The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-12-13

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 1854.
The first week of the second session OF
the forty-eight Congress passed without
exciting any memorable incident. Fresl-
dent Arthur's last message was received
and read. Marshall Wright of OHIO was
impeached in connection with the I'm
cinnati October election, and an investiga-
ton of the matter agreed upon. New
bills were offered, and discussion on
the Interstate Commerce bill ran for sew
eral days. After four daily sittings, Con-
gress grew weary, and rested from It's
labors Monday.
But the chief interest centcrs in the |
political rather than in the legislative
outlook. Just now, the filling of two |
seats in the United States Senate, one |
from each of the great States of New |
York and Pennsylvania, is exciting atten-
ton. Senator Cameron will probably be |
returned from the latter State now that
his health is better, but what the compli-
Gated situation in New York may
develop cannot be predicted. President
Arthur would like the seat, but
of course his present position forbids
him from active or personal candidacy.
For several days number of his promi-
nent New York friends have been guests
at the White House, and part of each
day in conference with Mr.. Arthur. 1t
is understood, that he is not willing to
go into scramble for the Senatorship,
nor to have his name mentioned as the
candidate of faction. Consequently he
has not decided what course to advise his
friends to pursue. Andy johnson, you
remember, went to the Senate after the
expiration of his Presidential term, and
should Mr. Arthur do the same there
would be the strange coincidence of two
ex-Presidential Senators, both of whom
attained the Presidency through the acct
dent of assassination.
They seems -lGau e an unusual desire 7
among congressman who will not return
next year that this shall be an active ses-
sion, and each is determined to push for
ward his favorite measure. 1t is not
known yet that any tariff legislation will
be attempted. Mr. Holman of Indiana,
thinks that the tariff could be destroyed
gradually by series of attacks, each di-
rected against single detail of the sys-
TEN. The feeling in the House in favor
of free sugar, or, as Senator Vance would |
say, free "sweetin'" has been gaining |
strength for several years, and the session
is not likely to end without an effort to |
remove or greatly reduce the duty on
that commodity. On the Republican
side of the House there is an Overwhelm- |
ing majority in favor of repeal of sugar
duties A northern Democrat said Mon
day that the people of the United States
had been chained long enough to sugar
planters, and that it would be better
economy to send them all to New York
and to pay their board at first-class
hotel than to continue the present policy.
Among the bills into the Senate during
the past week, was one suggested in the
Presidents message, to give Gen. Grant
a pension of 5000 year for life, to date
from March the 4th, 1877 The General
has written letter refusing to accept the
| pension. 49, - =
Congressman Robinson of New York,
who is noted for his attacks ON foreign
princes, potentates and powers, offered in
the House II resolution providing for II
return to the simplicity of Jeifersonan
inauguration. 1t prohibits the erection
of triumphal arches, and the display of
bayonets in Washington on Inauguration
day, and provides that only the Chief
Justice shall accompany the President
elect, on foot, or in u plain carriage,
drawn by not more than two horses, and
without decorations or livery, to the Cap
itol. Mr.. Rnbinson's political life ends
on the 18th of next March, and ii has
been mkindly limited that this is the
reason why he thinks Il flourish of trum-
pets or iubilation on the 18th, unsuitable
to his state of mind.
At last the Washington Monument has
been capstOned and apeXed. On Satur-
day, ut Il height of 800 feet above the
base, in drenChing rain storm, these last
touches were given to the highest
structure of human hands. When it was
finished, the Star Spangled Banner was
unfurled at the summit, at II point still
80 feet higher up, and Il battery close by
Numbered in response. That was all.
Imposing demonstrations have been re-
served until the 22nd of February