Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-12-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
TspEcIAI CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MONITOR.
Washington, December 22d.


Before adjourning for the holiday
recess, Congress did square weeks
work, the only one it has done since
the opening of the session. The senate
accepted Dakota's plea for Statehood,
by majority of ten; discussed ma
val appropriations gave an hours
attention to Indiana lands; confirm
ed presidential nominations heard
speeches on the silver question from
Senators Beck and Sherman and
talked in secret session about the
propriety of opening its doors TO
the public when it the discussion of
Spanish treaty. New bills poured
into both ends of the Capitol, which
had to be read over and referred to ap-
preparation committees. Both houses
debated the Interstate commerce
bill the lower house voted to estab-
lish department of agriculture,
which makes a cabinet officer of the
commissioner of agriculture pension
bills were disposed of, and both leg
islative bodies adjourned, to rest
| from their labors until Wednesday.
They will then meet to adjourn for
two weeks.
AS regularly as the holiday season
comes, Congress euacts the same lit
tie farce over the Christmas recess.
At first it is to be just one week
then Members reluctantly consent TO
| afew days more. Next the luxur-
ious senate insists on two weeks. To
this the reformers in the house OBJ
ject, but they are overruled, and
finally, the long recess is voted for.
The contest in the house of repre-
senatives over the passage of the
Reagan Interstate commerce bill
still drags its weary length along.
The measure has been obstructod by
various amendments. The chief dis
turbing element in this weeks debate
was the drawing of the color line.
The unforeseen dilemma arose by the
proposal of an amendment, made by
a colored congressman from North
Carolina, providing that railroads
shall carry passengers from one state
ito another without discrimination of
color, if they have paid the same
fare. A stormy debate followed.
Filibustering tactics were resorted to
by some Republicans under the man.
agement of Representatives Reed,
Keiffer, and Horr, and the opposition
afterwards gained two recruits, one
Democrat, Hon. Ahram Hewitt, and
one Republican, Hon. William Wal
ter Phelps. The latter made a
| speech which attracted good deal
of remark, by his bold announcement.
that no regard would be paid by the
railroads to the provisions of the bill
if it became law.
On Friday, when the bill was cal
led up, question of order arose,
and for a time disorder supreme
reigned in its stead. Half the mem
bers were on their feet for an hour try
ing to gettbe attention of the speaker.
. No one seemed to have a right to
speak or to know how to solve the
parliamentary puzzle. One motion
after was made, but some fatal point
of order brought the mover to con-
, fusion. At times three or -four
E members were making speeches al
, the Same moment when the chair
drowned their voices with his gavel
, The afternoon wore away, and the
I body adjourned weary with It's idle.
p ness. Speaker Carlisle said the situa.
ton was unprecedented, and as the
9 most experienced parliamentarian:
f could see no way out of the snare
v he submitted the question of order t.
a the house for decision.
T The work of preparing for the in
9 auguration is now fully under way
q The members of the various sub
committees have been chosen witt
care, and every thing points to har
: mony of action and good manage
ment in the details of the Inaugural
cerimonies A committee on Publ
i Comfort has been appointed, whicI
will furnish information in refereuc
to the accumulation of visiters. Stran
gels, who are not familiar with tn
city, will appreciate this convenience
Those who do not have plethori
purses, or do not care for expensiv
quarters, can be told just where to &C
- Anyone can get comfortable boar
= and lodging in Washington for on
- dollar per day (unless his ideas {
comfort are Epicurian OF Sybaritish.
If one wishes to pay more he can
~ gratiied. Hotel charges vary fro
: three to eight dollars day accordin
to the location and furnishing of II
rooms.
There is also committee on tral
sportation, to secure cheap rates
travel to the city and to procure al
'is furnish information in regard to
~ A small force of typewriters and clerl
g are already at work handling the &C
u dependence that has begun to con
ci in.
es, In all there are eight hundr
rs, names on the different committee
IN That on Reception, consists of t
chief justice and associate just
de- of the supreme conrt, the chief il
~. tice and judges of the court of clail
les the chief justice and judges of t
ne, supreme court of the District of G.