Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-12-22
OLYMPIA. wNsHiNGToN TER.
OLYMPIA. FRIDAY EYENM. De. - 1852
Congress.

The present Congress, known or
the records rs the Forty-sev tntb
Congress. will terminate on tie Hi
of March. Counting OUT Suudrvs.
there are but IS days in the session,
and if the usual adjournment over
the holidays is finally determined
upon, resolution for which was TIE
other day defeated, the time will be
cut down a fortnight more, making
but Ga working days available fol
the large amount of business await
ing consideration. Even OF the
recess does not take place, it is
quite plain that only the more
important measures can be pushed
TO final action. At the last session
there were introduced in one House
or the other 8, 4G5 bills and joint re-
solutions, of which but 1913 became
laws, and even of this small num-
Der the greater part were private
bills of minor importance, granting
pension, giving condemned cannon
for monuments, etc. To further
show how utterly unable Congress
is to annually despatch the business
brought before it, it may be stated
that at the last session out of Z ,1S2
bills and joint resolutions introduced
in the House, only 1,04S were ever
reported upon by the committees to
which they were referred, and of
this number but 245 secured favor
able reports. 1t is estimated that
5000 new measures will he into.
dnced at the present session, which,
with the unfinished ones OH the cal
endar and in committee, will make
about II 900 in all. Of this mum,
Der a few hundred will be passed,
but not more than thirty or forty OF
National importance.
The time of the session is usually
apportioned to certain routine work.
Friday is devoted to private claims,
and on Saturdays there are frequen-
tly no sessions. The appropriation
bills generally consume several
weeks, and with such important
measures as the tariff report, the in
ternal revenue, the civil sevice, the
Japanese indemnity, the Nicaragua
canal, tie bankruptcy, and other
important bills, to be considered,
it seems quite improbable that any
legislation affecting US very materi-
ally will be reached.
Those of our citizens who really
favor State government from proper
motives, objects entirely discon-
nected from party necessity and de-
sire for place, need not be fright
ened by the hue and cry raised by a
few political managers, that now
or never" is the accepted time. The
question of admission may be as
safely entrusted to Democratic as
Republican rule. When we make a
fair showing of equity and justice
the doors will be opened, no matter
who guards the portal. Has it never
occurred to thsse croakers that the
American people resemble very much
a band of sheep in the choice of po-
itical courses; that when an ilnpedi-
ment is reached, and some of the
more venturesome leaders leap over
it, the whole band are likely to fol.
low? This break from the line bas
already taken place, and with fail
prospe cts ahead, Washington Terri
tory is just as likely to cast from
1900 to 5000 Democratic majority
as she was to 60 8 GOO for man whose
only advantage consisted in the fac
that he had hoisted sail in time ts
catch the popular breeze.
VINO Do THE MOST WRTrNa.-Re
preventative Anderson, of Kansas,
in a late speech advocating fast mails
after showing that New England
only mailed 127 600, 900 letters in
1880, while Pennsylvania, Ohio, In.
diana and Illinois mailed 261, 000,.
600, said Congress should provide
facilities for the people using them,
and take the States of the west, and
the Territories, running far out into
the mountain ranges and out along
the star routes into very sparse set
Elements, clear to the Pacific ocean
and he found that two hundred and
ninety millions Of letters were mailed
by them during single year, while,
as stated, in New England only 127,
O00, 900 and in Massachusetts,, thu
periphery of the Club" 10000
were mailed. He submitted table
to show that there were in California
22,563, 1868 letters sent; Colorado,
1O.74s,O23; Dakota. A. 262, 7OS; Ne,
braska 10. 291 $3.50; Nevada, 1863
1884; Oregon 1886, 6ss; Utah, g.
10000; Wyoming, SsO,56s; Alas.
ka, 6.S12; Arizona, 1878. APO; Ida
no, 825, 811; Montana, 1876. 224
The average number per man was
New York, 4I.2S; Massachusetts,
1870; Illinois. %. 20; Alaska, %. 100;
Arizona. 81. 81: Arkansas. s: Cali