The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-13
WASHINGTON LITTER.
{ From Our Regular Correspondent. ]
WASHINGTON. D. c. Jan. II. 1873;

none of them excite so much interest
here in Washington as did the civil service
bill so recently disposed of. This is not a
strange circumstance. The capital is in
habited chiefly by people concerned in the
civil service, and among them the measure
is still topic of general conversation.
There is wide difference of opinion as to
the practical results of the bill. but on the
whole it may be stated that not much is
expected from it. Some believe it will be
strictly and fairly enforced, while the ma
jority of experienced politicians know that
even among many of its supporters it is
looked upon as first class humbug. The
question of the appointment of the three
commissioners to make rules and conduct
the examinations is already being brought
to the attention of the president, and upon
their selection the meat of the whole thing
depends at last The sudden passage of
the bill through the house was the biggest
surprise party we have had here in years.
An avalanche of discussion was averted-
eloquence nipped i'll the bud, as it were.
At least thirty members had speeches
ready, with the expectation that free and
the house had not been taken by surprise
and the programme agreed upon by the
friends of the bill so successfully carried
out d debate might have been started
which would have rivaled the tariff COM
mission bill debate in length, and the bill
would probably have died 8 lingering
death, or been so weakened by amendments
that it would not have been really worth
preserving. All these speeches must now
~ .rsr 81, -. M.
passage of the bill after only half an hours
debate win be regarded as one of the
greatest curiosities of legislative action in
congress.
OF all of the measures now before con-
gress the three of paramount Importance
are, the bill to provide for counting the
electoral votes, the tariff bill and the bill
to provide judicial investigation of private
claims. There is no greater abuse of JUS
tice in all the ramifcations of our govern
ment than is told in the history of private
claims before congress. The story is inter
esting enough for an entire letter, and |
mean to write it up in full shortly The |
bonded whisky bill which passed the SEN
ate could never have got through but for |
the political influence credited to the liq-
uor interest in the last election. 1t is a |
measure for which there connot possibly !
be any justification. 1t is proposed to |
postpone for two years the payment of |
taxes amounting to $50 600, 900 because |
those owing find it hard to pay them But
who does not find it hard to pay taxcs2 |
And what right has congress to make any
distinction between different classes of
taxpayers7 No doubt those senators and
representatives whose constituents are
most interested in this legislation advocate
it without corrupt motives but it is
special legislation of a most dangerous
character If the payment of the taxes
now due on whisky Is postponed two
years, the amount then due will be much
larger than it now is. Does any sane man
believe that the distillers have any idea of
promptly paying the much larger sum
which will be due two years hence if this
bill passes? Evidently the present relief
bill is meant as an entering wedge The
difficulty of payment will be still greater
when the subject again comes up and the
stake to be lobbied for will then be enor-
nous. But do no: believe the house of
representatives will pass this BILL now that
its character is fully understood.
Some funny incidents occur now and
then upon the floor of congress Members
are often walking about in the rear of the
seats or in the adjacent cloak rooms taking
or attending to matters of their own when
suddenly something in the proceedings
strikes the ear and calls them to their
posts. The barber-shop i'll one of the
cloak-rooms is also convenient auxiliary |
TO congressional comfort. Representative | !
Neal, of Ohio, rushed into the house the
other day in his shirt sleeves to record a /
vote. lie was in the BARRIERS chair when
ais ear caught something that induced him \
10 think villianous bill in regard to | 7
Washington street railway was about to be q
passed. Flinging the towel one way bar c
Der the other, off he tore, shouting MIR. s
speaker Mr.. speaker The barker pick t
ed himself up, seized Mr.. Meals coat and r
dashed after him. While Mr.. Neal was stat a
ng his objections to the bill, which were v
hose of a man of sense, the injured bar v
Der was hustling him into his coat. There v
vas considerable laughter but Mr.. Neal t
lad carried his point when he sat down.
ed, painting and glaring sayagely at the v
Door barber who had done nothing t
out assist him. Mr.. Randall, by the a
way. once voIed while in the BARRIERS v
hair. When question is being discussed d
n which members have a particularly | i
strong interest, they have to practice {
,ternal vigilance-for if they don't their Z
,ponents will steal a march on them and i
ne first thing j know the bill W Ii o
,e sprung upon tne house and disposed of 4
'efore they knew anything about it. There (
8 life enough TO make it interesting about v
congress- now. The house still meets at &
/ O'Clock a. m. to the infinite disgust of d
100 out of 293 members. This never was b
lone before as a regular thing The sem h