The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-03-15
WASHINGTON T =
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, d. c.,
March u. 1885,

IIOLh OuI ISSUldA
WASHINGTON, d. c.,
March12 1881
Statesmen have been taken 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 a delegation Of heavy
men from a 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 in
terests demand undivided attention
in their native townships. AS usual,
the closing scenes of the Congress
sional. session, SO far as the house
was concerned, were %uproarious and
noisy. The proverbial willingness
of tie house to be amused was am
ply illustrated by the "peals oflaugh-
ter" that greeted even the feeblest
attempts at wit and. humor. The
antagonism to the whisky bill and a
resolution to admit & colored mar to
a seat to which he laid claim afford
ed infinite amusement to the house
Representatives loud outlaws greet
ing the frequent sallies of alleged
wit which the dead lock provoked.
In the midst of this wild legislative
orgie was brought the news of Alex
ander H.. Stephens death, and the
customary resolutions hoporing his
memory. Then there was more
laughter and ~jocoseness, and the
platitudes of Speaker Keifer fell like
lead upon the over-stimulated hilar-
ity of the occasion. The senate,
more deliberative, dignified, and Sc
date in manner, adjourned decorous-
ly aud without confusion. The de-
mise 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 Robson, Don
Cameron, and the administration.
1t will be a long time before another
of his coarse and contemplate quail
titles occupies the position he has
disgraced.
During the Congress whose exis
tence has just now terminated 10,
$40 bills and joint resolutions have
been introduced, of whieif8 ,0l8 orig
mated in the house and 1852 ir
the senate. 1t is hardly necessary
to say that a large majority of these
measures have fallen still born. Tht
greater proportion of them remain
with the committees to which they
were respectively referred. OF thu
bills reported to the two houses o
Congress, the larger part remained
on the calendars when the session
ended. These are dead beyond re
~surrection. During the session jus
now concluded 1889 bills and join
resolutions were introduced; and i
may give the casual observer som'
notion Of the proportion which
sehemesteflawl
Legislation to learn that only I63 Q
, this number passed both houses an
received the signature of the Presi
dent. A great many important bill
have failed, being left in variou
j, stages of completion. Among thes
are the French spollation claims bill
the bill to limit the coinage of tn
silver dollar; declaring forfeited cel
, tain railroad land grants; the bank
ruptcy bill, the Nicaragua canal bill
: the whisky bonded warehouse bill
the "Dingley'' shipping bill; the ri
err and harbor appropriation; the bi
to place Gen. Grant on the retire
$ list, and the bill providing for I'll
performance of the Presidential d.
q ties in care of the vacancy of the o
fees of President and e-Presidel
of the United States. This is a form
liable but very incomplete list.
: OF all the Legislative bodies in tt
world the United States senate
E the most exacting of its members
!, to their department.. Its standal
d of dignity is the very highest, ar
e the senator who fails to maintain
t is, unless he is too thick-skinned
feel anything, made to feel his u
w%orthiness; but he who is guilty
an infraction Of that dignity commi
the objectionable sin and shrive
beneath scorching contempt. A &c
J tain western senator, whose grea
ness was achieved, it is alleged, by
n liberal expenditure of the fruit
silver mines, has failed utterly in {
n that senatorial etiquette exacted
:, him. His new dignity fitted him
u loosely as a $3.50 night-shirt wou
% a walking can He carried his FIRE
IS. and-easy border airs into that chal
8 Der sacred to dignity and depol
ment, and, unfortunately for hi
his term of service was too short
'e him to learn lessons of senatorial CO
duct. At the last night session /
fore adjournment he shocked t
e senate by going from desk to de
l. and requesting his brother senate
ye to enter their signatures in an aut
graph album. This is a duty th
a. the senator who appreciates his e
Is waited position i~ntrusts to page.
s, would never profane his high off
Up by making such an undignified spt
tacle of himself. But the new ser
y. tor seemed bent on trampling up
" senatorial decorum. His wife,