The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-12-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
$ from ahe Reporters Gallery
! l-Speaker Keiferss Trials.
Frok. Our Regular Correspondent.l

Froa Our Regular Correspondent
| aWAsHINeToN. D. c., December 4, 1882.
| Al FIRST performance" be j. theatrical or par
lisDientary, always forms great attraction for
the sSpectscle-loving Washingtonians and es-
peciesT for the large number of transient visit
ors always in the city. 1t was, therefore, not
surIaising on the first day TO find the galleries Of
the House crowded within, and Its portals sur
rouaded by throng of eager sight-seers. The
opehipg scenes In the House and Senate were
suchaS have been slten described There was
gresz confusion on the door of the House both
befofe. and after the opening of the session.
Members greeted one another with great effa-
s;veS<ss. aud jaked. and laughed loud, or talked
sericlsly in pairs or groups The Senate on the
Other band mainiained that dignity for which u
is reaawned
by aalf past eleven o'clock both houses had
answered to the roll call, and then memben
and fgnators made themselves as comfortable %
ps'esi3e, while they listened to the monoionow
dravfSpf tbe. clerk reading the Presidents mes
sage3 XIII
Tltge isln.ueh talk and speculation in official
and oliiical circles in relation TO the course of
lrgislssion during the present session Neither
party has Us yet held caucus nor mapped out its
prngAhmc. From conversations with different
mfmsess and senators, one is convinced of the
wide IND apparently irreeoncilable differences of
opin1n. especially on tile subject of the reduc-
tiun r taxation. All agree that there must be
reduction but how that's the question. Indi-
viduHt Democratic members and senators have
expreSsed the opinion that the better policy for
them " IL oppose legislation this question so
that ne ccsning Democratic House can have a
clear Geld. But others, among the most expe-
riencai and practical of their party, express the
opni1a that such a course will be dangerous.
They pay ,hat tine Democratic party in Congress
will commit aiserious mistake ii it undertakes
to stoEsblndly Sny reduction of taxation; that
if nothing in this line is accomplished at this
sessuGot Congress, the House Democrats, when
the nsxt Congrlss meets. viii find themselves
cnnfrt 9ated with n grave problem. the difficulties
OF which they will surely find themselves una
BILE to inrmount, AS the Republicans. with their
splenf9tj leadership and organization in the Sen
ate, WIN harass and embarrass them at every
turn. sThe resaf will be- that the Republicans
will live an elective raslying cry to go to the
counirS with In The Presidential campaign of
1854. aca the Democrats viii again be put on
the deltnsivr, than whcii there can be nothing
more 3aal in Psiiitcs If the reduction 10 taxa
tion which ihe country demands, and demands
speedily, bs accomplished this winter, the re-
sponsi<iity win. in great measure, be divided.
and b{kh parties will shhre the praise. These
views ,sil b. Impressed upon senators and mem
bers Ct the Democratic party. and will have
much 4Aighs. The slrang probability is. therefore,
that thstf will tN material reduction In taxation
hefnre sse adjournment OF Congress on the 4th Of
Marchss 4
On asSaount Of she repairs that are being msdein
the W eite Ho,ee, the Presidents receptions viii
not beain until after the holidays