Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-11-22
fr.m our regular eolls'ToadeR''
WASHINGTON LETTER,
WashIngton, II. O., Nov, 18Th, 90,

encc 0t our returning hplnhs' W +"
body the members Of tho present. House
Of Representatives who come back "a
finish tho remnant Of there terms, are
not likely to be very cheerful lot
Many Of them viii be here IN form,
while tleir political remains lie buried
IN various parts Of tho country Only
40 Of them have been reelected to-
tbs next House, while ~ are retired,
Perhaps tho most striking examples o.
tho latter are l,Obcson, u Now Jersey,
who snapped his fingers on Tho floor o.
The House, In the face Of those who
questioned his course, aud asked what
they were going to do about IL aud
Page, Of California, who lhlhercd the
River aud lIarbor bill, Robson never
dreamed Of defeat, lie had just par
chased u nov residence here, aud wa
preparing 10 resume his position rs
"boss" of the House IN llnc style lie
was IN town last week, aud ! saw lin
driving up Pennsylvania avenue in q
stylish turnout, his face ~ red IN u
spanked baby, That big oPpropria'
ton for u "ncw navy" 10 be construct
cd under the manipulation Of Robson
and Bill Chandler will hardly be put
through thi. winter, and II is doubtful
whether there will be any River and
ilarbor bill,
Congress viii fluid plenty OF nnlin-
ishcd business waiting for il when il
assemblies. All that was lcl over Of
last session will be waiting for il, and
st is likely that the three weeks before
the holidays usually wasted in hobnob-
ing and squabblng will be three work
ing weeks. OF the 293 clerks in the
House of Representatives there is but
one Democrat, and he i. the only ono
who refused TO pay his assessments.
IL seems thai The storm which has been
raised over Jay llubbell's head is not
likely to subsidc. aud il he does not re-
spond TO the demand from the cQGr
iribuiors for an exhibit, the matter
may be tnkcn up in new Congress
Mndcr cover Of IN examination into the
Virginia election. Malone, it is said,
got 100000 of the 100000 raised,
and even then had to resort 10 fraud
TO avert defeat in all his districts.
Anyhow the government employees
feel that Mahonc's four or five Con-
cressmen and the election of Tom Och
iltree in Texas, General Chalmers in
Mississippi Kellogg in Louisiana, and
sIackey in South Carolina, is a mighty
small return for all their sacrifices and
the exhibition Of such large fund.
Some Of the clerks are now paying ten
pcr cent, n month interest for the
money borrowed TO meet Hubbclls de-
manIs. a large sum wao sent to
North Carolina, without much effort
in producing results.
There is great rejoicing all along the
Republican lines, even amid the ruins Of
their hopes, over the lscs that the Sen
ate will not be Democratic whcn tho
Democratic house comes in. In other
words minority Of the people will
prevent II majority from changing ex.
listing laws. Democrats cannot COM
pldln vi tlls, lOI IL is COuStiIlltlOilul, IL
is nominated in the bond. but it is
worth while to note again the tendency
of the Republican party to exult in any
chance to keep majority of the peo-
Pile from controlling the country. This
was done outright in 1876, and later
was carried so far that when usurp-
ing minority Executive vetoed the acts
Of a Democratic Congress, not a Re-
publican was found with courage
enough to utter word in condemna-
ton of such assaults on the rights of
the people. But speaking Of the next
Congress, agreat deal of talk is going
on here about the Speakership and 9th
er officers of the new House. In fact
the canvass is already as active as
though the organization was to be eff
fected at once, instead of a year hence.
The friends of ex-Speaker Randall feel
confident, but upon an examination of
the list of the members-clect, l should
hardly conclude that he could succeed.
The tariff question will be the main is
sue. and Mr.. Carlisle or ex-senator
Eaton would be nearer in accord with
The great majority of Democrats on
that question, and likely to make a
broader organization of the committees.
Both Sam Cox and Frank Hurd are
said to be candidates. Hurd and Nor
rison, of Illinois, were elected on a
square tariff reform issue. Stilson
Hutchins and ex-Congressman Sterger
of Pennsylvania, have entered the list
for clerk. l do not think Hutchins
will win because so many of the bet
ter class of Democrats lack confidence
in him. His POSITION and that of his
newspaper in the Star-route and other
matters has been too equivocal.
The Washington monument will be