Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-02-20
WASHINGTON.
Inc Republican Kettle of Fish-Bigby-
Spear-The Civil Service Reform Com.
r,fSsAa~ - ~SA~A-

mission.
WASHINGTON, Feb. lS.-Congress finds itself
! IN fair way to be about as bad OFF towards
the close of this session as ever it was. There
was much spouting on the part OF the chas-
tened majority when they were fresh from the
people. They kept up the industry which had
been forced upon them by the people very well
for quite a time. Then they fell from grace
There was going to be internal revenue taxa
tion reduction and tariff revision certain: and
the close of the session was to find all the an
preparation bills laws. 1t was going
to be the model session of Congress. But
the boys, like those of younger growth. were
good for time only. While they remembered
the drubbing which they had received thev
were models. But fOrgetfulness of the pain
OF punishment brought neglect of duty. How
90 we ma things now with the session so near
It's endE There has been neither internal
revenue nor customs reductions. And what's
more, there does not seem to be any very great
chance Tor either. Certainly neither of those
SUBJECTS Will be dealt with-if they are finally
acted upon at ALTO the satisfaction of the
country. The session can be put down as
Iallure upon the most important things that
were expected of it. How about industryg
How are the necessary appropriation bills?
They are in no better condition than they
usually are when the sessions are this near an
ending. But two of them have become laws,
ana they-the agricultural and military
academy bills-are the least important of ali.
me me others are IN various stages of passage,
but they Will all take considerable more
time before they become laws
1t does look as if this
session instead of being the ''do-all' of all
sessions, will have 10 be branded as the .'dO-
nothing" of all. The Republicans will have
to he whipped sOundly in year, not an on
year, to bring them to a realizing sense of
What the people elect congressman for
THE WEEKS WORK.
The nrOpraODaa for this ,,-ool- :. a.. ~
shows that the majority realize that the har-
vest is almost ended, and they are bv
no., no means asig saved. The House viii
its iniquitous bill down the thrOats of the
minority without allowing any oppOrtunitv
for debate, and will tackle the APPROPRIATION
Dllls. Inc Senate Appropriations Committee
nave given notice that after Tuesday they
will antagonize the tariff bill of that body
with appropriation hills. In this the ReDubli-
cans acknowledge that they have been guilty
OF slOthfulness, and must work or else find
themselves out in the rain when the session
ends.
BIGRY,
1t is said here that it would not be surpris-
Ing If Mr.. John $. Bigby should be made
United States District Judge when Judge
Erskine reelreS from the bench. 1t is cited in
support of this theory that Mr.. Bigby resigned
his position instead of waiting and forcing
the PRESIDENT to turn out good officer in
order to reward Emory Speer. That he ac-
commodated the President in this way Is said
to have been part of a plan by which Speer
was to get his reward, and Bigby at the proper
time to be compensated for being so Obliging
as to tender his resignation.
THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM COMMISSION.
The President has no. vet appointed the
civil service reform commission which the
great PendletOn bill provides for. He is hav-
ing trouble in finding a Democratic member
as one of the great three who will, predict.
be found to be the most ornamental paw
gatherers on the government rolls, 1t is
thought that Congressman HOge will be the
Democratic commissioner. lie Is good man.
lie ls the only Democrat fit
applied for it, The other two Democrats are
Nelson and Spear, They are both newspaper
men, who have failed TO be successes in that
line. They We're once good as news gatherers
and as putteTs together of news when they got
IT. hut they have petered out. Nelson now
has a ioh under HaZen, who is supposed to fill
the position of Chief Signal Officer. He spends
his time mostly in lobbying to keep Congress
siOnal hands off of the Signal corps. Spear is
doing the heavy standing around. 1t is safe
to say that neither Spear nor Nelson will be
a civil service commissioners. That body will
probably consist Of norman B. Eaton, f. o.
Graves and Mr., HOge, of West Virginia.
Potomac.