The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1883-03-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.


Statesmen have been taking their
flight from Washington every day
since Congress adjourned until now
few are left. Many of the departed
are gentlemen of great weight, but as
President Lincoln once remarked
concerning delegation of heavy men
from certain metropolis who called
on him, "the district does not tip up
as they move away" Some of them
will be back in the fall, but more will
conclude that private interests de-
mand undivided attention in their
townships. As usual the closing
scenes Of the Congressional session,
so far as the house was concerned.
were unproarious and noisy. The
proverbial willingness of the house
to be amused was amply illustrated
by the peals of laughter that greeted
even the feeblest attempts at wit and
humor. The antagonism to the
whisky bill and resolution to ad-
NIT colored man to seat to which
he laid claim afforded infinite amuse-
ment to the house of representatives,
loud outlaws greeting the frequent
sallies of alleged wit which the dead
lock provoked. In the midst of this
wild Legislative orgie, was brought
the news Of Alexander H. Stephens
death, and the customary resolutions
honoring his memory. Then there
was more laughter and jocoseness,
and the platitudes of Speaker Keifer
fell like lead upon the over stimula-
ted hilarity Of the occasion. The
senate, more deliberative, dignified
and sedate in manner, adjourned de-
corously and without confusion. The
demise of Congress is no great sight.
1t is witnessed once in every two
years. Nevertheless, this event, as
often before, was an occasion for the
thronging Of the capitol by a vast
multitude of Washington people who
devoured with greedy ears and eyes
everything that was said and done.
One of the happiest thoughts in con-
nection with the departure of Con-
gress is that the country is rid of
Keifer, the instrument placed in the
speakers chair through a corrupt
bargain between Robeson, Don Cam
eron and the administration. 1t will
be a long time before another of his
coarse and contemplate qualities oc-
cupics the position he has disgraccd.
During the Congress whose exist
ence has just now terminated, 10,67O
bills and joint resolutions have been
introduced, of which S,OlS originated
in the house and 1862 in the senate
1t is hardly necessary to say that
large majority of these measures
have fallen stiIlborn. The greater
proportion of them remain with the
committees to which they were res
pectively referred. OF the bills re-
ported to the two houses of Congress,
the larger part remained on the cal
endars when the session ended.
These are dead beyond resurrection.
During the session just now conclu-
ded |, ,lS9 bills and joint resolutions
were introduced; and it may give
the casual observer some notion of
the proportion which schemes of law
bear to accomplished Legislation to
learn that only 1853 of this number
passed both houses and received the
signature of the President. A great
many important bills have failed, be-
ing left in various stages of compile
ton. Among these are the French
spoliation claims bill the bill to linn
it the coinage of the silver dollar; de-
claring forfeited certain railroad
land grants; the bankruptcy bill;
the Nicaragua canal bill the whis-
key bonded warehouse bill: the
"Dingley' shipping bill; the river
and harbor appropriation; the bill to
place Gen. Grant on the retired list
and the bill providing for the per-
formance Of the Presidential duties
in case Of the vacancy of the Offices
of President and President Of
the United States. This Is a formi-
dable but very incomplete list.
Of all the legislative bodies IN the
world the United States senate is the