Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-01-23

WASHINGTON, Jan. Il, 1884.

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} WAsHINGroN, Jan. II, 1884.
The opening week Of the year vas
bosy and fruitful one in Congress.
Many Of the 5000 OF more bills which
we're introduced prior to the holiday
adjournment were reported favorably
from COMMITTEES. notably Mr.. Dineley's
shipping bill, which does away with
many OF the incidental burdens and
annoyances which adj to the obstacles
In the way Of revivinR our marine. The
virtues Of the American bog were ably
defended in the House, and retaliatosy
legislation was proposed to secure to
him the right of immigration. Senator
| Van Wyck raked over the Star route
expenditures, and brought curious de-
tective bills to light. The aggregate
expenditures In the Star route prosecu-
ton were about $l07, ZIG, and il il be-
coming painfully evident that ono of the
attorneys had regular b0nanza in the
business. Then the Investigation mill
was set going again under Mr.. spring
ers leadership. and this time they are
grinding at the Department. Of Justice.
There IS much work to come, and the
measures that promise to de naud the
attention OF Congress are Of prime i'm
portance. Two Of the appropriation
bills are ready and others will quickly
follow, SO that there will be no lack Of |
routine business. Outside of theoe
supply bills the legislation that will ex- |
cite the most discussion relates 70 the |
revenues and currency. There will |
also be determined efforts to augment |
our military establishment. encourage |
our shipping, help the whisky |
interest, benefit the Mississippi |
river. perfect the machinery OF |
the electoral college, relieve the Supreme |
Court, arrange an improved system of |
dealing With private claims, frame Q
satisfactory bankrupt Law, and alter the
postal laws In some particulars. The
railroads are to have no mercy, land
grants will be strictlv construed, the
dip.om alto and co.'s 1lar service is to be
critically scanned. Fitz John Porter is
to be restored 70 the army, and the Chi
nese mast not come and the Aormons
must 90. Thus 1t will be seen that
enough work is mapped out to make .
busy aud useful session, though it may
be cut short by the anxiety of the va
rious members concerning their cam
paign interests.
The question of social precedence in
official life in Washington 10 still q
favorite theme Of conversation aud
topic for reception newspaper para
graphs. The latest report ID that the
President was little annoyed by tho
comments made upon his New Years
reception, mainly because they were
n IA IN he Lad /
to whOH he gave precedence. Another
favOrite topic generally discussed by
statesmen and others at this time ia the
proposed law which il t. alter or extend
the line of Presidential succession. II
seems little curious that those two
questions Of social precedence and con
stltutiOnal law should have become rife
Just at the same tune. But there 10 a
decided affinity between the two SUBJ
Jects. How much the particular ques-
ton of social precedence a. TO the
propeI place among the highest Of
moi lis of the Speaker and his wife de-
ponds upon the other ono of the CON-
stituti0nal law in regard to the suo-
cessiOn to the presidency, none who
have not given thought to the matter
can understand. So close, however, 10
the relation between them that when
the Law regulating the presidential suc
cession is altered in any way from that
now in force, the social code of eti-
quette in regard to the four highest
offices must be changed also. In fact,
a change of that law known az section
40 of the Revised Statutes, which pro-
vides for the succession in the order
named: First, Of tho President pro tenn.
of the Senate, and next of "the Speak q
er of the House for the time being" in {
case of q vacancy il tho Offices of both
President and Vice President, would
bring about what the French would call
a bOwterersemeNt in Washington s,eiety,
30 thoroughly mixed up are social Cos
sip and and constitutional law here at | Z
The national capital.
Strangers in the city and new mem
bers of Congress have been asking late !
~, "Does the President over have any
Does anything ever 90 on
1t the White House in the way of gay
ety!" Those who remember that dur
ing preceding administrations four IN
season las been the least number Of
public receptions given BY night at the 4
White House, make enquiries as to why =
The Executive Mansion is SO unusually :
quiet this year, though the season is !,
Two weeks gone. Ia fact, Mr.. Ar =
:hur has held only four absolutely pub q
10 receptions since he became Presi-
lent. AL told, he has devoted Just six |
aOurs to public hand-shakinQ-three
hours in 1882, two hOurs in 1883, and
,ns MP to date in 1884, He manages to
AXE good deal of exercise on horse
back this GOLD weather, and 10 paying
,areful attention TO his health. LHNox.