Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-01-13
WASHINGTOlT LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON, January 11.1SS3

Though there are important
question: occupying the attention
ton Of Congress now, none excited
50 much interest here as did the
civil service bill recently disposed
OF This IL not a strange circum-
stance. The Capital is inhabited
chiefly by people concerned ia the
civil service, and among them the
measure is still topic of general
conversation There 10 a wide diff
ference of opinion as 10 the results
Of the bills but on the whole IL
may be stated that not very mucl
is expected of it. Some believe it
will be strictly and fairly enforc-
ed while the majority Of exper-
fenced politicians know that even
among many OF its supporters it is
looked upon as first-class hum
bug. The question OF the appoint
ment Of the three commissioners
to make rules and conduct the Ak
aminations is already being sent
to the President, and upon their
selection the meat Of the whole
thing depends at last. The sud
den passage of the bill through
the House was the biggest surprise
party we have bad here in years
An avalanche of discussion was
acknowledgements nipped in the
bud. At least 80 members had
speeches ready, with the expecta-
ton that free and unlimited de-
bate would be allowed. If the
House had not been taken by sur
prise and the programme agreed
upon by the friends of the bill so
successfully carried out, debate
might have been started which
would have rivalled the Tariff
Commission bill debate in length,
and the bill would propably have
died lingering death. or been SO
weakened by amendments as to
be not really worth preserving.
All these speeches must now be
consigned to the waste basket.
Of all the measures now before
Congress the three of paramount
importance, are the bin to provide
for counting the electoral votes,
the Tariff bill and the bill to pro-
vide judicial investigation for pri-
ate claims. There is no greater
abuse Of justice in the ratnifica-
tons of our Government, than is
told in the history Of private
claims before Congress. The bond
ed whiskey bills hich passed the
Senate could never have so done
but for the political influence of
the liquor interest in the recen
election. 1t is a measure for whica
there cannot possibly be any jus
tification. 1t il proposed to post
pUne for two years the payment ot
taxes amounting to $4,000, 600 be-
cause those owing find il hard to
pay them. But who does not find
it hard to pay them? The diff
Guilty of payment will be still
greater when the subject again
comes up, and the stake to be lob
bied for will then be enormous.
But l no not believe the House
will pass this bill, now that its
character is fully understood.
Some funny things occur now
and then upon the floor of Con
gress. Members are often walk
ing about in the rear OF the seats
or in the adjacent cloak rooms,
talking or attending to ma tiers of
their own when suddenly some
thing in the proceedings strikes on
the ear and calls them to their
posts. Representative Neal, of
Ohio, rushed into the House, the
other day in his shirt sleeves, to
record his vote. He was in the
barber's chair. when his ear heard
something that induced him to
believe that a villianous bill in re-
gard to Washington ST. railway
was. about to be passed. Flinging
the towel one way and the barber
the other of he tore shouting "Mr
Speaker, Mr.. Speaker !" The bar
Der picked himself up. seized Mr..
Meals coat and dashed after him
While Mr.. Neal wa. stating his
objections to the bill. VIII ich were
those of man of sense, the injur-
ed barber was hustliug him into
his coat. There was considerable
Laughter, but Mr.. Neal had carri-
ed his point when he sat down,
red and painting and g4ared saw
agely at the poor barber, who had
done nothing bat assist him Mr..
Randall, by the way, once voted
while in the barber chair. The
House meets now at Ii O'Clock q.
M, to the infinite disgust of 200
out of 293 members. This never
was done before, as regular
thing. The Senate, too. instead of