Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-03-07
Washington Letter.

| airy ACTIVITY Ill tue luGrOuuCIlOu VI
bills. More than six thousand Tin
Guiding Senate bills,) have been pre-
sented, and "still they come"
The apportionment act, providing
for the number of members under
the recent census, has occupied the
attention of Congress for some time,
and has now PISSED both houses and
will soon become law Unde. its
provisions, the next House will have
three hundred and twenty-five mem
bers-nearly thirty more than con
stitute the present number. The in
crease is principally from the West
ern States-Kansas and Texas gain
ing more than any Others.
Several bills have been introduced
providing for State Government il
Territories; one for Dakota, another
for New Mexico. The former, it is
thought, will be enacted at this SEES
sion; thus adding two additions
Senators.
Bills also have been introduced
for recognizing the Supreme Court
of the United States. One of them
proposes the addition of two Assist
ant Chief Justices, who, together
with the Chief Justice, shall dis
tribute the six Justices Of the Court
into three divisions. The large
number of cases now on the docket
of the Supreme Court land which
are continuing to increase), renders
legislation on this subject absolutely
Indispensable.
The contested election cases,
which, the committed on elections
have been considering, will occupy
considerable time before Congress
adiourns.
The civil service reform question
is one which has been much agitated
of late, and it is probable that this
will also consume much time. There
seems to be diversity of opinion as
to the proposed plans of reforming
present official appointments and
tenures, though the importance of
relieving the appointing powers, to
some extent, OF the vast pressure,
loss of time and annoyance, that res
suit from constant applications for
positions under the government, is
unbeatable; but whether there is
not a great deal of baLde,dash in the
''conpetitjve examination system, SO
frequently urged and insisted upon,
is scarcely questionable.
The fact is, that in nine out Of ten
cases, thorough knowledge of
geography, mathematics or any
branches of the advanced sciences,
are neither necessary OF useful to the
proper discharge of official duties,
and yet these are embraced in the
so-called competitive examinations.
The collector of customs at Bos-
ton was very nearly correct when he
stated that it was not SO much a
knowledge of arts and sciences that
was required of official incumbents
as it was that they should be
possessed of plenty of "gumption. y
The interstate commerce bill is
another measure that will require
some time for consideration. It is a
matter that is becoming of great
Importance, affecting, as it does, the
welfare and interests of SO many
people, and at an early day viii res
quire prompt and decisive legisla
ton.
These and other matters requiring
the attention of our lawmakers will
probably prolong the session into
the summer.
East Tennessee has been rema1ka-
bly, fortunate in the organization of
the Forty-seventh Congress.
Hon. A. III. Pettibone is a most
energetic, efficient and able member,
and no one can be more earnest and
successful in advancing the interests
and welfare of his constituents than
himself
Colonel Brownlow, the doorkeeper
of the House, Is a most excellent
executive officer, and in the selection
of his associates and assistants has
shown great skill and sound iudg-
ment. Like all successful command
ers, he has had reference to the right
material, and hence everything in
his department seems to move with
that order and system which COM
mand success.
| Few officers have succeeded in
making more friends, for few have
more continuously deserved them
than the present real Adjutant- Gen
eral of the House of Representa-
tives, under whom the door keepers
are really subordinates.
Allow me to say that among his
appointees, one of the best that could
have been found is the senior editor
of the "Morristown Times, Mr.. j. S.
Couch. He is gentleman of su-
perior talent, fine business capacity,
the personifcation of geniality and
'eleverness, and very much like one
John Littlejohn, whom we have read
about, as
Stanch and strong,
Upright and downright; scornipg wrong. y
The fact is, he has been already
rendered more advanced position
IN another branch of the service. but
for the good of the department where
he is, it is well he thought best to
decline it.
The weather in this region has
been remarkably mild this winter,
but at present very cold wave has
commenced, and it seems that
"winter will be lingering in the lap
of spring. More anon. RETsEL.
SWEET BREATH AND GOOD DIGEs-