The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-11-24
WASHING TON LETTER.

ial reduction of internal revenue taxes.
The ways and means committee, with
Judge Kelley at It's head, undertook to
accomplish this end last session, but
the measures brought forward were
talked out of time by the Democrats,
and the only bill that had any chance of
success lies smothered under load of
amendments and Democratic CAB in the
Senate. Yet the Democrats ruared
about taxation all through the late cam.
paign. Judge Kelley's committee are
already taking the matter in hand again,
and nothing but Democratic obstruc-
ton can prevent something being done
to lessen the weight of taxation at the
approaching session. But the policy
of obstruction will undoubtedly be adj
opted by the minority in order to carry
the subject over TO Democratic Con-
gress, and as this will be short session,
1t will require vigorous and determined
efforts 10 prevent the success of their
tactics. Judge Kelley is said to be in
favor of abolishing the entire system
of internal taxes. But speaking of the
coming Democratic House, it is anus
ing to notice what lively campaign
for the offices of that body has already
begun year in advance. A little sue
cess crazes the Democrats. To them
the old days have come back, and they
look forward to the time when the
Southern gentlemen can swear and
squirt tobacco juice in the marble
rooms of the Capitol. may be below
the figure, but it seems 10 me there are
a million Democrats who have already
filed caveats for every Office in the
House. There are hundred very good
places in the House, and probably two
hundred others not qnite so good, but
the knowledge of Demo ;ratic major.
ity has put legion in the field for ev.
cry office. 1t will be lively scram.
Bile when the time comes, but hardly a
foretaste of what would be seen if ever
by any possibility the old fossil party
should get control of the executive
branch of the government.
According to the reports coming in
there is likely to be an unusual number
of contested seats in the Congress late
ly elected. In large number of dis
riote tho voto ia worry rlnse. and the
successful members from these districts
reach the goal Of their ambition by a
very narrow margin. In many cases
these are Repu blicans. But the Bour-
bons having large majority IN the
House happy thought strikes the I'M
successful Democratic candidate.
From Virginia alone three contests are
threatened, and present indicai ions are
that the list from the whole country
will be something unprecedented. If
the Democratic majority remains on
its good behavior these contests may be
settled on their merits, and in most
cases disposed of in short order, but
the chances areI that partisanship will
get the better of discretion, and that
the Bourbon will generally be seated.
But In one respect both parties are to
blame for the miserable practice of so
many contests. The custom..which pre-
walls in Congress of paying all the ex-
penses of the. unsuccessful parties TO a
contest serves to increase the number
of such cases. The contestant knows
that he will not be out of pocket,
owing to the liberality of this custom,
even if he loses his case. Therefore,
having everything TO gain and nothing
TO lose, he enters upon contest, where,
perhaps. if he had TO bear the burden
of his own expense, if unsuccessful, he
would not consider his chances worth
the venture. 1t has not heen very long
since a defeated contestant for seat
in the House was voted liberal allow
ance for attorneys fees, and the fact
was he appeared as his own attorney
and pocketed the fee. 1t was said by
those who know him that his practice
at home for five years had not yielded
him SO much all told as that one fee he
obtained for presenting weak case 10
Congress. In the present Congress a
contestant who was seated got an al
lowance for expenses including at
torney's fees, and then went back on
his attorney, who is sill unpaid.
Our public spirited citizen, Mr.. w.
w. Corcoran, has perfected his plans
for removing the body of John Howard
Payne, the author of "Home, Sweet
Home," TO OAK Hill Cemetery, In
Georgtown, from Tunis, where he lies
in neglected grave. Mr.. Corcoran is
said 10 be willing TO put some money
in Democratic morning daily to be
started here. He put good deal in
the Union, which collapsed after the
Tilden campaign. No man has given
more literally to his party then Mr..
Corcoran. II lie said that he gave $780,
900 to the cause in 1876, and he says
he wants to live until he sees Demo
cratic president inaugurated. The de-
feat of that tedious old humbug, Mont
gomery Blair, in Maryland, has given
the old gentleman pleasant glow of
satisfaction. Members of all parties
are regretting Mr.. Proctor Knotts
coming retirement from the House OF
Representatives. The general public
knows him as the author of the Du-
luth speech, but he is one of the busiest
workers In the Congressional hive and,
contrary to the usual prejudice regard
ing humorist, he presided in the speak.
ar,a chair on saccasiana NTH x,,,oI