The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-01-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Jan. II, 1884.

WASHINGTON, Jan. II, 1884.
The Forty-eighth Congress enter
ed Monday upon its perilous career
ORGANIZATION was complete, commit
tees were formed, the machinery was
an in order for legislation In both
branches.
Now for the working cut OF the
issues of the Presidential campaign.
Not only are themeasures that prom
ise IA demand the attention OF Con-
cress important in themselves, but
every one is interested to see what
will be the attitude of parties and oil
men. The Democrats are following
the traditions oftheir party. Family
ouarre.s are now in order. A formal
snlit in the ranks is threatened,sand
il is confessed by all that the dliier-
ences in the party on radical ques-
tions. are serious and open. RePuo-
ican prospects are even better than
tney were several months ago, ana
the party will have nothing to lear
SO long As the Democrats hold the
nresept tenor of their way. No
doubt an effort will be made, IN the
name of harmony and policy, to
stop controversy which is so om-
inous OF Democratic defeat Demo
Gratis say, when the party leaders see
the danger fully, and can confer as
to the best policy to be followed un,
der the circumstances, some sert OF
compromise will be the result. But
laundering is proverbial with the
party, and it is most probable that
il will follow its ancient ira
ditions.
There is discord Just now between
the House Judiciary Commltte and
the Public lands Committee concern
ing the Pacific Railroads land grant
question. Messrs. Tucker, of Nlr-
ginia, and Cobb, of Indiana, are the
rival chairmen, each insisting that
the matters be referred to hls com
mittee, and each greatly incensed at
the others opposition. l could
cite a number of such family
rows.
Considerable work was done IN
committee during the recess, but
most of the committees met Tor the
first time this week and agreed upon
the hours fer their regular meetings.
Several of the appropriation bills
are ready for the action OF Congress,
and others will quickly follow. Out
side of these supply bills the legls-
lation that will excite the most dis
cussion relates to the revenues and
currency. There will also be deter
mined effort TO augment the military
and naval establishment to encour-
age shipping ; to help the whisky
interest improve the Mississippi
river perfect the machinery OF the
electoral college; relieve the Supreme
Court arrange an improved system
of dealing with private claims; frame
a satisfactory bankrupt law altel
the postal laws in some particulars
and preserve the unsguandereo
remnant of the public domain from
the rapacity of railroads. So you
see enough work has been mapped
out to make busy and useful ses
sion, but the fact that the two
houses are at variance politically
will be serious embarrassment to
legislation.
During the week over thirteen
hundred bills have been presented
in the House. The session SO far
has been marked by an unusual
number of proposed amendments to
the Constitution. One of the latest
was by Mr.. Sumner, of Wisconsin
for limiting the veto power of the
President, by providing that meas
ure may be passed over his veto by
a majority vote. A bill was offered
by MIR. Robinson, of New York, call
ing on the Secretary of State for in
formation as to whether our minis.
ters obey the law. which forbids
United States Ministers to foreign
countries to appear in public in
court dress, and requires them to
wear the ordinary apparel of Amer
ican citizens.
A bill was presented for the i'm
mediate Appropriation of a million
dollars in accordance with the ur-
gent request of the Mississippi river
commission. In the President S
message to Congress he reviews and
comments favorably upon the work
of this river commission, invites the
attention of Congress to the i'm
portance of the enterprise and rec
ommends the early passage of sep
aTate bill on the subject. The
extensive arrangements that have
been, for some time, in progress
throughout the Mississippi Valley
States for a convention to be held IN
this city on the 5th day ofFebruary
indicate that it will be the largest
gathering of Western citizens ever
held in Washington. Its chief OBJ
ject will be TO discuss the subject Of
the Mississippi improvement in all
its bearings T; to determine what are
the necessities the situation require
at the hands of the government, and
TO formulate for presentation to Con.
gress the representative sentiment
of the States most deeply interested
ia the work. The convention vii
have a thousand or more delegates
Every State along the Mississippi
river, and every State and Territory
rami6ed by its tributaries, will b,
represented.
An Unpleasant Afterthougbt
Now" said drummer numbe
IL L