The Press., 1884-01-31
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Congress has this week done various important work. The house has among
 the first items on its record the repeal o1 the .iron-clad oath, relic of war legisla tion. The action was proposed by MT.
 Cox of New York. It was passed by 6 practically unanimous vote, and 1t is prob able congressman will all swear alike al the opening of the next session.
 The house passed, by what was substan- tially unanimous vote, there being but eighteen dissentants, MT. Holman's s resolu. tions regarding land grants, the purport oi which was that congress thought all un- earned land grants shall be declared for feited. To these was added d d-claration that all laws facilitating speculation in public lands, or thelr accumulation in large amounts in the hands of few owners, should be repealed, and every effort made to secure as many freeholders as possible for agricultural land.
 Another. notable move was an attempt to reduce the swarm of lobbyists that in- fests the floor of the house under the title of ex-members of congress. Rule thirty four of the house admits to the privileges of the floor ex-members who are not in- terested in any claim or directly in any bill pending before congress. This puts the ex-member on his honor, and expert enee proves, sad to say, that the honor of an ex-congressman turned lobbiest is not to be trusted. It is even alleged that men have sought an election to congress for the sake of the superior footing which a brief service in the house would subse- quently give them as ''attorneys" for claims, claimants, and special interests. MT. An derson of Kansas offered this bill, and 1t provides for formal declaration by the ex-member of his freedom from lobbying schemes before the speaker can issue him pass to the floor
 Another severe blow to pension claim agents was dealt by MT. Morgan of Mis- souri in 6 bill to prohibit the collection of any part of their ten dollar fec before the final settlement of the claim. Recent ex- posures of the methods have seriously cur tailed their business, and if this provision becomes law it will embarrass them still further. Under existing regulations, many dishonest claim agents contrive to ger their fee in advance and then let the claim take care of itself.
 Among number of measures on the calender that were disposed of by the house was bill passed for the relief of Lieut.. Greely's Arctic expedition, the amount of money to be expended being left to the discretion of the president. Committees discussed banking and cur rency, pensions, railroad grants, territories, interstate commerce, and the poor ques- tion.
 The Mexican treaty, which the senate failed to ratify last Friday came up again briefly, by proposition from Senator Van Wyck, that any further consideration of the subject be had in open session, on the ground that the people had right to know all about the business transacted in con- gress, and that secret sessions for treaties was an old fogy idea. This created quite futter of disapprobation, and the Kansas senator was compelled to withdraw his ap- peal. The time for ratification of the treaty has been extended to May and the matter will be thoroughly discussed in the meantime.
 In spite of the mea1y mouthed peace makers the differences in the democratic party are daily becoming more pronounced. The majority of the ways and means con- mittee insist that the democrats must put themselves on record as favoring general reduction of tariff The democratic pro- tectionisis insist that the tariff must be let alone. On the eve of presidential strug- gle, of course the democrats of all shad $ of tariff opinion will endeavor to avoid con- tentlon. In convention where words only are necessary, 1t will be easy to con- struct platform that will suit both wings. But acts will speak, and that is the dem- ocrat's difficulty. The fact cannot be dod2ed that the party is in two openly hos tile sections
 The republican congressional committee held its first meeting at the Arlington he tel this week, and effected permanent or ganization, electing Gen. Joseph Hawley of Conn. chairman In 8 general inter- change of views, reports in regard to the condition of the party in the various states and territories were decidedly encourag- ing and it is thought there will be no diff ficulty in securing arepublican majority in the next house. Campaign work was