The Ottawa free trader., 1884-07-19
Washington Letter.


The halls Of congress are given up
again 10 dust and desOlation, A few at.
tcndants are going the rounds, clearing the
desks Of members Of their rubbish; and
piles OF bills, speeches. reports and crump,
led manuscripts are scattered about the
floors, awaiting CONSIGNMENT 10 the Junk
shops, The janitors are putting double
locks on the doors, and nearly all the
rooms are deserted The Presidents room
has been stripped Of its rich draperes
which have been packed away securely
from moths. The enrolling clerks, journal
clerks and the clerk Of the house appro.
priatOns committee have been the hardest
worked clerks of the session and are now
arranging papers, which will detain them
several weeks yet.
The general public does not regret the
close Of a session Of congress, but the resi-
diets Of the District of Columbia have
never known too long "A session The de.
parting statesmen are always sure of a
cordial welcome on their return to the capt
tai city.
But little enthusiasm or excitement
marked the closing of congress, although
the senate and house, in determined
struggle, locked horns for a thirty-six
hours session before an agreement was
reached on the Naval Bill And the Rep
resentatives Cox and Reed ran against each
other and had some unkind words of part.
ing, an episode which the gentlemen from
New York and Maine at least, will remem.
ber the remainder of their lives.
Congress has created quite number of
new officials, Besides the commission to
secure more intimate relations between
this country and Central and South Ameri.
ca, "A bureau Of animal industry, another Of
labor statistics, bureau Of navigation and
Il commission TO inquire into the signal
service and coast survey, have been estab
lished The latter is the only body to con.
sist of congressman, The new legislative
bill provides for three additional watch
men in the state, war and navy department
building, and seven hundred applications
have already been filed for the positions.
During the past session Of congress the
President approved three hundred and sew
enty bills, and vetoed one, the Fitz John
Porter bill Five other measures, passed
during the last ten days Of the session,
failed to become laws by reason of the
Withholding of the executive approval.
They were all private relief bills.
Those who have watched congress have
noticed the importance into which confer
ence committees have grown The fashion
now is for each house to disagree to all
amendments coming from the other, and
refer the points in dispute to committee
composed of three members of either
house These six congressman can change
the bill as they choose for the most part,
and their work is generally ratified with.
out much objection. The custom has
grown popular because of the difficulty Of
getting the houses in free and open debate
to agree to anything. The device greatly
increases the responsibilities of the presi
dent of the senate and speaker, as they
have to select all the conference commit
tees.
The latest governmental fraud that has
come to light here is the stamp theft of
the postoilice department. An official was
charged with having stolen 25,O0O postage
stamps which were found in his house.
The Republicans have determined if posi-.
BILE to prevent disclosures of frauds during
the canvass. Since Senator Hale's com
mittee got to work in secret, and Secretary
Chandlers court of inquiry began Its ses.
sions with closed doors, nothing has been
heard of the frauds which filled the air "A
few weeks ago, The senator from Maine
has created the impression that he moved
10 the front as an investigator in order to
prevent exposures which might prove hurt
full to Mr. Blaine.
Among the statesmen still lingering in
Washington the chief topic of comment of
course is the Democratic presidential
ticket. 1t is pronounced emi nently ac-
ccptable and wise to such men rs 5. 5.
Cox, of New York, Holman of Indiana,
Senators Vest and Cockrell, of Missouri,
and Garland, of Arkansas The platform,
they say, is one of the finest upon which
the party ever entered on a campaign, be-
ing in its entirety code of tirstclass
Democratic and progressive thought.