The Press., 1883-10-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, D. e.. Oct. 2Oth.

hear considerable talk about the great
 amount of work which will be done by the
 coming session of congress. 4 "Yos,' said the talkative official, ssthey
 will revise the tariff, buy up the telegraph lines and attach them to the post office de
 partment, pass a postal savings bank bill,
 provide for an appellate court, pass bank
 ruptcy law, and revise the method of
 counting the electoral vote"
 sThat's what they will do, is it? was rejoined by another "Its modest little
 program. But would you like to know
 what think the 48th congress will really do?"
 "Yes," replied the first speaker.
 "Well, they will begin with a sort of
 bear fight for the speakership and the of-
 fees of the house. The senate will then
 take hand in the entertainment by a small division on it's own account for its offices. Malone and Riddleberger will be the dispensers of charities in this proceed
 ing. Then will follow the inevitable wran- gle over the committees, chairmanships and places, and then the session will be over." ,t.r
 ''The session over; what do you mean ?'' said the innocent.
 Practically it will be over. Look at the situation. The house is democratic
 The senate is republican. The admins tration is, well, say its neutral. Now the game is to get a political advantage out of this condition of things. The president moves first. He sends in his message
 The parties will divide over it's recom- mendations, for there cannot be one which is not loaded with politics. Take. for in stance, the tariff Any decided action on thIo rrI1ootiny, will fo%o1 &<> They will have sham battle over it, and it will be dropped Take any other pro- posed legislation. Will either party allow the other to get any advantage of its in- troduction and passage. The political antagonisms of the two parties will inevit- ably be fatal to legislation in the 18th con- gress. It is going to be entirely devoted to one purpose-president making. The senators will kill each other off as candi- dates in an amiable, quiet and dignifed way. The house will howl, but will not accomplish anything. The president will have an easy time, and the best of the sitr- ation, so for what my opinion is worth. leanEto the conclusion that his wise sug- gestions will excite admiration for him and disgust for both the houses which will not act upon his advice. I think he will carry off all the honors which will even belong to the 48th congress. I do not anticipate that any valuable legislation will be ac- complished, and on July 1st next. when congress will, be ready to adjourn, things will stand as they are now except for wasted money, demoralized parties, crush ed hopes, and fattened ambitions.''
 My official friend to whom these remarks were made, shook his head and walked off. l am afraid he was convinced. It is get ting to be the opinion of great many people that the annual session of congress IS disgrace and a material injury to the business interests of the country. If an analytical chart could be made of the in terests that conflict in congressional ses- sion it would look like a Chinese puzzle. The country IS so vast that even its terri torlal limits are a hindrance to its laws The north and south can not have equal purposes. The east and west are wide apart in interests. Trade iealousies are at war in every industrial act, and politics tamt every measure. So when congress meets, it represents tumble of interests pulling ln various directions. The only way measure gets through at all is by trading. The river and harbor is an in stance of this feature. Every section has It's scheme for local improvement. If 'neso sCoou alone they would never get a for the measure. But the com mlttee room is turned into 8 trading shop, and votes are exchanged for like favors so that bills may pass. The merits of the measures are the last considerations. Itis merely a bargain. You vote for my bill and l will support yours. This being the active principle of all legislation in con- gress, it must follow that the outcome is Wrangle, never-ending disputes, parlia- nentary battles, and vile and vicious con- sessions. Whether there is remedy for his state of things is 8 great question which must some day be met, for the scan- lal grows in proportions.