Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-02-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE MONITOR. /
WASHINGTON. Eebrudrq 5.

Though congressional proceedings
of the week were disjointed; the
work done was of an unusually inter-
esting and significant character. The
death and obsequies of Representa-
tive Mackey of South Carolina, caused
two adjournments and necessarily
displaced the regular order of bust
ness. Then, carefully outlined prog
nostications of political happenings
turned surprisingly upon their author
tiles; again proving, that nothing is
so certain to occur as the unexpected.
In the first place, the Sherman reso-
lutions for an investigation of the
Mississippi and Virginia massacres
passed the senate without arousing
the partizan debate that was antici-
pated. An animated discussion was
called forth, however, while the SEN
ate was considering the bill for the
relief of the Greeley arctic expedi-
ton party, the point being on the adj
visibility of leaving the amount to be
expended to the judgement of the
secretary of the navy. Senators Nc
Pherson and Salisbury attacked sec
rotary Chandler, declaring he was in
terested in the bill, and senator Hale
defended him, Indignantly denying
the accusation.
Prohibition petitions were another
feature of senate proceedings Near
ly bushel of these petitions to abol-
ish the liquor traffic in the District
of Columbia were offered on Thurs
day. Every senator had a roll neat
ly done up and tied, containing names
obtained in his state, and one after
another they presented them.
In the House, the introduction of
a resolution for the appointment of a
committee of inquiry, to hear the ev-
idence in charges of corruption, made
by eX-speaker Keifer against cores
pondents, brought Mr.. Keifer to his
feet in violent attack upon repre-
sentatives of the press. Gen. Boyn-
ton, who sat in the press gallery dur
ing Mr.. Keifer's speech, was the di
rect target of denunciation, and the
scene caused considerable excite
ment. The war against unearnet
IMMIGRANTS has fairly begun. The
House has passed two resembling bills
applying to lands granted to Mississ
ippi and Alabama. When chairman
Cobb of the committee on public
lands arose to report these bills, stat
ing briefly that the lands, which i
was proposed to forfeit, had not beer
earned by the companies, he wa
) subjected to cross fire Of interroga
tories from members with interest
at stake. The republican side of tn
chamber was nearly deserted in tn
| anxiety to hear or take part in tn
/ running debate going on around MI
Cobb, while in the rear of the seats
were number of senators from state
interested in this Or other bills. tn
o presentation Of which was expected
e Justice Fields of the supreme coul
was conspicuous figure in the crowo
d The fire regular speech in oppositio
{ to the bill, was by Mr.. Van Eaton {
! Mississippi; and his colleague
il Messrs. Barkdale and Sinbleton 70
n lowed him. 1t is understood the ne,
e grants to be forfeited will be the O
5 egon, and California, and then Il
, unearned portion of the Northel
\ Pacific. In the discussion amor
4. members of the House upon the que
ID ton of voting themselves clerks, Il
is argument that southern members
not need secretaries is frequently a
- vanced. Much of the correspondent
IT of congressman relates to pension
of subject in which the constituer
,ir of southern members are not int
n ested, and therefore it is thought
10 proposition to provide members vi
= clerks at public expense conld not
through the House, as many repu
es licans, and probably more than TIN
Ike fourths of the democrats would VI
III against it.
Nc ne Friday ended the discussion,
We the House on the Fitz John Por
relief bill. 1t passed that body b,