St. Landry democrat., 1884-06-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
MAY 27th, 1884.

approval of all the Democratic Mem
0ers of Congress. Some ofathen say
che land grant forfeiture bills The
most important measures pending and
are unwilling to go home until provision
is made for the restoration of these
lands to the public domain. The past
few days of torrid weather made some
Members and Senators desire an early
adjournment, but besides several i'm
pOrtant appropriation bills that have
get to be passed, an amicable agree
ment on the Naval bill must be reached
before the session ends. IL Congress
gets away before the middle of July
some hard work must be done, and so it
is quite too soon to begin packing its
trunks. Besides it may happen that
the Senate will insist upon the House
paying some attention to the bills it has
placed upon the Speakers table before
adjournment. Statesmen have donned
their new hot weather togas and many
of them handle palm leaf fans.
The Senate devoted most of the week
20 debate On the House bill for q bureau
of labor statistics, and finally passed as
a substitute Senator Aldrich's bill.
This was treating the House discour-
1eously. 1t simply relegates the matter
20 that body, whence, in the rush and
heat of the closing hours it is likely to
be siighted.
BrS ftNa ynr ar np1fa nF 6tnr7 r1nl
events Friday was private bill day in
the House, but as things happened, last
Friday was a personal explanation day.
Representative Weller was the first ex-
nlainer. He arose to deny at length,
that he had been solicited by Mr.. En-
glish, senior in behalf Of his son, who
got the seat for the Seventh Indiana
District in tho contested election case
of English VS. Peele. Mr.. Weller said
his absence from the House at the time
of the last call for the ayes and nays
was in pursuance of a telegram an
aouneing the arrival of his family in
the city. Representative Hart asked if
he we're requested ON this floor by any
OF Mr. English's friends to go and meet
his family. Amid applause and laugh
Ter Mr.. Weller replied 'No Sir" "If
you have any other questions in that
line ! shall be most happy to answer
them to your complete satisfaction
The next explainer was Representa-
tive Kellogg, when the House was made
the scene of an act in the Star Route
Comedy. He demanded that the House
inquire into the charges against him,
but that body refused to go into an
.0ther personal investigation. Refer
Tng to his recent trial, he showed that
.he had not pleaded the statute of limi
aeation, but was obliged to confess that
he had not exercised his privilege of
,Waiving it. He stated that the law
which prohibits Members of Congress
from receiving compensation for ser
egices where the United States was a
party "had been violated thousand
.Gimes.n Mr.. Hammond said it was a
humiliating confession for Member of
Congress to say that he knew 900 men
who had represented the people here,
and who had committed felonies, and
yet to admit that he had never mem
stioned the fact until it was necessary to
screen himself.
Representative Springer has entered
his protest against the bill for retiring
Gen Grant, with the rank and pay Of a
Gen. of the Army. He says under or
binary circumstances he would be glad
10 do Gen. Grant honor, but now is not
the time for the Congress of the United
States to come to his relief. He asso-
.ciated himself in Wall street with spec
llators who have ruined his fortunes
and the regulations of his partners by
the most disreputable practices that
have ever been exposed in the financial
transactions of this country. He thinks
the habit of increasing the pay Of men
who are receiving as much as $4,000 a
year ought to be stopped until the men
I'm the ranks and their widows and or
phans have received their dues at the
hand of the Government.
President Arthur has had lively
week of hand shaking and the ushers
at the White House have been unusually
busy. The visiting bicyclers came down
upon the Chief Magistrate IN great
numbers; many of the strangers who
came to the unyeiling of the Luther
statue called to pay their respects, and
q large delegation of the bishops and
ministers of the African NJ. E. Church
In conference at Baltimore came over
eEith.Atlleir wives and sisters. cousins |