Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1884-12-13
LETTER,
Converting of Congress - Demo

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Special Correspondence Of the I~NrHR-OcEAS.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The first week
of the second session of the Forty-eighth
congress has ended. Already both of
the Legislative bodies have settled down
to work. This they did almost as ma
turally and quietly as if only a week in
stead of five. months had INTERVIEWED be-
tween the last and present meeting.
On last Monday when the president
of the senate and the speaker of the
house brought down their gavels exactly
at noon, thus opening congress, crowds
of visitors filled the gallerise; both cham
bers had an air of freshness and cleanli-
ness, and the desks of senators and rep
resentatives were loaded with flowers.
Otherwise there was but little to indi-
cate that it was the beginning of q new
session.
One interesting and decidedly unusual
feature of the occasion was the good
natured chatting INDUCED in by the
Democrats at the expense of their Re-
publican friends wei the result of the
presidential election. The Republicans
took the bantering in good part, and no
bitterness wa manifested. Congressman
Cox of New York was c~onspicuously
busy in offering coincidence to his polit-
ical opponents.
The Democrats are in fine spirits. but
the Republicans skillfully conceal any
/ detection they may feel. The Southern
members are not so demonstrative as it
was predicted they would be. They
congratulated each other on the Demo-
cratic victory, but they seemed to be
impressed with the duty of restraining
hilarity in presence of their defeated
Opponents
The presidents message was listened
to in both houses with the usual mat
tention. The proportion of senators
and members who lounged and looked
bored and tried to kill time was consid-
erably greater than the number of at.
tentive listeners. congressman consider
the official reading Of clerks very mo.
notonous, and prefer to get their i'm.
pressions of an executive document
from their own perusal of it. After an
extended inquiry among them l learn
that. as a whole, they think President
Arthur's last annual message is his best
They praise it for its dignity, for its tenn.
per, and for the clearness and simplicity
of its style.
But the report Of the secretary of the
treasury is more commented upon than
the presidents message. 1t has been
called the most vigorous presentation o.
the financial condition of the country
that has ever been made. Mr.. McCul
loch has pleased the friends of lower
taxes in his tariff recommendations, but
his position will doubtless excite a great
deal of dissent in his own party.
The first sensation of the session wa
raised in the house of representatives
by Congressman Follett's impeachment
resolutions. He brought charges against
Marshal Lot Wright in connection with
the employment. Of deputy marshals a.
the election in Cincinnati. A short
bitter debate followed, in which Messrs
Converse, Hiscock, Reed, Brumm, Mil
Ter and ex-Speaker Keifer took part
and the resolutions were finally adopted
The new senator, Mr.. Sheffield, who
Is the temporary successor of the late
Senator Anthony of Rhode Island, i
about sixty years old. He il quite lame