Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1884-02-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
[Fron eur regular cerrespsndens.l

JANUARY 25, 1884.
The annals Of Congress during the
past week have not been exciting,
but important work has been &C
complished in both Houses and in
the committees. According to Gus
tom, large number of new or re-
newsd bills were presented on Mon
day. The Fitz John Porter bill is
again the subject of debate and ora
torical drivel in both the House and
the Senate. 1t Is great pity that
this question can not have a final
extra legislative and extra political
settlement. Congress is entirely to
expensive tribunal to try the griev-
ances, whether they be just or ficti-
tious of little general. Besides, a
pollt.co-legislative body is not, from
q common sense of view, compe-
tent court to judge question that
would seem to be OF a purely mill
tary and tactical character. General
Logan is expected to make the great
est effort of his life on the Fitz John
Porter bill this week. When he last
spoke On this subject he drew sub
lime picture of the ship of state toss
ed on the billows Of treason, but
steady and firm because supported
by the pillars of liberty. Logan is
immense as word painter, and con-
sistency Of metaphor troubles him no
more than correctness OF grammar.
The temperance question was dis
cussed in side issue way in the SEN
ate last week. There are two i'm
mense restaurants in the basement
of the Capitol, one under the Senate
and the other under the House. To
these restaurants Senators, Repre-
sentatives and hundreds of visitors
about the Capitol 60 for refresh
mepts. The rules say that no intox-
icating liquors shall be sold in these
restaurants but the rule has been
evaded, Snd the initiated have been
able to get what they wanted in tea
cups under the fiction of tea.
During the discussion Of the new
rules Senator Frye, from Maine, told
a CHASTITY story, to the effect that he
had seen a common laborer in 9
blouse, with breeches in his boots,
drinking bad whisky out Of q COM
mon crockery cup at one Of the Cap
itol restaurants. This was, no doubt
an appalling picture, and enough u
make the bronze Goddess Of Liberty
shudder. But . close analysis ei
| the invective Of the dade-MindeC
young Senator will shcw that ths
scandal and the crime was chiefly il
the blouse and breeches IN the boot:
of the poor workman. The lobbyist.
and pimps, the male Pandors and thu
female Pandoras who have been sup
ported about the Capitol by Senator
Frye's party until they own it. dres.
better than the workmen, bat theJ
are infinitely worse and more hid
eous than blouse, breeches, boots
| and bad whisky.
The new rules of the Senate &
into force this morning, and the Dem
ocratlc Senators are determined Il
take advantage of every means in thei
1 power to secure the enforcement O
the provisions respecting the orde
of business. If rigidly adhered t
to the new rules promise to shorter
the work of the Senate considerably
and make its action more dependen
upon the merits of measure thai
upon the persistence of the Senate
who has it in charge.
The Mexican treaty overshadow
J in Importance all otAer matters no,
before the Senate. and il its friend
choose TO attempt q reccngderatfo
ltf fAe vote Uf fah Frfdk5s the ~ee