Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-04-13
OR WASHINGTON lETTvR.

Correspondence Posi- -IS1rLLioEScEs.
WASHINGTON. March 81, 1854.
Last week inangurated the beginning
OF the end OF the session. in the strus-
gle for consideration among rival bills
which have been made special ord rs
The bill for the retirement of the trade
dollar vas among those which got the
best of the scramble for precedence
and came before the House. From his
time forth there will be 4 continual fight
for precedence among the ivs hundrs d
bills that are reported favorably ard
are waiting the inclination OF the House.
There are seven overdue special orders.
two pending contested election cases.
and ten appropriation bills, no: 10 speak
Of the threatened tariff bill, all Of which
have the parliamentary right Of vay
and are liable tn Toe called up 1T any mo
ment. Hence the chance of even IA
vored bill - small As against the fi-id.
Besides, at the present rate of progress,
!utions IN three months, Congress vii,
be obliged % sit for az ut nine years TO
pass only these five hundred bills. And
Congress will die of old age now in less
than wear, and will only pretend { ,
attend TO business for SIX months Of
that time. IL Is, however, usually dur
ing the last days of the session that
most of the actual bill passing Is done,
but the flicker of energy excited by the
touch of the hand of death Is but pc T
compensation for the sloth OF the long
months Of leisure wasted IN adjourn
ments, talk, de docks, roll calls and
alleged eulogies. Fifty or a hundred
bills, generally of small and unim-
portznt character, are squeezod through
at the last moment by luck or good
management. but the great body Of work
falls 10y default. The forty-seventh
Congress furnished AL example of this
chronic slow legislation, for over one
thousand favorable reports and Senate
bulls were pending IN the House who n
the gavel came down like the stroke Of
fate on all plans and hopes.
The era of political and social actlv-
ity still goes on At the White House.
Last week marked the niuth of the
state dinners to Representatives. In Con
gress, and this week the President will
probably entertain Gen. Grant, As the
latter N SO far convalescent ~ to be
able TO 20 about with considerable free
dom. though Mr.. Arthur takes daily
horseback exercise, It Is evident that
these many social duties are beginning
to tell upOa him. he likes nothing 81
we'll as To sit down by himself IN bis
private room In the evening and spend
the time in reading the principal jour
mails Of the country. for II IL SAID that
be Is much Interested III the political
discus-lons and occurrences recorded
IN the press Just now. This private
room is very small and cosy, contain
ing only writing desk and "A few easy
chairs. 1t Is situated III the northwest
corner Of the second story of the White
House. and IL connected with his sleep
ing chamber. The President never mas
been devoted to games or light amuse-
,nents since he came tn the White
House. He cares very little tor cards.
and does not play whist at all. He IN
derstands poker, and used to llk. that
better than any other game, but he dues
not play II in the White House.
On dit. that there Is a divided house
hold 1T the Executive Mansion on the
FitzJohn Por er question. Mrs. Haynes
worth Is opposed u restoring Porter ana
Mrs. McElroy IL III favor of 1t; 80 the
President IL between his sisters. Mrs.
Haynssworth is the better politician, but
Mrs. McElrOy Is the stronger parts IL.
The first IL n clever woman who has
never cared for gay society. but who has
devoted her time to her family. to read
ing, and to political questions Of the
day. She Is a we'll read woman and an
able talker. Mrs. McEIroy IL, to many,
more attractive and persuasive. 1t is
said that she Is the tavorite sister of the
President. She IL stronger physically
than her elder sister, and certainly pos
sesses the tact and grace which ena-
bles her to nil the position of hostess
so well.
Active preparations are making for
the completion of the Washington Mon
ument. The work of setting stone will
be resumed in the beginning of May,
and II ~ expected that the hIgnt will ~.
raised to five hundred feet by the m die
of August. All that will tnen rem Iu
will be to erect the pyramidal marble
summit of fifty feet, making the monu-
Dent $50 feet high. The present uniin-
Ished top of the monument is sur
mounted ny belt of electric lights.
which can be seen from almost any part
of the city.
The third trial of ths suit of Hgllet
kilbourn against ex,Sergeant-at Arms
Thompson has resulted In verdict OF
SS7 800. The verdict in the first trial
was for xlO0,0o0. and in the second for
$4,000. Mr. kilbourn deserves credit,
whether he gets amy cash or not, fpr
forcing Congress TO squarely try the
question of its right 20 exercise tie
functions of court of justice.
LENox.