Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-25
LETHARGY OF LEGISLATORS.
The House Not Likely to Get Down
TO Work
UNTIL AFTER THE HOLIDAY SEASON
Reagan, of Texas, and His Little Bill---The
WrangIe Over McCuIlOch---The
Claims of the South on
Cleveland.
A LITTLE STORY WITH A MORAL.
Special 20 the Register.

WASHINGTON, December Z3.-lhe ietn
argy of Congressional recess has faller
upon this city, although the nominal ad
journment will not take place. The mem
bers of the House never get down to sole
work before the holidays, but this year the!
have been more indolent than ever before
Regan, of Texas, has been the main figure
in the lower House up to the present time
as his bill has been the prime subject Of
consideration. He is not a Texan oi
the typical sort at all, but
pretty old gentleman of aldermauic ap
pearance, who might as well have come
from state OF civilization, so far as hi
dress and manner indicate bis origin. HI
is very powerful withal and has not a riva
in engineering through the House bill il
which he is interested Thoroughly familiar
with the subject under consideration for the
past two weeks, and ready at all times tc
explain the bearing ofany provision in the
somewhat complications OF proposed Law
which is
without n Precedent
in the history of federal legislation, Mr.
Reagan has shown himself, at the same
time, anything but an acute parliamenta
rian and has elected something like ex
pressions Of contempt from Sam Randall
aud from Sunset Cox who, without the
ability Of the Pennsylvauian, has had 8
great deal of experience, and imaglneS
that he combines with ready humor tbs
ability to cope with giants in debate.
The curious spectacle was presented or
the 18th inst, of o man flibustering against
his own bill, in the attitude of Reagan on
his substitute He claims that the whole
Republican minority has entered into a
conspiracy to defeat the bill for the benefit
of the monopolies whose interests are in
volved by attaching thereto certain objec
tionable amendments like the one pre-
sented By Mr.. O'Hara and flibustering tao
tics we're necessary to prevent the adoption
of these amendments. 1t has became very
questionable whether the bill has even as
much chance in the Senate, as amended, as
it had in its original form, which was al
beast very meagre one.
Tie holding OF the nomination of Nc
Culloch as Secretary OF the Treasury in the
Senate, without confirmation, were not al
all due to doubt as to his personal ability
but for the reason that his
Views on the Tariff
are diametically opposed to those held BY
his own party which have majority in the
Senate. Certainly it IS rather anomalous
to see Republican Secretary OF the Treas
ury advocating q revenue tariff so soon alter
the party has made square up and down
fight for protection. McColloch, as some
one has expressed it, Is nice old man.
He began life in Washington as a newSpa
per correspondent and during the exciting
session of lS32--33 he was sending regular
dispatches to Boston paper. But now hi
long and active connection with the DE
partment seems to have made OF him no
a practical man but theorist Of the mos
impracticablc description. For no matter
what might be the intrinsic value OF hi:
suggestions any consistent political thinker
would have recognized at once the impolicy
Of making them from headquarters IN the
Treasur, Department. Even Democrats
laugh at the attitude which he has taker
while they opposed the sentiment expressed
The Brigadiers who wore the gray are
prepared to prove to the satisfaction OF
the new President that they have
Stronger Claims Upon Him
than any of his Northern supporters, anc
they do not propose to give up. There wa
time when the South claimed that thu
mcreenary politician was an unknown facto
in its affairs. That time has gone by, fol
the simple reason that the Southern State;
are poorer than they were, aud that the
have ceased to be controlled By men o
leisure who can afford to devote their live;
to he study of political questions, and t
the pursuit Of honorable political advance
ment. Nearly AL the Southerner
who do this now, are obliged to make thej
living as they 90 along and to do that the,
must have places with responsible incomes
for your average Southerner isnot a man VIII
can live on bread and water, There is
very general sentiment in Washington tha
the anxiety for local offices will do more t
break up the solidity of the South than an.
thing else. For every appointment mad
there will be az least ten disappointed appl
cants ready to knife the party organization
that has shown ipgratitude By tailinI
to recognize their individual rights. Th
! same thing has operated in the n ort
oroTTr St the Republican party. 1t will, o
cou-se SsYe the same effect upon an.
PIT II is hard to tell just what the busines
men of the metropolis expect Mr.. Cleyeian
to do that will
Bring Disaster to Their Doors,
but it is certain that they are looking wit
a great deal OF confidence for 8 biac
Friday epoch in the financial world, VINE
shall extend its shadow over considerab
term of years. l had a conversation
the other day with New 1orI
Democratic Congressman which place'
this fact before my eyes In (
light far more startling than any IL
| which had looked upon it before. Th
Speaker is one of the wealthiest members o
the present House, is loyal adherent OF tn
Democratic party and has business relation
that make his opinion a valuable one. w
we're chatting over our cigars in his com
Portable rooms at the Arlington and he sur
prised me BY predicting heavy fall in rent
and real estate values, within the next tire
years. | asked his reasons and he saiC
there was no reason, except that rents ha'
been too high and were bound to fall. Ii
answer to question whether he had seer
any evidence that the decrease in rent sate
had already begun, the Congressman re
sponded; go
Personally, have not; but will tel
you VAN,
that comes to me very well authenticate
and which, in fact, / have no reason t
doubt. There is firm over on Broadway
in New York city, controlled BY one man
who has been paving $50, 900 per year foz
building which is located, as you newspape
men say, not one hundred miles from Cana
street, and belongs to the Astor estate.
"well, the agent of that estate called o
the head of the firm about two weeks sg
and asked him what he expected to do 70
the next year, casually reminding him tbs
his FIVE year lease at $50, 900 would expir
this year. The lessee chaffed for some tim
with the AGENT, telling him that rents wer