The Cecil Whig., 1884-12-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
ON o,u Regular Correspondent.

From 0r Regular correspondents
WAsuINeToN, Dec. S, 1SS4.
The first week of the possible thirteen
of the Congressional session has passed
and it is difficult to find enough proceed
ings to base an obituary on. \ number of
bills have been Introduced aud bound
less lot of talk INDUCED in, but when
that is said, there in not much to tell.
The committees, however, are hard at
work, and some of them promise to sub
nit some bills before the holidiys.
The House committee on postoifices
and post roads have nnmber of import
ant bills on their list, to which they in
tend to ask the early attention Of Con-
gress. Among these are the postal tele
graph bill, another which regulates the
mail contract system more carefully, a
third which charges the basis OF COM
pensatiOA to railroads for carry ing the
mails, and a fourth which deals with the
letter rate of postage All these are
matters of Importance and should Get d
hearing. 1t is to be doubted, however,
if the committee is wise in putting the
postal telegraph at the head of their list.
as this subject is one OF great difficulty
and sure t. excite a prOtraCtcd debate.
They would do better to follow the eX
ample of the shipping and public lands
committee and present first to the II use
those measures on which there will be
little or 10 controversy.
The contest over the New York scna-
torship excites much interest here. and
the progress of the fight is eagerly
watched. Hon Frank Hiscock has left
York in order to put himself in good pos
itiou for the Senatorial Lightning to st1iks
him. SAW Hon. Stephen French, of
the Empire State, day or two ago when
he was in Washington with committee
of Republicans to confer with President
Arthur in regard to the Senatorship. At
first he refused to be interviewed, but
after moment he reconsidered and said
81 don m nd saying that the President
is willing 10 accept the Senatorship if it
shall ccme to him i'll the right way--as
the practically unanimous offer Of the
Republicans. But he Will not enter into
any scramble, aud as fer any of his friends
steering him i'll the race or making a
contest, he will not permit anything of
that kind. | will say further that | be-
leve when the Republicans-the men,
bers of the legislature, | IN an-come to
consider the matter, they viii see that
the right thing, the proper thing to do is
to elect President Arthur. | think any
man studies the politics of New York at
present can see that. In my opinion, it
will become SO apparent in the interest
of the Republican party that the Presi-
dent is the man for the place, that his
election will be practically unanimous.
In that case he will accept. You can say
that"
Leaving Mr. Arthur's personality cut
of the question, there are many consider
ations of a public character that make
the election to the senate of a man who
has served in presidential office desirable.
No man acquires so extensive and thor
ough knowledge of public affairs as the
President. He is brought in contact
with representative men from every part
of the country, and is made to under
stald the merits of every matter of pub
lie concern. Through his Cabinet he ac-
quaiutS himself with the essential prin-
ciplcs and Incidents of our foreign and
domestic policy, and by personal and
confidential Intercourse with diplnmatists
politicians, and business men of every
type he Acquires fund of informal ion
and familiarity with the detail of gov
crnment which pre-eminently qualify
him for Legislative functions. 1t has been
proposed, on this account. TO admit our
ex-PIesidents to IA seat in Congress. Such
a step might, perhaps, be a too radical
departure from the principles of the gov
ernment, but it is a pity to lose the SER
vices of men so peculiarly fitted for a
share in the councils of the nation, and
on that account it is matter for congrat-
ulation when circumstances permit their
retention i'll public life.
The capstone of the Washington Mon
ument was set on Saturday at o'clock