News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-07-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
TIL = 1904

4
that has grown from three to sixty
millions of people, not enough inter-
est was taken in the event to call forth
single patriotic demonstration wor-
| thy of being noted, and instead OF
columns of our papers being filled
with accounts of meetings, speeches
and demonstrations, not even a single
telegram tells of show the day was
celebrated"
In Washington the day was as qui-
city spent as an ordinary Sabbath,
except that the "small boy" would
break the peace by firing cracker or
two, and in the evening an occasional
rocket was to be seen. Congress
was in session during the entire day,
the peoples representatives prefer
ring to disregard the observance of
the nations natal day than to miss
being present at the Democratic con-
vention to meet at Chicago on the
Sth inst.
Practically, the work of the pres
ent session of Congress ended on or
about June so, and no new legislation
has been attempted; all that has
been done since that time has been to
reconcile the differences between the
two Houses on the several appropri-
alton bills. While this is the case,
to-day at 3 o'clock the first session of
the 4Sth Congress adjourned, and the
most important measure passed by
the Senate failed on account of the
Democratic obstruction in the House,
viz: that, for the completion of the
monitors and the building of the new
cruisers for the navy.
The 4Sth Congress thus far has
been characterized by great preten-
tons and no work. 1t has been run
BY noise and wind. In the seven
months and four days that this Con-
gress was in session, 1855 bills and
Joint resolutions were introduced,
while only 173 were passed and be-
came laws. and among them the only
ones worthy Of mention are bills to
reduce the rate of postage on news
paper and periodical publications OF
the second class to one cent for each
four ounces; to extend the duration
of the court of commissioners of AL
ALBANIA claims, until December, 1885 ;
to grant fifteen days leave of absence
with pay, in each year, to letter car
riers; to authorize the Secretary of
War to offer a reward of $4,000 for
the rescue of the Greeley Arctic ex-
ploring party; to establish bureau
of labor statistics; to remove certain
burdens from the American merchant
marine, commonly known as the
Dingley shipping bill to establish a
bureau of animal industry; to author
ize the fitting out an expedition for
the relief of Lieut.. Greeley and party
in the Arctic seas; to relieve from
the charge of desertion certain SOL
diers of the late war; to recognize
the corps of judge advocates of the
army; to establish bureau of navi-
CATION to the treasury department.
The other bills passed were gener-
ally of private character and did
not interest the general public. The
bills of Importance to the general
public could have been matured and
passed in two weeks by Congress
possessed of ordinary industry.
To show the reliability, or unrelia-
bility of political Information received
through members of Congress, your
correspondent has only to state that
during the present week he has been
assured by different gentlemen of the
national legislature, on the "ground
floor" of Mr.. Tilden's confidence that
be would, at the proper time, ''come
out for Flower" certainly throw his
influence in favor of Randall" 'pro-
nounce emphatically for Cleveland, "
and advocate the nomination of
Payne" These varied statements
make it evident that Tom Ochiltree,
of Texas, is not the only big liar in
Congress.
The veto of the Fitz John Porter
bill has ceased to be talked about in
Washington. The ground taken by
the President in refusing his signature
to the measure was such as to remove
the question from the domain of SEN
sation. He held the bill to be uncon-
stitutional-that Congress has not
the power to annul the decision of a
court of last resort, or to appoint by
name an officer to an Office which it.
self creates and good constitutional
lawyers here, of both political par
ties, declare that the Presidents views
on these questions are sound.
The anti-Chinese bill has become a
law. The Senate passed the measure
the middle of last week by vote of
forty-three to twelve; and the Cali
fornia people are happy.
The bill to legalize the incorpora-
ton of trades unions was favorably
reported in the Senate by Mr.. Blair,
from the committee on Education and
Labor, on Thursday last.
The public debt was reduced to the
amount of nine millions of dollars
during the month of June. For the
fiscal year ending June 80, the reduc-
ton was one hundred and one mil
lions, which is thirty-six millions less
than the reduction of the previous
year.
The campaign in Maine will open
early in August, and be prosecuted
with the utmost yigor Or the part of
the Republicans until the election in
September. A large number. of Re-
publican Congressman will take part
in the canvass. Mr.. Blaine's friends
want to get $4,000 majority for the
ticket at the State election.
There is no United States Senator
so little affected with buncombism as
John Sherman-''Honest john" as
he is commonly called nowadays
and there are few that are thus less
affected than Daniel W. Voorhees,, of
Indiana.
A couple of months ago the free
trade Democrats, thinking that they
were in full possession and control of
their party, talked of reading Randall
and his followers out. To-day the
Randall faction seems TO be the big
gest half of the party by all odds,
and to be effectively engaged in whip
ping the Carlisle Morrison following,
into the traces of protection. Thus
do the times change and politicians
change with them. Gu.
The Republican candidate is a
Strong nrnfecfinnist in mhinh rna,nnnt