St. Landry democrat., 1884-07-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
June Gath, 1884.


The past week in Congress will not
go down to history marked by any great
Legislative results, but, nevertheless, il
4Eas an interesting one, and an eventful
one, as weeks in Congress go.
First, Senator Ingalls, of Kansas, and
Brown of Georgia, furnished a sensation
3Dy indulging in a bitter quarrel, which,
Internationally, lasted for two days.
Then the Mexican Pension bill got all
mixed up with politics in the Senate and
still hangs there. A pusilanimous at
tempt was made by the Republicans to
Investigate, as a lobybist ex-Member
English, father of the member who re-
GENTLY took possession of Mr.. Peeles
fraudulent seat. The Anti-Polygamy
EJiIl came triumphantly through the
Upper House, but too late perhaps to be
acted on this session at the other end of
6IEe Capitol. There was some sharply
seasoned debate on the measure. Sena-
60r Brown opposed it on the ground
that some other States, Massachusetts
Gor instance were as wicked as Utah.
Then the majority in the House took
pleasure in rendering tardy justice to
the Democratic opponent, in the Ohio
contested election case of Campbell vs..
M0rey. In advocating the claim of the
datter Representative, Miller of Penn,
-disclaimed all partisan, and sectional
Droclivities, and made speech sugges-
itfve of valedictory. He said at the
outset he did not expect a hearing, or to
change the mind of a single individual.
Every man had already decided how he
Would vote, and it was an unpleasant
tanty to address jury which he knew
would give verdict against his views.
Still he would make no complaint
against the elections committee of the
Forty Eighth Congress. 1t had in the
main been just and fair. He, as Mem,
aBer of it had made some mistakes. He
fad done some things, which he did not
aSelieve he would do again. He had
goted to turn out a Southern Member
wllo, lie afterwards learned, was one OF
the best, and purest, and most upright
,aaaan living. Some of his most pleasant
memories of this session we're connected
wfth the Elections committee room, and
continued the speaker Il shall love the
State of North Carolina and her people
better, for having known her kind, ge-
nial, even tempered Representative,
Mr.. Bennett" But Mr.. Miller found
fault with the system of deciding cleo
zion cases, and complained that they
we're not treated deliberately and judi
43iously.
Speaking of Pensions and Politics,
the Republican Senators permitted par
Gy tactics to get away with their interest
En the Mexican veterans. They agreed,
in caucus to tack the bill, an amend
aaent reviving the arrearages act for
Union soldiers, hoping to make Of it
political capital. They expected the
Democrats to oppose and defeat it, and
tEhus give ground for the charge that the
Democracy is unfriendly to the Union
soldier. 1t was the purpose Of the Re-
publican Senators to kill the bill in the
sneanest possible manner, but this no
s4ion, offered only for trap, will be vot
ed for by some Of the Democrats, and
l1he Republicans will be responsible for
,Gflis raid on the Treasury of nearly |
$500. 600, 900.
The recent exposure Of Department
frauds caused quite a commotion in
Washington, where the parties are well
Known, especially those in the Navy
Department. Five arrests were made
aast week for embezzlementb by Repdbli-
can Government officials, and more ar
rests are expected this week.
As i sit by my window writing at Il
o'clock p. IT., I see the glare of calcium
sights around the residence of Gen. Lo-
gan, which is but tive squares distant,
and hear the music, cheers, and shouts,
OF the crowd mostly colored. The Re
Dubfican Vice Presidential candidate is
Che recipient of a serenade.
1t is gossiped il society here by those
wlo remember the exclusiveness that
prevailed at the White House during
the early weeks of the Garfield admin
ss4ration, and suggested as all believed
5T Mrs. Blaine, that she would thor
ongily carry out those plans if her hus-
band were elected President. She once
aaids The people, should be made to
esteem it a privilege to be permitted to !
% TO the White House, When her re-
mark was repeated to the Governor of
: Western State, he inquired if the peo-