Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-01-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
[From Our Regular Corrcspondcnt.l


WAsHINGToN, Jan. 15, 1882.
Though there are important qnc,tons
occupying the attention of Congress now
none Of them excite so much interest here
in Washington as did the civil service hill |
30 recently disposed of. This is nota
strange circumstance. The Capital is in
hnbited chiefly by people concerned in the
civil service, and among ihem the measure
is still topic Of general conversation.
There is wide difference of opinion ns B.,
the practical results of the bill, but on the
whole il may be stated that not very much |
is expected from it. Some believe il will
he strictly and fairly enforced while the
majority Of experienced politicians know
that even among many of its supporters il |
is looked upon rs n 6rst.class humbug |
The question ot the appointment of the
three commissioners to make rules anil |
conduct the examinations Is already being
trough TO the attention of the President, |
and upon their selection the meat Of the |
whole thing depends ut last. The sudden
passage Of the bill through the House was
the biggest surprise party we have had here
in years. An avalanche of discussion was
| averted-eloquence nipped in the bnd ns
| it were. AT least 80 members had speeches
| ready, with the expectation that free and
unlimited debate would he allowed. Ifthe
Honse had not been taken by surprise and
the programme agreed upon by the friends
OF the bill 80 successfully carried out,
debate might have been started which
would have rivalled the Tariff Commission
bill debate in length, and the bill would
probably have died a lingering death, or
been 80 weakened by amendments that it
would not have been really worth preserv-
ing. All these speeches must now be con-
signed to the waste basket. The passage
of the bill nfter only half an hours debate
will be regarded as one of the greatest
curiosities Of oflegislative action in Congress.
Of all the measures now before Congress
the three OF paramount importance are, the
bill to provide for counting the electoral
votes, the Tariff bill and the bill TO provide
judicial investigation of private claims.
There is no greater abuse of justice in all
is told in the history of private claims
before Congress. The story is interesting
enough and long enough for an entire
letter, and mean to write it up in full
shortly. The bonded whisky bill which
passed the Senate could never have got
through but for the political influence
credited 10 the liquor interest in the last
election. II ia measure for which there
can not possibly be any justification. 1t is
proposed TO postpone for two years the
payment of taxes amounting to $50, ,000, 900
because those owing find it hard TO pay
them. But who does not find it hard to
pay taxes? And what right has Congress
to make any distinction between different
classes of taxpayers? No doubt those Sem
ators and Representatives whose constitu
ents are most interested in this legislation
advocate it without corrupt motives, but il
is special legislation of a most dangerous
character. If the payment of the taxes
now due on whisky is postponed two years,
the amount then due will be much larger
than it now is. Does any sane man believe
that the distillers have any idea of prompt
ly paying the much larger sum which will
, he due two years hence il this bill passes
Evidently the present relief bill is meant
"s an entering wedge. The difficulty of
payment will be still greater when the sub
ject again comes up. and the stake to he
lobbied for will then be enormous. But
do not believe the House OF Representa-
tives will pass this bill, now that its char
acter is fully understood.
Some funny incidents occur now and
then upon the floor Of Congress. Members
are often walking about in the rear of the
seats or in the adjacent cloak rooms talk
ing or attending to matters of their own
when suddenly something in the proceed.
ings strikes the ear and calls them to their
posts. The barber-shop IN one of the
cloak-roOms is also a convenient auxiliary
to Congressional comfort. Representative
Neal, of Ohio, rushed into the House the
other day in his shirt sleeves to record a
vote. He was in the BARRIERS clair when
3 his ear caught something that induced him
, to think that villainous bill IN regard In
Washington street railway was about tn
he passed. Flinging the towel one way
and barber the other, off he tore, shouting
. "Mr. Speaker! Mr.. Speaker |" The barber
! picked himself up, seized Mr.. Meals Goa,
and dashed after him. While Mr.. Nea
was stating his objections to the bill, whicl
were those Of man of sense, the injured
barber was hustling him into his coat
: There was considerable laughter. but Mr.
o Neal had carried his point when he "a
down, red, painting and glaring savagel,
a at the poor barber, who had done nothing
y but assist him. Mr.. Randall, by the way
!. once voted while In the barber's chair
a When question is being discussed il
!. which members have particularly stronI
!. interest, they have to practice eternal Wig
70 ilance-for If they don't their opponent
- will steal a march on them and The b!
n will be sprung upon the House and dis
- posed of before they know anything abou
"a IL. There is life enough TO make IL inter
10 esiing about Congress- now. The Hous
- sih meets at IL o'clock n. M. to the nfinit
e disgust Of 200 out OF 293 members. Thi
- never wns done before M a regular thing
m m The Senate, too, instead o. being dull an
q. a. respectable, is actually 40 lively as to b
~ kitienish. They toss The Legislative bal
Vi back mud forth; and hide under piles of nj
~ guments and find il again aud roll ii abou
n the lloor and scamper after it with interel
II and persislency. But when The Tsrrif'bi
~. a. eomss mp! That will I've perfectly deligl,
=. ful. The lobby will then be at boilin
n point-everybod win have an axe to grim
IN and the deb les will be too good to de los
Il. Dom PEDRO.
.