Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-10-24
From Our RegularC orresponpentl
Washington Letter
WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 83

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 83
hear considerable talk about the great
amount of work which will be done by
the coming session of congress. "Yes"
said the laxative official" they will revise
the tariff, buy up the telegraph lines and
attach them to the post office department,
,, pass postal savings bank bill, provide
for an appellate court, pass bankruptcy
law, and revise the method of counting the
electoral vote" "Thats what they will do
is il?" was rejoiued by another. cts a
modest little program. But would you like
to tnow what think the 48th congress
will really doP" YES repliel the first
speaker. swell they will begin with a
sort of bear fight for the speakership and
the offices of the House. The Senate will
then take hand in the entertainment by
a small division on its own account for
its offices. Malone and Riddleberger will
be the dispensers of charities in this
proceeding. Then will follow the inevi-
table wrangle over the committees, chair.
manships, and places, and then the session
will be over.'
1.-The session over" what do you P"
said the innocent. practically il will be
over. Look at the situation. The House
is democratic. The Senate is republican
The administration is, well say its neutral
Now the game is to get a political advan-
tage out of this condition of things, The
president moves first. He sends in his
message. The parties will divide over its
recommendations, for there cannot be one
which is not loaded with politics.
Take for instance the tariff. Any decided
action on this question will be fatal to
either party. They " i'll have sham battle
over it, and it will be dropped. Take any
ether proposed legislation. Will either
party allow the other to get any advantage
of its introduction and passage. The pol
itical antago nisms of the two parties will
inevitably be fatal to legislation in the
48th congress. 1t is going TO be entirely
devoted to one purpose, president making.
The senators will kill each other off, quiet
as candidates in an amiable, quiet and
dignified way. The House will howl, but
will not accomplish anything. The presi-
dent will have an easy time, and the best
of the situation, so for what my opinion is
worth, lean TO the conclusion that his
wise suggestions will excite admiration
for him and disgust for both the Houses
which will not act upon his advice. l
think he will carry off all the honors
which will even belong to the 4Sth con-
gress. do not anticipate that any valu-
able legislation will be accomplished, and
on July LIST, next, when congress will be
ready to adjourn, things will stand as they
are now except for wasted money, demon
allied parties, crushed hopes and aattened
ambitions" My official friend to whom
these remarks were made, shook his head
and walked Oft. l am afraid he was con-
vnced. 1t is getting to be the opinion of
Il great many people that the annual
session of congress is ii disgrace and Il
material injury to the business Interests OF i
the country If an analytical chart could
be made of the interests that conflict in n |
congressional session it would look like Il |
Chinese puzzle. The country is so vas'
that even its territorial limits are hin.
drance TO its laws. The north and south
can not have equal purposes. The easl |
and west are wide apart in interests
Trade iealousies are at war in every
industrial act, and politics faint every
measure. So when congress meets. il
represents "A tumble of interests pulling in
various directions. The only way
measure gets through at all is by trading
The river and hnrbor is an instance Of this
feature Every section has its scheme for
local improvement. If these stood alon
they would never get majority for the
measure. Bat ns C IN Mute room IS turned
into a trading shop. and votes are
exchanged for like favors so that bills may
pass. The merits of the measures are the
last considerations. 1t is merely bargain.
You vote for my bill and | 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, parliamentary battles,
and vile vicious concessions. Whether
there is Il remedy for this state of things is
great question which must some day be
met, for the scandal grows in proper
tons.