The Press., 1883-12-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washinoton. D. C.. Dec. 1l

Washington, D. C., Dec. 18th, 1ees.
 After partial organization, congress ad- journed on Thursday of the first week un- til the following Monday. This was reg ular "bill day" in the house, and an ay- alanche of embryonic laws was piled upon the clerks desk. The order of business WAS the call of states for bills and joint resolutions for reference. Massachusetts, was the last state called up to the hour of adjournment, and over eight hundred measures had been introduced. The largest number from any one state was l58 ny the members from Indiana. The Illinois rep- ressntatives were second, with record ot 124, aud Kansas is third on the list with 1O9. On Tuesday the introduction of bills exceeded two hundr. d. Many of the bills are of a private character and will not be heard of again until they are re-introduc- ed on ssbill-day" of the next congress. Fully one half of the more important pub- lie measures were cid, and one of the pen sion bills had been introduced in every congress since 1852. While number of the bills varied in form they were identi- cal in purpose, and several representatives from different states presented preclsely tn. same bill. There were five bills to provide uniform system of bankruptcy thTee to prevent the sprt ad of contagious diseases among cattle, several for the aboh- tion of the internal revenue bureau, Il num- Der for the reduction of postage, and the withdrawal from circulation of the trade dollars. There We're also number of tar If bills, some increasing, and some lower ing the duties on articles spt cifird. Among important measures was bill by MT. Dunn of Arkansas appropriating six mil lion dollars for the improvement of the Mississippi river. One by MT. Sumner of California which provides that forty days from the passage of the act, it shall be un- lawful for the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroad companies to charge more than three Cents for first class, two cents for second class, and one cent for third class passengers. There was one by MT. Townshend of Illinois to abolish postage on second class mailable matter, and to reduce the postage on transient newspa- pers. A number of bills introduced in the house were substantially the same as those introduced in the senate few days be- fore, of which will mention one by Sen- ator Blair and one by representative White to lessen crlme and human suffering from alcoholism by restricting tho use of dis titled spirits to scientific, and medicinal purposes. In the bills introduced no less than dozen amendments to the cOnstitu- ti,n have been proposed, covering the pro lection of citizens in thelr political rights, the broadening of suffrage to foreign born citizens and to women, the regulation of the liquor traffic, and the extension of the veto power to the items of appropriation bills The bill by Senator Hill of Cobra do to establish system of postal telrgraphs may be expected to receive the early at- tenti,n of the senate, now that Senator Hill has been made chairman of the com mittee on post offic- and post roads, th- position held last year by Ex-Senator Fer ry of Michigan. Another important va cancy was the chairmauship of the senate commit, on foreign affairs. made by Ex- Senator Windom's retirement, to which Senator Miller of California has been ap- pointed. The cila.rn1ansh,p of the com mittee on mines and mining, vacat.d d by Senator Hills promotion, went to Senator Bowen of Colorado, one of the silver kings of the west. The senate committees have been announced, and many changes were made ill the m, mberships, as is the case at the commeh cement of each congress. Senators go out and their places have to be filled with careful regard to the senior ity of those who remain and certain usages as to the ranking order of the various com mittees.
 Speaker Carlisle is now arranging the memberships of the forty-fvs standing house committe+s, which he expects to an- nounce b fore the holiday vaca'ion In the house he coufronts thirty-two more members than have occupied seats in any previous congress. Of these one hundred and ninety seven are democrats and more than half are new members. Eighty were in the last congress, and ten or twelve not in the forty-seventh congress had served previously.
 The national republican committee which met in this city w. da.sday to declde upon the time place aud chairmanship of the national republican conven ion for pres idential nomination chose respectively for each the 3d of June, 1884, Chicago, and Senator Sabin of Minnesota.