The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-06-03
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent

The Democrats have been giving |
US another taste offilibustering tactics,
and so far as can be learned it is not |
likely to prove a very profitable ex-
pertinent. The proceeding called |
filibustering often serves useful pur-
pose, but it is also often abused. By
it minority may resist the passage
of a bill without debate and secure
from the majority the right to speak
Oh it and time to expose to the cOun-
try what they believe 10 be its bad
features. On more than one occasion
in past Congresses when the minori-
ty was numerically weak such resist
ance has been effectively made, and
by attracting the attention of Con-
gress and the country to bad meas
ure has insured its defeat. Near the
close of a Congress filibustering has
been used to resist the passage of a
measure by the majority, as happen
ed when the Democrats filibustered
against an appropriation bill during
the Hayes administration and made
an extra session necessary, which was
disastrous to them. Another instance
was the prolonged filibustering in the
House against the Force bill, when
the House sat forty four hours con-
tinuously. and the bill was delayed
there until it was too late in the ses-
sion to make its passage by the Sen
ate possible.
There is no justification or excuse
for the course pursued by the minor
ity in this case. Contested election
cases are and ought to be privileged
questions. In the present Congress
as IN the last also, the contested cases
have been greatly and shamefully de-
layed. They should have been
brought up and settled long ago, and
they ought to be decided now with.
out unnecessary delay. Each case
ought to be sufficiently debated to
enable both sides to show their
claims both to the House and the
country. Thereupon. if the majority
choose to do injustice, the minority
have their appeal to the country at
the following election. and that is all
they can rightfully ask. To resist
discussion and the taking of the vote
wastes time and does no good, and if
the Democrats persist in it they will
iniure themselves with TIE country,
for they will engage in disorderIy
proceeding, The claim that injustice
would be done by seating Mackey
is utterly groundles-. Injustice has
already been done In keeping him
out till this time of seat to which he
was unquestionabIy elected, and the
Democrats dare not accept his chal.
lenge to let the case come before the
House for debate, This is just what
they fought hardest to prevent.
The Postmaster General has lately
given his views on the proposition to
abolish the postage on newspapers and
magazines. He says that about
81 500, 900 annual revenue is derived
from this sOurse, and to make news
papers and magazines free will of
course increase the deficiency to that
extent. The deficiency for the year
ended June 80. 1881, was S2,481, 1919.
Mr.. Howe believes that the saving
effected under the new contracts in
the star-route sevices will nearly COW
err this deficiency. The increase in
business, however, will increase the
cost of handling the mails and trans
porting them 10y rail. For this reas-
on it can scarcely be expected that
the service will be entirely self-sup-
porting for some time to come. Last
year the net profit in twelve States
and one Territory was S4,892,2l9; in
the remaining States and Territories
the net loss was $7,5Ol.127. Letters
are CARED at a profit, merchandise
is carried at heavy loss. Mr.. Howe
thinks that if the people are to be tax
ed for mail service. it is better that
they should pay for the free distri-
button Of newspapers and magazines
than for transporting packages Ct
merchandise from the Eastern cities
to Arizona and other remote places.
He regards thediffusi IN Ofintelligence
as of more importance than the car
rying of four pound parcels to places
where the express companies cease
to compete, and for this reason he
recommends the abolition of postage
on second class matter.
Somebody has just been giving a
touching account of Mr.. Attorney
General Brewster's ruffles. 1t says
that the dainty ruffles at his wrists
have often been noticed, because I'M
usual in mans attire; but no one
seems to understand the beautiful
sentiment which for forty years has
prompted him to wear them, in spite