Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-01-10
From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. @

From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. G, s3.
While the Fitz John Porter issue has
received earnest pressure in the Senate,
tn House has been dilatorily attending to
the enormous amount of work before that
body. With the exception of the army
appropriation bill, nothing but minor
important bills has been considered in the
House. Even with the army bill. and
time as precious as it is. the House could
not refrain from INDUCING in clap-trap
political "reminiscences. Mr.. Hewitt OF
N. Y. started the ball a.rolling by accusing
the republicans of purposely cutting down
appropriations with the view of leaving
deficiencies at the close of the year to be
supplied by the next democratic congress.
Finally Mr.. Cox OF N. Y. with abortive
wit, shocked the best sense of the House
by referring in his speech to the Gulteau
doggerel "I'm going to the Lordy."
While the republicans Kissed him, and
the democrats were rather inclined to
blush for him, no one could see the
application for the so-called wit. Mr..
Reed of Maine, in concluding the debate
on the bill, referred to the speech of two
(Messrs Randall and Cox of the most
prominent candidates for the next speak
ership and said if their remarks were
intended to bring in votes for the speaker.
ship then he would like to hear from the
remaining candidates for that position.
OF the three days debate in the Senate
on the Fitz John Porter bill, Mr.. Logan
of Illinois devoted all but one half of day
to his speech antagonastic to Porter.
Much has been written of this speech,
but little can be said against it. Mr..
Logan did not show any personal vindic-
liveness against Porter but presented his
array of facts, obtained from evidence in
the case He spoke as if he understood
it, and that is more than can be said of
those Who vote for the bill. The support
ers of his measure tried to bring it up
yesterday, but it was finally laid aside to
be considered one week hence.
The passage of the Pendleton civil
service bill through the House yesterday
without amendment was surprise to all
and disappointment to half hundred
sons of thunder who had prepared.speeches
on the subject. The bill will doubtless
receive the presidents signature and Mr..
Pendeton feels that he has made an
immense stride towards the White House.
Blu "there's many Slip
The wniskey men are rejoicing with
exceeding joy; they Won decided
victory in the Senate on Thursday, and
they expect to have equal success in the
House. 1t is believed and feared that they
will have the support of many members
who have been counted upon to oppose
them.
Several petitions wore presented in the
Senate adding to the large number
already on hand, for a constitutional
amendment to prohibit the manufacture
of Intoxicating liquors. Notwithstanding
these petitions which are continually sub
mitted to both houses, congress does not
need them, but goes on lesislating
for the whiskey interests. An illustration
of this fact is found in the whiskey bond
bill which has Just passed the Senate.
Indeed, the Inconsistency of some members
of congress is apparent from the way they
present petitions against liquor. and then
vote directly to help the interests of
liquor men.
The ways and means committee Of the
House is .orking away and taking pains
enough to make very perfect tariff list;
but there is danger that revision of the
tariff will not revise-that after looking
at rice flour with microscope and giving
cotton manufactures a new classification.
the appraisers will still 60 on using their
old copies of "Heyrs Imports" with no
reason in law for not doing 50.
As it generally does in everything else,
the Senale got ahead of the House on tariff
legislation, for in the Senate yesterday Mr..
Morrill, reported from the finance commit
tee the bill for the revision Of the tariff,
and the bill was Immediately sent to the
printer. The general tenor of the bill is
revision in nearly every branch OF
commerce. 1t is thought that the early
action of the Senate will prevent the House
from overworking itself on the tariff
question, for the latter body will now
await the printing of the Senate bill, so
as to obtain points to guide the House in
any future action.
The reduction of the public debt for the
month of December amounted TO almost
SIS, 100000, making the decrease for the
first half OF the fiscal year more than
Sol 100000. The large decrease in the
past month is accounted for by a
remarkable decrease in the ordinary
expenditures. The secretary of the
treasury estimates the surplus for the year
at, sl2OooO,oo0.
The House on Thursday, passed the
army appropriation bill.