The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-02-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsnINGroN. Jan. 26. 1881

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 1884.
Congress must be commended for
industry again this week. 1t has
done various important work. The
House of course is the more inter
esting end OF the Capitol at present
time. and among the first items on
its record is the repeal of the iron
clad oath, relic of war legislation.
The action was proposed by Mr.. Cox
of New York, 1t was passed by a
practically unanimous vote, and 1t is
probable Congressman will all swear
alike at the opening of the next ses
sion.
The House passed, by what was
substantially a unanimous vote,
there being but eighteen dissentauts
Mr.. Holmans resolutions regarding
land grants. The unearned land
grants shall be declared forfeited. TO
these was added declaration that all
laws facilitating speculation in public
lands. or their accumulation lnlarg-
ed. and every effort made to secure
as many freeholders as possible for
agricultural land.
Another notable move was an at
tempt 20 reduce the swarm of lobby
lists that infests the floor of the House
under the title of ex-members OF
Congress. Rule thirty four of the
House admits to privileges of the
floor ex-members who are not inter
ested in any claim or directly in any
bill pending before Congress. This
puts the ex-member Oh his honor,
and experience proves, sad to say,
that the honor OF an eX. Congressman
turned lobbiest is not to be trusted.
1t is even alleged that men have
sought an election to Congress for
the sake ofthe superior footing which
a brief service in the House would
subsequently giyethem as attorneys
for claims, claimants, and special
interests. Nh. Anderson of Kansas,
offered this bill, and it provides for
a formal declaration by the ex.mem-
Der of his freedom from lobbying
schemes before the Speaker can issue
him 2 pass to the floor.
Another severe blow to pension
claim agents was dealt by Mr.. Nor
gan of Missouri in a bill to prohibit
the collection of any par; of their
ten dollar fee bsfore the final settle
ment of the claim. Recent expos
ure of the methods have seriously
curtailed their business and if this
provision becomes law it will EN-
barrass them still further. Under
existing regulations, many dishonest
claim agents contriye TO get their fee
in anvance and then let the claim
take care Of itself.
Among number of measures on
the calendar that were disposed of
by the House was a bill passed for
the relief of Lieut.. Greelys' Arctic
expedition, the amount Of money to
be expended being left to the discre-
tion of the President. Committees
discussed banking and currency,
pensions, railroad grants, territories.
interstate commerce. and the pork
question.
The Mexican treaty, which the
Senate failed to ratify last Friday
came up again briefly, by a PROPOSE
ton from Senator Van Wyck, that
any further consideration Of the sub
iect be had in open session, on the
ground that the people had a right
to know all about the business trans
acted in Congress, and that secret
sessions for treaties was an old fOgy
idea. This created quite flutter of
disapprobation, and the Kanass Sem
ator was compelled to Withdraw his
appeal. The time for ratification of
the treaty has been extended to Nav
and the matter will be thoroughly
discussed in the meantime. In spite
of the mealy mouthed peace makers
the differences in the democratic
party are daily becoming more pro-
nounced. The majority of the ways
and means committee insist that the
democrats n ust put themselves on
record as taverlng a general rsduc-
ton of tariff. The democratic pro-
tectlonists insist that the tariff must
he let alone. On the eve ui a presi-
Dental struggle, ofcourse the demo-
Gratis of all shades of tariff opinion
will endeavor to avoid contention.
In a convention where words only
are necessary, it will be easy to con
struct a platform that will suit both
wings. But acts will speak. and that
is the democratic difficulty. The
fact cannot be lodged that the
party Is in two openly hostile sec
uOus.
The Republican congressional
cammittee held It's first meeting at
the Arlington Hatel this week, aud
effected a permanent organic alton,
electing Gen. Joseph Hawley of
Conn. chairman In a general in
terchange ofviews, reports in regard
TO the condition OF the party III the
various states and territories were
decidedly encouraging and it is
thought there will be no difficulty
IN securing a republican majority IN
the next House Campaign work
was outlined. and the organization
proposes TO Cooperate with the
National republican committee on
all matters calculated TO advance the
interest of the party in the coming
Presidential contest
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Black Bart ana the skunk.
Black Bart tells OF one experience