Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-12-19
VIM. d. McMASTER, Editor & Pro'r.
from our regular correspondents
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, D. c., Dec. Is, VS.


Washington, D. c., Dec. 10, TS.
The usual delay in getting down to
solid work in Congress seems inevita-
BILE, and as soon as the complete Or
ganization of both Houses is perfected
we shall probably have the usual holi-
day recess, ending not much before the
second week of January. 1t cannot
be said that these delays and adjourn
ment are needless. The waste Of time
is only apparent, for it is absolutely
necessary in the organization of new
Congress that the members should have
time to become acquainted with each
other and with the duties before them,
and that the Speaker should have am
pie time for deliberation in the forma-
ton of his committees. In body Of
the magnitude and Importance of the
National House of Representatives
haste would be worse than waste. 1t
would carsc disaster. 1t may, per-
haps, be contrary to the spirit of our
institutions that Congress is growing
more and more into the control of
committees, but such is the tendency.
Originally, the committees were in
tended to facilitate and expedite the
business of the House. AS matters
have drifted, they monopolize that
business, from the date of its inception
to completion. There is far less free
dom of debate, less expression of pop
ular opinion, in the Houses of Repre-
sentatives, to-day, than there is in the
British House of Commons. Debate
on important measures is not decisive,
but the real work of legislation is per-
formed in the secrecy of the committee
room and the report of a committee is
generally conclusive. Without dis
cusing the question whether this con-
dition of things should be, there can
be no gainsaying the fact that it is, and
there Is no wonder that the election of
q Speaker becomes matter of national
concern, and that when chosen he
should consider his gravest response
bility The selection of the committees.
In addition to the other business of
the House when it gets into fair work.
ing order, it is pretty well understood
that two or three interesting investiga-
tons will be undertaken. The Attor-
ney-General's office is quite certain to
be called upon to explain certain mat
tiers, including the methods relating to
some political indictments in South
Carolina, and the settlement of the
Gilman case. Some very ''peculiar"
instructions appear to have been given
to special attorneys appointed to prose-
cute the South Carolina cases, and
furthermore, the appointment, at Mr..
Arthur's request, of the Hon. Richard
Crawley as such counsel with viola
ton Of law, he being member of
Congress at the time and drawing pay
in both capacities. Then there is the
case of Mr.. George Bliss, who, while
acting as special counsel in the Star
route case, at fabulous pay, gave an
opinion against the Government in the
Gilman case, for which he received
from Ottman a fee of $1,000. Ii is
stated that Bliss requested to have the
case referred to him and then gave the
adverse opinion. The only explana-
ton for allowing this sort of thing is
that Bliss is an old "chum" of "Chet'
Arthur. One subject of inquiry, l am
told, will be the charge that certain
eminent lawyer was appointed to the
Supreme bench in pursuance of bar
gain with certain capitalists and rail-
road magnates. 1t seems late in the
day to investigate this charge, but the
last Congress would not do it and
member from the State most interested
says his people demand 1t. The repu-
tation of the Supreme Bench is at
stake so long as the charge stands un-
refu'ed.
But one Of the subjects of greatest
general Importance likely to be dealt
with by this Congress is the lapsed
land grants of certain railway corpora
tions. There is some doubt about the
position of the Secretary of the Interi-
or on this question, and Congress
should certainly take the matter in
hand. 1t is not impossible that the
Establishments of these companies
might be too much for the Secretary. 1t
is even limited that they have captured
him already, and the circumstances
that John j. Ingalls, came to his de-
tense in the Senate the other day,
when Senator Hill, of Colorado, Of
fered his resolution calling for certain
information, did not help to allay this
suspicion. If Mr.. Tellor intends to
do justice between the people and these
grasping corporations, he will inspire
greater confidence by keeping out of
the company of Ingalls,, whose last
election to the Senate was purchased
with Jay Gould's money. 1t is not