Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-01-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
/ SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE MoNIToR

the past week mas -Deen buSy-t
and interesting week in Washington.
The city is full of people that the
largest hotels are turning away
guests, and one can imagine the
pressure upon the boarding houses.
We have also been favored with a
heavy snow, the remains of which
still cover the asphalt streets and av-
enues. The citizens sleighing carni-
val on Friday brought out an i'm
mense crowd to witness the grotesque
pageant of all imaginable devices on
runners, filled by people, some Of
them gentlemen and ladies, in cos
tune.
Congress has been working with
great energy, and one can visit the
Capitol any day, sure of hearing an
interesting debate. Two appropria-
ton bills were passed in one day,
and one of these, the pension bill,
appropriated $50, 100000! The bill
now pending before congress to give
national aid to education does not
seem to be progressing favorably, al
though it is measure of great inter-
est to thinking people. Of course,
since illiteracy prevails mostly in the
southern states amongst the negroes,
the measure will be best appreciated
by that section; but its general ben
efcial results would be felt all over
the country. One reason that this
bill is not hurried forward is because
there is no lobby behind it to stimu-
late congressional action. The lob
by has become a noxiously essential
agency, and well deserves the name
of the third house.
The shipping bill which was finally
passed by the house on Friday must
be accepted as an important piece of
legislation. Whatever may be said
in the way of regret that the bill did
not pass as it came from the COM
merce committee, it will still sufficient
ly protect the shipping interest, which
is happy over its success. The effort
made by Mr.. Cox of New York, for
free material was not crowned with
success, although there is modest
little section in the bill which practi-
cally amounts to the free admission
of material used in ship building.
Whenever the business of sailing
around the world becomes profitable,
there will be no difficulty in building
the ships in the United States.
You have heard of the temporary
occupation of the speakers chair by
Mr.. Smalls, the colored member of
congress from South Carolina.
Eight or ten years ago when there
were six colored representatives in
congress, it was not unusual to see
one of them in the speakers chair,
but such a spectacle is rare nova
days. The house for wonder was
unusually quiet, and Mr.. Smalls was
not once Obliged to sing out 'tOrder
Gentlemen" The reason of this
quietude seems to have been com
pretended by Mr.. Smalls. While
riding in a car to the Capitol the other
day he was accosted by an old gen.
tleman with the patronizing remark
"Mr. Smalls, l never saw so good
order in the house as when you SAT
in the speakers chair yesterday
Mr.. Smalls' reply TO this compliment
was, s'White men don't like to be
ordered by a colored man to be
quiet
The prospects of special session
of congress are not very promising
Conservative democratic talk and act
as though they do not mean to have
special session after the 4th OF
March, if they can prevent. Repub
licans are not in anywise particular
for although they will lose the speak
ership they will gain the presidency
of the senate.
According to the present rate O
pushing legislation, congress, unless
delayed by the combined action o
the Fitz John Porter, whisky, an(
tariff Hobbies, will not find any neet
of a special session. Such being tn
, case, the chances are that the gentle
men who are busy working up speak
f ership booms, in anticipation of
special session, are simply fighting
battle which will have to be Tough
, over in the fall.
, The 1874 republicans in the mex
house will quietly constitute them
: selves an audience and watch th
progress of the fight going on in th
@ enemy's camp with no small degree {
d interest. They will have no prevail
4 ing voice in the voting, but they ca
applaud and hiss. and make then
selves agreeable as opportunity pr,
J sents itself.
1t 1t is expected that about thirt
~ members of the national republics
% committee will be present at IL
; meeting to be held here on Wedne
~ day, to settle the question of repr
'e sentation on the district plan, in a
ID cordance with the resolution of tt
+ national convention. The time al
= place for holding the next nomina
ing convention will probably not
ie fixed at this meeting, as one mo
er will be held before the convention
called.
It's 1t is worth while to turn our ey
is occasionally toward the other ST