The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-02-02
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

The weeks work in Congress is so Vef-
satile IN character that it cannot be easily
epitomized. Committee reports have
come in rapid succession. There has been
no lack of new and important measures
After discussing the matter lenSthily,
both Houses passed a bill for the lifting
out of an expedition TO the Arctic regions,
for the relief of the Greeley party The
House made decisive demonstrations in
favor of anti-railroad legislation, repealed
the iron-clad oath of office, and devoted
two days to debate on the perennial theme,
the relief of ex.Genernl Porter, Messrs
Bayne, Ray, and Toilet advocated Gen.
Porter's claim, and Messrs Keller,
Thomas, and Taylor opposed it. There
were some lively and amusing scenes,
puzzling questions, ard sharp retorts
during the discussion. Gen. Porter again
sat in the gallery, looking worn, grim
and impassive.
The Senate transacted executive bust
ness. and provided thoroughly for posi-
bic contingencies in the passage of Mr.
Hoar's Presidential succession bill. In case
of the death, removal, resignation, or
inability of the President and Vice Presi-
dent, the bill vests the executive duties,
first in the Secretary of State, or if he be
in any way ineligible, then in the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, or in case of the
ineligibility of that officer, in the Secre-
tary of War; and so successfully in the
Attorney General, Postmaster General,
Secretary of the Navy, and OF the Inter
ior. The bill is to apply only to officers
made by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate. Senator Sherman made
move in the right direction in offering
resolution for an investigation of the
Danville Va, and Copaih county. Miss,
political massacres. The facts connected
with those horrors should be given to the
country by an authority whose truth and
fairness cannot be questioned, and moth
ing but a congressional committee of
inquiry will fully depict those out bursts
of bourbonism.
Legislation has good chance Of being
made more expensive through move
made in the Senate during the week.
This was the adoption Of a resolution, by
vote of thirty-fiye to nineteen, providing
that every Senator, not chairman Of
committee may employ private Secre-
tary during the Congressional session, at
six dollars per day, the expense to be
paid out Of the contingent fund. Thirty
five Senators will be benefited by the
measure, Forty-one are chairmen, and
are therefore already supplied with
clerks. The idea has long had many
advocates among the gentlemen Of the
Upper House, who claim that the de-
mands from correspondence and other
causes upon their time, and strength is
too onerous. Then it would furnish
another convenient outlet for the Treas
ury surplus, and If the House should
succeed in passing similar provision for
the members of that body, about four
hundred more Government clerks would
be added to the roll at yearly expense
of several hundred thousand dollars.
Representatives are already claiming that
they are, coastitutionally, as much emit
tied to such services at public expense as
Senators. Mr.. Belford of Colorado, who
never omits an opportunity to advocate
the unlocking of the Treasury vaults
says he has a hundred letters to answer
every day, and that it takes his entire
salary to pay his clerk hire.
A bill that the people will heartily
approve, being in the nature of an educa-
tional measure, was offered by Senator
Blair of New Hamshire, for the free cir
culation of newspapers and other period
ical publications within the State where
published. The Post-office department
would not suffer material impairment of
its revenues by free distribution of
knowledge, and in certain sense would
be a protective measure, for tho encour-
agement of home industry without anita
gonizing revenue reform. 1t is not likely
there will be any objection to its passage.
The latest matrimonial sensation in
Washington was the marriage of the
noted Fred Douglass, the colored orator
and politician, 10 white woman, Miss
Pitts, formerly of Troy, New York. The
bride groom was widower, sixty-seven
years old, and is the District Recorder Of
Deeds. The bride was spinster, forty.
six years of age, and had been employed
as copyist in Mr.. Douglass office, and
has also been connected with the Woman
Suffrage movement.