The Press., 1884-07-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, D. C., July 5,

"SdnilStOu, D O, ouly p ioo%.
 Before this reaches you congress may have adjourned. It is almost ready to leave, for all the business that the first ses- to transact, will be substantially concluded this evening. Many democratic congress- men have started 10 the Chicago conven- ton, and it is certain quorum of both houses will not be in Washington next week. It is possible however that all the bills passed by Saturday night may not be ready for the signatures of presiding off cers before Monday morning. In that case there will be session on Monday in order that the bills may be examined by the committees that are responsible for their correctness, and duly signed. This work would not require a quorum unless the question of quorum were raised.
 The president returned to the house, without his approval the bill for the relief of Fitz John Porter He and his cabinet think that the judgment of the original court martial should be final and conclu- sive. The veto message expressed the fear that the proposed legislation would establish dangerous precedent, calculated to imperil the binding force of the judge ments of various tribunals established un- der the constitutional laws. Senator Lo- gan, who has always been the most earnest opponent of the bill, said man need not have very vivid imagination to conjecture his feelings on the subject. It was sug- gested that Senator Logan influenced the president ill his action on the bill but President Arthur says Gen. Logan never mentioned the Porter case to him in any manner, shape or form. Gen. Logan would have been the last man to have urged his views personally upon the presi- dent. The house, composed largely of ex- confederate officers, passed the bill over the veto amid cheers and misses. When the veto message was laid before the sen- ate the yeas and nays were taken without debate, and resulted in tie vote.
 Gen. Swain is confined to his house with the bank presidents disease-nervous prostration. congressional delegation went to the white house to urge the presi- dent to let Gen. Swain down easy without a urt-martial. The president not only refused but expressed surprise that an of- fcer in Swaims position should not ur- gently demand court martial to clear his name.
 There has beell good deal of fervid or atory expended in the house this week on the navy deadlock. MT. Randall would sooner keep congress here all summer than recede an inch from his position on the cruiser and monitor amendments. One of a number who ably met the chairman of the appropriations committee in debate was Representative Calkins, the republican candidate for governor of Indiana. He said one of the chief reasons of the demo cratic opposition to sufficient appropria- tion was temper, The party had forgot ten its traditions and become simply a party of criticism. Under the leadership of the gentleman who was a prominent candidate for the presidency, the fiat had gone forth that the navy should not be built up until after the next presidential election. It that were the position the gentleman chose to assume, the republican party was ready to meet it.
 The senate has decided to let the trade dollar bill go over till the next session, the house having amended the measure to death. The anti-Chinese bill got safely through, however.
 Although yesterday was the "glorious fourth" the senate was in session, but be- fore proceeding to business it sat patriot ically and listened to the reading by the secretary of the declaration of independ- enCe