The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-12-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our regular Correspondent,


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From our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, d. C., Dec. Is, 1882.
1t is refreshing to see the vim and
alacrity with which Congress is addres
sing itself to business. The session is
only two weeks old, but already more
Legislative and committee work has
been accomplished than is usual y trans
acted before the holiday adjournment.
This Congress is setting an example,
and making a precedent which the peo-
pie and the press will no doubt hold up
for the emulation of future Congresses,
and the opinion is gaining that, after
all has been said, Congress may not be
totally depraved.
The Democrats in Congress held II
caucus Yesterday in which it was agreed
to oppose the admission Of Dakota as a
State, and a conference committee rela-
tive to the business of the session was
appointed. The Republicans have as
yet held no caucus, but there have been
frequent informal discussions of the
political situation by Republican lead
ers. There is an evident improvement
in the Republican situation since the
beginning of the session, attributable to
the Presidents message, action in the
Star Route cases, and to the business
like action of Congress.
The House of Representatives is max
ing rapid Roadway with the appropria-
ton bills. During the week three were
reported, viz: For the Post Office De-
partment, the Agricultural Bill, and the
Military Academy Bill. Two of the
appropriation bills have already passed
the House, viz: The Indian, and the
Consular and Diplomatic Bills.
Although there is a good deal of un-
animity among members of Congress
touching the reduction Of letter postage
to two cents, there is u wide difference
of opinion as to when it should 60 into
effect. Some favor the first of July
next, and many Others the LIST of Janu-
airy, 1884. The item for reduced post.
age, which is incorporated in the post
office bill, will be passed without doubt,
the only question beng as to the best
time to have it go into effect.
The Democrats, it is believed, will
interpOse obstacles towards the passage
of legislation having for its object real
civil service reform, for the reason that
the next House being Democratic they
wish to postpone action 50 that they can
shape Legislation &c meet their ends,
and have the spoils wherewith to re.
ward their friends and punish their
enemies. In the Senate Thursday there
was a discussion On the civil service re-
form bill offered by Mr.. Pendleton, of
Ohio, at the last session. Mr.. Pendle-
ton in his remarks on the bill spoke
earnestly in favor of it, and 1t would
seem that he although a Democracy is
honestly striving for its passage this
session. But the majority of his Demo-
cratic colleagues, among them Sena-
tors Vorlees, of Indiana, and Brown, of
Georgia, prefer to wait, as they say,
''until they have had a chance to reform
the Offices" This means literally to
postpone legislation until the offices
have been filled with Democrats, when
they will then cooperate with the Re-
publicans to enact laws to keep the
Democratic Office holders from Repub-
lican invasion.
The National Library Bill has been
again defeated, it may be for years and
it may lie forever. There is more than
one side to the Library question. There
is an accumulation of more than 100000
volumes, some on the shelves, many on
the floor, awaiting the grace of spon-
taneous combustion. Mr.. Spofford, the
erudite librarian, has been clamoring
for Il place to place his books, and the
small percentage of "literary fellows"
sent to Congress have echoed Mr.. Spot
ford's clamor. But there are other
Congressman not affected with bibli-
ophilism who would like to play the
part of the monks in the Alexandrian
library and burn the trash. Then there
is a job in the business. A real estate
ring wants to sell a situation to the
Government, while in truth the Govern
ment has more situations in the District
than it can sit on. The proper place
for the library is on Government ground
in close proximity to those other scIen-
tific collections the Smithsonian Insti-
tute and the National Museum.