The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-01-14
OUR WASHINGT IN LETTER.


~ y III otCl anu Oui Try Is
lators have come back to us with
good capon lined' and in such con-
tented state of mind that they have
apparently little APPETITE for the usual
wrangle and turmoil of law-making.
But soon the legislative dance will
begin in earnest both in the dignified,
deliberate-the never-in.a-hurry Sen.
ate, and the noisy, frisky, eaglp-fying
House. And like a comet, Congress
sports following, so that the Capital
City is once more full, and this time
for the winter. With the city filled
up. and the world white with snow,
winter seems fairly opened at last in
this semi.sOuthern "river-toWn," and
"things look like business"
The country is getting thoroughly
worked up to the idea that the popu-
lar branch of Congress is once more
fully in the hands of the Republican
party, and also to the full import of
the western victory achieved in the
election of Gen. Kiefer as speaker.
1t appears now, on a calm review of
his own work, that the new Speaker
deliberately constituted the Commit.
tees in such a way as to give the
greatest amount of power to the Re-
publicans and to bias legislation in
favor of the West, or rather, so as to
shape it according to western ideas
with out encroaching upon eastern in
terests. Democrats are so dove. tailed
in, on the tail ends of the Commit
tees, as to give them the least in
huence not only in the Committee
work but in the House. Very few of
the Committees have got fairly to
work yet. but to-day the greater part
OF the new clerks have got things
into shape to begin housekeeping.
sat a few moments in the r0om ap- |
prOpriated to the "Claims' Commit |
tee yesterday, and it was amusing to
see the sold stagers" come in to in
qulre after their cases--caSes, some |
of them. which have been before
Congress for the last fourteen years.
A few of them haye just and proper
claims, and in all decency they ought
to be paid but, some how or other,
they always get showed under on the
Speakers table at the close of the
session and die the death with the
bad company they are in.
Since it became known that Gen.
Grant had changed his mind concern
ing the Fitz John Porter case there
has been considerable curiosity touch
ing the effect this would have upon
friends of the ex President in the
Senate and elsewhere. People were
especially solicitous about Senator
Logan who made such an exhaustive
speech last winter in opposition to
Porter. In response to an inquiry i
On the subject, however, the Senator
said day or two ago that he was
very much surprised at the change
IN Gen. Grants opinion as the latter
mad frequently in his presence ex-
himself so strongly against
Porter's conduct. Gen. Logan says
here is nothing new in the case to 8
'ause him to change his views that 1
ne has nothing to take back, and will
to oppose Porter's restora-
ion to the army, no matter who NAV z
ONE to the rescue. So in this, as in f
III other things, Logan has strong
of his own and is i
thoroughly consistent. a
Whatever other changes may yet a
re made in the Cabinet l am well :
ssured by those here who ought to y
now, that Robert II. Lincoln will q
ontinue at the head of the War De- c
artment. He seems to be running q
along peaceably, as is meet in these !.
INES of piping peace, and traditional o. o.
Republication is not bad A
mig for Republican President to ii
ave as component part of'his adj "
U
Anna Dickinson, whose magnetic
latform eloquence, earnest face and
rm jaw" is known all over the "a
'untry, and who has determined to IL
lay mems characters on the stage, ~
III shortly appear here. Hamlet, n,
lacbeth, and Claude Melnotte will ci
AXE up her repertoire, with perhaps W
Aurelian," her own play. Her CO.'S to
INES are European made, and her H.
mpany consists of over thirty peo- W
e. Washington expects Miss DPS CT
domitable energy, bright intellect, to
I'd magnetic spirit to win her sue p'
IS on the stage as they have else ~
here. iS