The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-12-06
Things At The Capital.


WASHINGTON, Dec. |, 1851.
The National flag was run up to-day at
noon ON both the House and Senate ends
of the Capitol. There was the usual
opening day crowd at the Capitol, and u
fair attendance of Senators and Represen-
tatives, Many, however, failed to answer
to their names at roll call, but each ar
irving train is bringing them in.
Long before the noon hour members
and Senators gathered in the respective
halls, exchanged greetings and congratu-
lations until the gavel called them to
order. All could not be congratulated,
however, for all were not of the re-elect.
Visitors crowded the galleries, and look
ed down with much interest on the fam
iliar faces of legislators, and tried to read
i'll them the triumphs or defeats of the
summer campaign. The gallery gods" are
critical if not profound, and they observ-
ed that the Speaker of the House had
| healthier glow in his imperturablc tariff
for revenue face; that Mr.. Dorsheimcrs
enormous shadow had not grown less :;
! that the waggish Mr.. Horr had "lifc-is-
not-worth-living" expression; that Mr..
Randall had u far-oh-Ca
gaze; and that the senior Senator from
Kansas was as faultlesSly clothed as usual.
The Members and Senators from the
sold sunny South have cOmplacency
and happiness of expression that pusseth
understanding. Northern and Western
Democrats are cheerful, but the Southern
wing is beatific. On the Republican side
of the House depression is plainly visible
and some faces tell that "Their star has
gone down in the darkness of night, and
hope from their bosom has fled"
Barring Sundays and the usual holiday
recess, but seventy days of working life
remain to the FOrty-Eighth Congress-
brief period, indeed, when it is remem-
bered that most of the work begun last
session remains unfinished, and that
many important measures which have
been maturely considered in one of the
two Houses wait the action of the co-or-
dinate branch.
Situated as Congress is, there can be
| no partisan legislation, nor can there be
any very sweeping reforms effected in
the Appropriation bills; but there will
| be long debates over numerous provis-
ions i'll most of these bills, and it is prob
able that they will occupy much more
| than half the days of the session.
The Mcpherson National Banking bill,
/ the steel cruisers, the Blair Educational
bill, the Utah bill, the National Bank
ruptcy bill, the Interstate Commerce
| bill, and Il number of land-grant forfeit
ures, whole battalions of public buildings
and many other measures will struggle
for precedence, and some of them may
get through, but the chances are that
nearly all of them will die ut high noon
on the 18th of March, subject to rcsurrcC-
| ton in the next Congress.
Avigorous effort will also be made by
the friends of the Congressional Library
bill to secure its passage by the House in
substantially the same shape in which it
came from the Senate. 1t is legislation
of the most meritorious character and in
the interest not only of valuable prop
erty, which is rapidly augmenting in
value, but of the national honor and
sound public policy, the wants of the Ii
brary should he promptly and pcrma-
nently provided for.
The hotel corridors are filled with
members of Congress and prominent men
from all parts of the country. Many dis
tinguished persons not in active political
or official life will be here this winter
| There will be u marked increase in the
better Southern element Mr.. Blaine
will live in ex-Secrctary WINDOWS house
on Scott Circle. 1t is conjccturcd by
some, that the family will open social
headquarters there, and entertain largely.
Thus there will be three factions in
Washington society this winter-the
powers that be, the powers that are going
to be, and the powers that only failed to
be by an almost inappreciated plurality.
Between the first two the most friendly
relations may exist, but between the
friends of President Arthur and Mr..
Blaine there can be no more than ccre-
monious Interchange of civilitics, if that.