Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-11-22
From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington sLetier.
WAsnLNGroN, D. G. nov. is. lss2.


WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. Is. 1882.
Congress will assemble in about two
weeks. number of senators and men,
bers have already arrived, while others
have secured rooms through the agency of
their friends or by letter.
The two halls of congress at the Capitol
have undergone their annual clearing, and
the entire Capitol has been scrubbed and
painted, and brushed to the highest degree
of cleanliness.
The coming session will be very brief
because it expires by Limitation ON the 4th
of March 1888, and if congress takes
Il holiday adjournment of the usual length,
here will be but little moro than two
months for legislative work,
The president is understood to DO at
work on his message to congress; and the
members of his cabinet have their annual
reports in an advanced state of prepare
ton.
II is said that the president will make
civil service reform prominent feature
of his forthcoming message, urging
prompt and positive legislation on the
subject.
Secretary Lincoln will, in his annual
report, recommend that no river and
harbor bill be introduced in the coming
session of congress. He states that it will
be impossible TO expend the amount
appropriated last session during the
present fiscal year, and the balance,
probably S8,OO0,O0O or 100000 will be
carried over to the credit of next year.
The appropriations are not made with
reference to any given year, but are
subject to drafts when wanted. Some,
times year or two elapses before the
work is begun for which provision is
made. There was S4,0O0,090 on hand
when the last bill was passed. The appro.
priation is permanent one, the balance
from one year going over to the next.
The engineer officers believe that the
amount now to the credit of the work will
carry out all that is now under way, unless
unexpected floods or accidents should
occur.
Postmaster General Howe will recon-
mend the establishment of postal saving
banks, postal telegraphy, and the sale o
stamped envelopes at three cents each
This last recommendation does not seen
to meet with great favor especially from
/ young ladies, who spoil package o
. envelopes before they get one addressed
9 to suit them. There is strong sentimen
Q in congress in favor of the reduction o
postage to two cents, thus making it a
4 cheap as the postage rates of England
a France and Germany.
Those who have had most experience il
, congressional methods regard 1t as i'm
probable that any definite or comprehen
3 sive tariff legislation will be enacted at tn
4 coming session, Its limited duration
Y precludes the possibility Of such full
| discussion and consideration of the nun
erous interests involved, as mus
lake place before any general tarif
measure can become Il law. And so tn
g idea seems to prevail here among those
Q best acquainted that, If it be really thu
desire Of both political parties 10 h@ thu
g tariff promptly and comprehensivelI
Y revised and modified. the only practica
mcans of doing so would be TO have = bill
passed next session providing for tn
meeting of the forty-eighth congress ii
March next for the purpose of considerin
; and acting on on the subject.
Naturally the first business in order t.
be dealt with by the House Of Represent
aives will be the disposition Of about tw
{ hundred Senate bills now lying on thu
Speakers table. Many of these ar
SIMPLE in their character aud are prac
Il ically covered by favorable reports from
House committees on the same subject
, An effort will be made to pass, at least
2 hose which involve no appropriation 0
e money and others will be sent to prope
o committees.