of two years,
only to be droppad by paying one
man for services as congressman and
another for trying to be one. An
other very great wrong is committed
by the absenteeism prevalent among
members of Congress. It has never
been more marked than at this SEES
sion. Many members have remain
ed away from Washington much of
the time, and many others, though
in the city, are rarely in their seats,
perferring to spend their time at res
taurants or in attending to business
outside Of legislation. The New
York San, made the statement that
Daniel O'Reilly, Brooklyn mem
Der, had not been in his seat this ses-
sion. On Monday, Mr.. O'Reilly
made personal explanation in the
House, saying he had not been alb
sent day. O'Reilly said he wouldn't
have noticed the matter but for the
fact that his wife cut the statement
from the newspapers and wrote,
"Where are you, Dan ?"
The refunding bill has made slow
progress, partly for the reason that
its author, Mr.. Wood, has been i'll,
and partly because an unexpected
amount of opposition has developed.
Before the recess it was supposed
that a large majority of members
favored the measure, but there is
now considerable outside, and very
quiet, pressure. Some are afraid a
three per cent. bond cannot be made
to sell at par, and that if no higher
rate is possible under the law, the
maturing bonds cannot be refunded,
and will have to run on at the high
rate they now bear. Then again,
some are afraid the three per cent.
bond can be sold at par, and that if
the bill passes providing for that
rate they will be obliged to surren-
der their bonds for the new ones
Some are trying to increase the rate
of interest in the funding bill, there
fore, in good honest desire to do the
best thing for themselves. (which
is which" it is difficult to determine.
The recommendation that discretion
be left with the Secretary of the
Treasury to increase the rate to
three-and-a-half or four per cent, if
necessary, is open to the objection
that the price OF money always goes
up to the highest rate the govern
ment authorizes to be paid. This is
probably on the principle that the
man said he always noticed that
when, in travelling, he took a bottle