The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-10
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER,
From our Regular Correspop dent. !

y W viz OPAhAOh
prevailing, there is now a decided
prospect of the passage of a tariff bill
this session. The Democrats are con-
siderabIy alarmed at the possibility of
an extra session should tariff legisla-
ton fail and are therefore disposed 10
permit a bill to go through. The
likelihood that they could agree among
themselves upon any bill that would
be of value to them as political CAPT.
tai is so much less than the proba-
bility of utter failure and great dam
age to their prospects for the future
that the shrewd ones among them
are exceedingly anxious to avoid the
extra session. A large number of
senators and representatives on the
Republican side who were approach
en- to learn whether they knew ofany
expressed purpose on the Presidents
part to call an extra session, declared
that they knew of no such purpose.
Since the various telegraphic reports
and editorial comments on the sub
ject have reached members of Con.
gress more interest has been mani
tested in it than was obserbed before.
So far as can be ascertained by a
canvass of the leading men on both
sides. the feeling is strongly against
the proposition to hold an extra ses-
sion. On the Republican side it is
maintained that an extra session
would result in nothing but discus
sion and disagreement in Congress.
as the Democratic house would not
pass bill satisfactory to the Repub-
lican senate, while the Democrats dis
like to be forced at day when they
are unprepared to adopt a course of
legislative conduct which might be
turned against them politically when
they are anxious to appear to best adj
vantage before the whole country.
Letters coming in from all sections
bring reports of the arrangement of
business in consequence of the uncer-
tainty about what is to be done. A
con tinuance of suspense would, it is
feared, tend to disaster, and, rather
than invite panic in the way, some
members are declaring that they will
vote for bill of any sort, and under
very extraordinary parliamentary
circumstances, rather than permit
Congress to be called together to
threaten the country for six months.
The Republicans in Congress have
called in all absentees and propose to
have quorum of their own to put
through the important business of the
session without regard to what the
Democrats may do, Among other
things to be settled are few remain
ing contested seats. This is very
proper. move, and the only fault that
can be found is that it has been too
long postponed. One of the greatest
abuses that has grown up in Congress
is the practice of leaving contests for
seats undetermined until the very
last end of the last session. Both par.
ties have done this, as the records of
the past Congress will prove. The
change in seats seems to be brought
about by some tacit agreement or ar
rangement. The contestant, belong
ing to the majority, comes in, serves
few days and draws two years. pay
$4,000. The contestee, belonging
to the minority, serves out nearly all
of his term and also gets two years.
pay. This arrangement satisfies the
man belonging to the majority, and
usually is not displeasing to the mi
nority man, who loses only a few
days of his term, but gets his pay.
In this way the people are made to
pay double for Congressional repre-
sentation of certain districts, when,
in justice, they should be taxed with
but one Congressman's salary. fla
contestant is entitled to a seat occu-
pied by another he should have it just
as soon as the facts can be ascertain
ed, but if contested cases must be
delayed till the very last days of the
two years term, certainly but one
salary should be paid.
The solemn dignity which pervades
the supreme court room would not be
so oppressive if everybody knew what
a jolly old set the justices are, or if
some of their private remarks about
counsel and the proceedings before
them were repeated in the news
papers. The justices like to chaff each
other in quite way now and then.
One day not long ago a lawyer was
arguing case before the supreme
court and made use of the word "pre-
cedent," pronouncing it. however,
with accent on the second syllable,
thus, "pre-ce. dent" Pretty soon he
used the word again, and this time
he gave the accent as it is usually
given on the first syllable. Justice