Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-03-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.

ESPECIAL CORRESPONDING OF THE MONITOR
Washington, March 5.
The Forty-Seventh Congress ended
at twelve o'clock Sunday, when the
gavels at each end of the Capitol
simultaneously fell. The senators
and members are free, and are al
ready going their various ways.
Probably no congress ever began
with richer opportunities, but the
record of good works is not full. 1t
did some things, perhaps, it ought
not to have done, but it must be re-
corded to its credit that it left undone
many things that the lobby wanted it
to do. There were some accusations
of jobbery, but however harshly its
actions may be criticized OH some
points, it cannot be accused of show
ing disposition to be corrupt. Like
many of its predecessors, it was dila-
tory during the first months Of the
session, and did not settle down to
hard work until in full sight of the
close. This delay was culpable, and
is the cause of hundreds of measures
dying with this congress. But the
failing bills were mostly of a private
nature, only a few of them being of
Importance to the whole country.
The bill to provide national educa-
tional is one that dies with general
regret. The national library bill
goes over for another year. The
bankruptcy, shipping, and Utah bills
are also prominent measures that
must go by the board. The bill to
retire General Grant and for the re-
lief of General Fitz John Porter are
among the most conspicuous private
bills not passed.. But congress
that would give universal satisfac-
ton, and receive unreserved COM
mendation, would be an anoma-
| ly with the diversified and dis
cordant elements of which our coun-
try is composed; and the nation will
have to resort to that ineXhaustible
source of consolation, the reflection
that it might have been worse. In
the personal character of its members,
this congress was a fair average.
True, the last days marked by sever
al exciting episodes, caused by ILL
natured and ill-mannered remarks of
a personal character, when members
exchanged opinions the reverse of
complimentary in loud and threaten
ing tones, descended to manners
lacking dignity and decorum, and
INDUCED in the supplementary cpl
thets of muledriver, cut-throat and
gambler. Such incidents have not
been confined to this congress, but
have been witnessed occasionally
from time to time in our national
halls of legislation. A large class OF
spectators consider such proceedings
refreshingly piquant, and many ex-
pressed disappointment at not being
present on Thursday evening, wher
the infatuated member from New
York, Mr.. Van Vorhis made his at
tack upon Mr.. Page of California
But the sentiment of the members al
large is strongly against these occur
ences, and the offensive party is al
ways forced to apologize, which gen
orally amounts to the stultifying eX
PLANTATION of absolute lack of inten
ton.
The accumulated work of two years
crowded SO upon the last hours o
congress that the pressure was over
whelming The one hundred ant
4 fifty members who were going out
were painting to get last chance bill
through. The citizens of Washing
S ton and visitors never before took $.
a much interest in the proceedings o
T congress, and have crowded the gal
y leries by thousands.