, 1884-02-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Corr espondent.


WARRINGTON, February IL, 1884.
There were lively times at the CAPT.
toll during the past week. A spirit OF
decided animation seemed to have been
infused into both branches Of the ma
tional legislature. In the early part of
the week. Mr.. Morrison introduced his
much mooted tariff scheme in the
house. But in this he had the field all
to himself, as MI. Converse had de-
cided, after mature elaboration, not to
introduce his counter-resolution upon
the product of the shorn lamb that at
ternoon, but ome other afternoon. This
had the effect Of dampening the ardor
Of Mr.. Hurd, who thereupon kept his
peace also, SO that complete order
reigned in the tariff camp. Then the
lower house resolved itself into a de-
batting society on the rules, every mem
Der having a chance to enter and cham
pion his pet hobby, while Mr.. Randall
stood like legislative Sulli-
van, knocking out" In one
round Of three minutes, each
of the amateur parliamentarians in
turn. The report from Mr.. Randall's
committee on rules provided hat the
rules Of the house Of the forty-sixth
congress, as amended by the present
house. shall be the rules for the forty
eighth congress until further ordered.
But about fourteen amendments we're
thereupoa submitted, nearly all of
which were opposed by Mr.. Randall,
and suffered defeat. Mr.. Anderson's
amendment %forbidding the floor to ex-
members who used their privilege of
admission for lobbying purposes was
lost, but Mr.. Cox, with his usual tact
and good luck, carried the Ehouse with
him on hismotion TO continue the census
committee. Mr.. Bedford and ''Calami-
ty" Weller entertained the members by
their observations, the former in favor
of his amendment providing for a
clerk for each member Of congress not
the chairman Of a committee, and the
latter by a vehement speech attacking
the national bank system. Mr.. Reed
also talked right out in meeting" and
gave the house and the country some
needed facts on the inability of congress
to cope with the business Of legislation
under Its present rules Of procedure.
He claimed that congress does not
reach eight per cent Of its business.
In the last congress, out of q total of
ten thousand bills and resolutions in
PRODUCED, only three hundred were
passed. But the physical impossi-
bility," as claimed, for congress to
deal will more than a small fraction
of its business might be materially less
ened by giving a greater Measure of
gress is in session less than one-half of
the time, and when in session gives it.
self many holidays. Except at the end
Of the session. Saturday is always a
holiday, and Friday generally so; and
fourteen out of t%wenty-four months are
spent in vacations.
The house also managed to spoil all
prospects for q picnic to mingle indig-
nation and pleasure by a refusal to au-
thorize an investigation committee to
visit the Arkansas Hot Springs TO over
haul the wicked contractors and TO en-
JOY the reviyifying baths.s But the APP
pointment Of General Boynton's COM
mittee to investigate e~x-Speaker Kiefer
which was made by Speaker Carlisle,
SAVIOR OF a decided picnic, and 1t is re-
ported that Boynton will conduct his
own case before the committee and
personally examine Keifer.
The bill providing for a new congress
sional library has been made the special
order In the senate for next Tuesday,
and there Is reason now to hope that
the effort to provide the congressional
library with suitable accommodations
will not much longer be frustrated.
The library is growing steadily year by
year. Twelve months ago it mum bered
tOO, WV NOluLlCo II 1OO, WV Pnul-
phlets. 1t now contains 513. AL books
and 1875, 600 pamphlets, not half Of
which can be made available for want of
proper space. One has only to enter the
rooms to be given 1.-THE ocular prootr
OF the great need OF larger accommoda-
lions. The total ultimate cost OF the
proposed new buildings will be SO, 1862,
600, and 1t will accommodate 3, 900,
900 books.
Fred Douglass, the eminent colored
orator, is having the truth OF the old
adage impressed upon him, that the
course Of true love never runs smooth.
His chromatic matrimonial venture has
caused much family unpleasantness,
and now his ex~-housekeeper proposes to
sue for SO, 900 for services. He is said
now to have a fortune OF 5000, 900, the
foundation Of which was laid by u Miss
Griffith, an English abolition enthus-
~iastic, who entered his family as a
member OF 1t, bought him a house, and
set him up as the proprietor Of 4 news
paper In Rochester, just after he had
secured his freedom.
We have had an %inundation from the
Mississippi river in the shape OF a con-
v~ention composed Of delegates from the
states bordering on the Father of
Waters" They came to discuss plans
for improvement of their river and to