Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-20
From OurRegular COresnondeut.l
Washington Letter.

Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. Is, 80.
1t is refreshing to see the vim and
alacrity with which congress is addressing
itself to business. The session is only two
weeks old, but already more legislative
and committee work has been accomplish
ed than is usually transacted before the
holiday adjournment. This congress is
setting an example, and making prece:
dent which the people and the press will
no doubt hold up for the emulation of
future congresses, and the opinion is
gaining that, after all has been said,
congress may not be totally depraved.
The democrats in congress held a
caucus yesterday in which it was agreed |
to oppose the admission of Dakota as a
state, and conference committee relative
to the business of the session was
appointed. The republicans have as yet |
held no caucus. but there have been
frequent informal discussions of the polit-
zeal situation of republican leaders. There
is an evident improvement in the republi-
can situation since the beginning of the
session, attributable to the presidents
message, action in the star route cases,
and to the business-like action of con-
gress.
The House of Representatives is making
rapid Roadway with the appropriation
bills. During the week three were
reported, viz: For the post office depart
ment the agricultural BILL and the mill
tary academy bill. Two of the appropria'
ton bills have already passed the House,
viz The Indian, AMI the consular and
diplomatic bills.
Although there is good deal of una
nimity among members of congress touch
ing the reduction of letter postage to two
cents, the IL wide difference of opinion
as to when it should 60 into effect. Some
favor the LIST. of July next, and many
others the LIST. of January, 1884. The
; item for reduced postage, watch is incor.
J porated in the post Office bill, will be
passed without doubt, the only question
being as to the best time TO have it 60 into
effect
The democrats, it is believed, will
! interpose obstacles towards the passage of
7 legislation having for its object real civil
= service reform, for the reason that The
, next House being democratic they wish
) to postpone action so that they can shape
= legislation to meet their ends, and have
. the spoiis whrrewih to reward their
friends and punish their enemies. In the
n Senate Thursday there was discussion
, on the civil service reform bill offered by
I Mr.. Pendeton, of Ohio, at the last session
] Mr.. Pendleton in his remarks on the bill
t spoke earnestly in favor of it, and it would
q seem that he although democra9 il
honestly striving for its passage this
d session. But the majority of his democratic
II colleagues, among them Senators Voor
bees, of Indiana, and Brown, of Georgia
G prefer to wait, as they say, "until they
# have had chance to reform the Offices
@ This means literally to postpone legisla
4 ton until the offices have been filled witt
democrats, when they will then cooperate
with the republicans to enact laws to keel
. the dcmYrotic office holders from
e republican Invasion.
d The national library bill has been again
p defeated, it may be for years and it ma,
1t be forever. There is more than one sid
ID to the library question. There is an accu
ls mutation OF more than 100000 volumes
Of some on the shelves, many on the floor
81 awaiting the grace of spontaneou
II combustion. Mr.. Spofford. the erudit
at librarian. has been clamoring for a plac
to 10 place his books, and the small percent
nj ge of literary fellows" sent to congress
be have echoed Mr.. Spotford's ella NOR. Blu
If there are other congressman not ailecte
IL with bibliophiism who would like to pla
+" the plrt Of the monks in the Alexandria
a library and burn the trash. Then there
re- lob in the busint SIS. A real estate rim
of wants to sell n situation TO the government
10 while in truth the government has mol
ch situations in the district than it can sit OF
ed The proper place for the library is
be government ground in close proximity
ty those other scientific collections the Smitl
en- sonian institute and the national museum
lid