Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-06-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
A SCHEME TO BREAK THE DEAD
LoCK.-BBsINESs IN CONGRESS.
AN EARLY ADJOURNMENT
IMP0ssTBLE.-soCIE
OUTDOOR DIVER
SIONS.
(From our regular Correspondent

(From our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 30. 1882.
Trouble is anticipated in the House
this week, after a stubborn disagree
ment of eight days, the two parties are
no nearer compromise than when
the deadlock first began. There is a
well founded report that the Republi-
can majority will to-day resort to ex-
treme measures to cut the parliament
tary knot that has so long failed their
purpose. Their programme is the
adoption of an amendment to the
rules, with view to prevent dilatory
motions, or, in other words, fillibuster
ing, when the consideration of the
right of member to his seat is before
the House. The speaker is expected
to rule in favor of the consideration of
the amendment, and, if the Democrats
attempt to fillibuster, he will make Il
point of order against any dilatory
motions, they cannot he entertained
pending the consideration of propo-
sition to amend the rules of the House.
The solution of the whole difficulty, it
seems, viii depend upon the decision
of the speaker. The Democrats say
he will not assume to make what they
call an arbitrary decision clearly
against the rules, while the Republi-
cans are confident in their assertions
that he cannot rule otherwise without
departing from the precedents made
by Blaine and Colfax in similar issues.
In case the speaker shall rule favora-
bly, ON a resolution to amend the rules,
counter resolution to depose the
speaker has been contemplated, and
Mr.. Keller has even been informed
that this resolution would be proposed.
Altogether, the outlook in the House
is exceedingly squally, and affairs,
most likely, will have arrived at n
crisis before this letter reaches you.
The House was much behind the Sen
ate in its work, and the loss of eight
days and the prospective loss of as
many more, over the contested cleo
ton cases, places an early adjourn
ment out of the question. 1t is not
improbable that the middle of July
may find Congress still in session. At
present, the weather is cool and de-
lightful, and there has been no incOn-
venience from the oppressive heat
that usually visits the Capital at this
season. All the members of the House
are on hand, absentees having been
recalled to make a quorum in the
Dibble and Mackey contested election
case, and the Republican caucus has
changed the programme with view
to the settlement OF all the contested
claims for seats in Congress, before
other business shall be taken up, for
the reason that in no other way can
the members be kept in ranks. As
soon as the appropriation and other
nOn-political bills are taken up,a large
proportion will obtain leayc of absence
and go to their homes or elsewhere.
As soon as the Senate disposes of
the japanese bill, it will take up the
bankruptcy bill, the Ead's ship rail
way bill, and the bonded spirit bill.
Each of these bills will be urged for
precedence. Only four of the annual
appropriation bills, viz: postoffice, In
dams, notifications and agriculture,
have yet become laws. The diplo-
matte bill is still in the hands OF a con-
ference committe, appointed a month
ago There is an immense amount of
Indispensable legislation relative chiefly
to appropriations, and dependent on
the initiative action of the House,
which must be accomplished before
Congress can adjourn. Tomorrow
both houses will adjourn for dccora-
ton ceremonies.
The President and most of the Cabi-
net are absent in New York.
Society has for the present given up
indoor entertainments for excursions
and picnics. Mount Vernon, Cabin
Johns Bridge, and the Great Falls of
the Potomac are objective points of
many of these excursions. They are
all delightful and easily accessible
places.