St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
rom Our Regular Correspondent.
DECEMBER 18th, 1888.

DECEMBER 18th, 1888.
The Senate adjourned Thursday until
the following Monday uoon. Ihe snort
daiiy sessions of the week were given
urincipallv to the introduction OF bliis,
debates on proposed resolutions ana
.,iscussions over the revised Senate
rules as submitted by the committee.
Tie consideration Of the rules VII occu-
nv several days yet. The rule propos-
ing that the President pro tempore SHAH
have tile right to name i'll open Senate
Or if absent, in writing, Senator 20
perform the duties OF the chair; ana
fhe Senator so designated may DIS
charge such duties for period not e2-
eeeding three days unless the Senate
shall otherwise order, gave rise 10
discussion in which Senators Bayard'
Garland and Edmunds participated, the
latter approving while the two former
opposed.
On Wednesday little still occurred
between Senators Beck and Sherman
provoked by Mr.. Beck's resolution ask
ing that the mysteries OF the SINKING
fnnd be calculated. The Secretary OF
the Treasury says nearly forty-slx MIL
lions of dollars will be wanted for the
sinking fund OF the present fiscal year.
Mr.. Beck was unable to see how more
than one sixth of this amount can oe
needed, and as there was a difference
between them of forty million dollars,
thought some one had mis-calculated.
Mr.. Beck said he believed the sinking
fund was being used to keep up taxation
without cause, and that before lntelll-
gent legislation can be undertaken with
regard to the surplus revenues, it was
important to know the precise require
.ments of this fund, and to what extent
the estimates are fictitious. Mr.. Sher-
man told Mr.. Beck that the information
he was calling for, lad been given IN
every regular annual report OF the sec
Eetary for number of years.
The Republican Senatorial caucus has
made changes in all the elective officers
of the Senate. This too under the eyes
of the father Of the civil service reform
bill. Gen. McCook Of New York was
nominated for Secretary, Col. Canady
of North Carolina for Sergeant at Arms
Mr.. johnson Of Mimi. Chief Clerk and
Mr.. Young of Pa. executive clerk.
When the question Of the Chaplaincy,
next in order was raised, several Sena-
tors, notably Messrs. Edmunds and
ingalls, expressed themselves as averse
to all changes without cause, and that
no reason for removal existed in tiat
office beyond the fact that the incum
bent is Democrat. During an lnfor-
NAL inter-change of opinions on this
point, it became apparent that major
ity favored a change, and the Rev. r..
T.. Huntley Pastor of the Metropolitan
Episcopal church of Washington Was
nominated.
Last Monday and Tuesday were "bill
days. in the House of Representatives,,
during which 1760 bills We're sent to the
clerks desk. This was scarcely so large
d number ms was introduced at the op-
&ning of the preceding Congress, but
quite enough to keep members busy
during their official life. Most OF these
measures are old but others show the
spread of new ideas. They cover the
whole field Of legislation, from prop0-
sitions to change the organic law OF the
land down to the granting OF relief to q
private claimant for some trivial dam
age sustained twenty or forty years ago.
Demonstrations were made against the
land grant railroads, and it is safe to
predict there will be a scrutinizing in
yestigation OF these corporations during
the winter. One bill strikes at the ex-
cessive passenger rates Of the Union
and Central Pacific railroads by provid-
ing that the highest charge shall be
three cents mile. Mr.. Springer en-
tered again his constitutional amend
7aent prohibiting special legislation, an
evil which the proceedings of the last
few days show requires vigorous treat
sneut. A number of members intro
afuced shipping bills, a hopeful augury
that this Congress will do something in
the way of improving commerce.. Mr..
Blanchard's bill providing for shorter
snterval between the election Of Con-
gressmen and the beginning of the ses-
sion, touches question that deserves
Mr.. Cox introduced a
number of pertinent measures among
them bill relative to the Chinese in
demnity fund, a free ship bill, one