Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1884-03-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.

for people to sigh over the degenera-
CIV of modern politicians and to con-
trast the eloquence and ability OF the
men who served in Congress with
Webster and Calhoun and Clay with
the commonplace stupidity OF the pub
lie man Of to-day have no doubt,
however, that the House of Represen-
tatiyes of tho Forty-eight Congress
will compare favorablv in point of in
teligence, and in point of ability to
show that intelligence, to the best ad-
vantage with any House that has pre-
ceded it. 1t may be this very fact
which tends to make the Lower House
Cumbrous and unwieldy in the trans
action of public business, because a
man who can talk well is apt to talk
often and long regardless of the fact
that slime flies One great differ
cnce between the Congress of to-day
and that of fifty or more years ago is
that the general average OF ability is
greater and that brilliant men shine
out less conspicuously. In the pres
ont Congress the proportion of men,
bers serving first term is unusually
large, and the number of them who
have proved themselves able to cope
with their more experienced col
leagues surprisingly 50. Among the
new members who have shown mark
cd ability are Adams, of New York,
who came into prominence by fine
speech on the Chalmers Manning cleo
zion case and his connection with the
committee investigating Kiefer; and
Broadhead, of Missouri, who, though
new in Legislative halls, has long been
known as a man of recognized abili-
~.
The California delegation, compos-
cd with one exception entirely of
new and young men, is the strongest
which that State has ever sent. And
It is not a demagogical delegation,
which is something to say for Califor-
MIA. Mr.. Finerty is the only man
whom Illinois has sent for the first
time who has made himself promi-
nent, and, though his objection to the
@Alert" resolution was piece of pet
" spite, his earnest appeal for new
navy shows that his spite has some
thing behind it stronger than mere
demagoguism. Thomas. A. Robert
son, fresh from Kentucky, seems tc
be of that indolent disposition which
always characterizes one or two men
in that delegation, but, Judging from
some brief remarks he has made tc
the House, he might prove a bad Gus
toner to trife with in discussion. One
of the best speeches made against the
Fitz John Porter bill, was by Clutch
con, of Michigan, and one of the mos
ratting replies thereto by Laird, o
Nebraska, both being new members
Pennsylvania sends many new mem
bers, who will, no doubt, make sti
before they retire. Mr.. Elliott, tn,
member at large, is one of the young
est members of the House, but he ha
already taken leading position an,
10 ioooS 'AHo', NV oHiy dS dIl aDl
lawyer, but "a strong and brilliant or
ator. Ray, of New York, made
very good speech on the Fitz job
Porter bill, and succeeded in gainin
the attention OF his colleagues on tn
floor after they had once started t
run for the cloak rooms, as is usua
when new member begins to tall
The bill pensioning Mexican vete
rams finally passed the House, a
though it was stated that only 200
of those who fought in Mexico wei
from the Northern States, and that {
Che 10000 from the South 1000
served afterwards in the Confederat
army, so this was in one sense a bi
to pension rebel soldiers. The bi
was passed by large majority, an
the Southern congressman are high
gratifed. They say that, while the
section was suffering from the eilec
Cd the war, when ruined houses ha
not been rebuilt, and when broke
fortunes and blasted lives were mo
common than prosperity and hapr
ness. The Southern people, throus
their agents in Congress, have quie
iy voted to tax all they possess,
might procure, in order tc surroul
the Union soldiers with the eomfol
Of life. This is true. The ssSoutba