Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-02-03
WASHINGTON LETTER
Special csrrs.poads4ss Public Lsasss,

Special Correep0authce Euphc Ledger
WAsRIS0ToN d. c., Jan. %, 'SS.
The past week has been devoted
almost exclusively to social gaiety
with a little Congressional work
thrown in By way Of episode and recre-
alton. When Senators, Members,
Cabinet Ministers, and Justices Of the
Supreme Court, are seen in swallow
taii coats. with the ~gorgeeusly arrayed
wives and daughters eff some other
man. It two o'clock in the morning
eating chicken salad, soollsped oysters,
drinking champagne, and inhaling
carbon!c acid gas, one begins to get an
insight Of the real sources OF bilious
legislation and lax administration. No
wonder that it is difficult for Congress
10 assemble at the early hour Of IL q.
IN or that on the calling of the Senate
roll, one day last week, Senator But.
Ter, Of South Carolina, was the only
Senator who answered to his name.
The social entertainments began on
Monday evening, or rather en- Sunday,
for it is on this day that Royal
Bob as the late President called
Mr.. lngersoll, holds his receptions,
and they were continued with undated
fury throughout the week, ending with
aprand ball given at the British Min.
listers in honor Of the husband Of Her
Royal Higness, the Princess Louise.
But Tuesday evening collapsed all
Others in the number and brilliancy
of the social entertainments when
society divided the hours between the
residences Of Justice Woods, the
Spanish Ministers and General Beale.
When | tell you that many men Of
prominent official position were at all
three Of these entertainments, and
that they we're expected next day to
be in their offices or in the halls OF
Congress transacting intricate delicate
business or discussing questions vital
to a nation, questions that tax the
best thought and best energies Of men
you will allow there is cause for de.
nouncing this social folly run mad.
The curious thing about these en-.
tertainments in Washington is thal
they are but little frequented by gay
youth. The devOtees are mostly ole
married and middle aged people from
whom brightness Of eye, smoothnesl
of skin, and grace and litheness o.
limb has departed.
According to the present intention
of the dominant party in Congress the
sessions of both Houses the cominI
week will be devoted almost exclusive.
" to the tariff question.
The tariff bill, framed by the Way
and Means Committee, was taken u
for detailed consideration by thu
House of Representatives under tn,
five minute rule to-day, and its con.
sideration is to proceed through th,
week, interrupted only blythe deliver,
of e%ulogies on the late Congressman
0rth, sometime Wednesday after,
noon, and on the deceased Represent
alive Lowe, Of Alabama, at 3 o'clocl
Saturday.
The.5enate this morning resumed it
session, in committee ofthe whole, OF
the Finance Committees tariff meas
ure, now pending as a voluminou
amendment to the House bill for tn
reduction of internal revenue taxa
ton. The understanding is that the
majority will prolong each session o
the Senate until as late an hour a
may be necessary to accomplish sub
stantial progress upon the bill befor
adjournment. By this e it i
hoped to advance the bill nearly O
quite to the point Of final action by tn
close Of the week, but the realization O
this hope is not generally exaacte,
with much confidence.
When the Forty seventh Congress
expires it will have been in session
eleven months-eight in the long ant
three in the short session. Ten o
these months are gone. But thirt,
working days remain, and most o
this brief residue must be expended
on the appropriation bills. Unde
these circumstances the majority
whose members cannot agree anon
themselves on any bill, proposes q
hold the minority responsible for al
extra session, should the Presiden
decide to call one. There has beer
scarcely a day in either session since
the first one began in December, 1881
in which the duty of framing anC
revenue bills has not been urged OF
the majority by the minority. Tha
duty has been Systematically shirked
The Forty. seventh Congress eanno
escape this condemnation due I,
those who trife with great public OBJ
legations.
The army appropriation bill vii
probably be reported to the Senat,
during the next few days, but none o.
the appropriation bills will be called
up for action in either House Of Con.
gress until the week following.