The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-05-31
Washington Letter.


The policy suggested of rushing through
the appropriation bills and adjourning RICH
away does not meet the approval of all In,
Democratic members of congress. som,
of them say the land grant forfeiture bill
are the most important measures pending
and are unwilling to 20 home until pro
vision is made for the restoration of these
lands To the public domain The past few
days of torrid weather made some mem
bers and senators desire an early adjourn
ment, but besides several important apprO
priatiOn bills that have yet to be passed, al
amiCable agreement on the naval bill mus
be reached before the session ends. II
congress gets away before the middle OF
July. some hard work must be done, and sc
il iSquite too soon 10 begin packing lis
franks Besides II may happen that the
Senate will inSiS, upon the House paying
some attention To the bills it has placed
upon the speakers table before adjourn
ment Statesmen have donned their new
hot weather toga> and many Of them handle
palm leaf fans.
The Senate devoted most Of the week to
debate on the House bill for bureau Of
labor statistics, and finally passed as IA sub
stitutc Senator AldrichS bill. This was
treating the House diScourteOusly. 1t sim
ply rcl"gates the matter to that body, where,
in the rush and heat of closing hours il is
likely 10 be sighted.
In the regular order of congressional
events, Friday was private bill day in the
House, but as things happened, last Friday
was personal explanation day. Represen-
tative Weller was the first eXplainer, He
arose to deny at length that he had been
solicited by Mr.. English, senior, in behalf
of his son, who got the seat for the seventh
Indiana district in the 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 announcing the
arrival of his family in the city Repre-.
sentative Hart asked If he were requested
on this floor by any of Mr.. English friends
to 20 and meet his family. Amid applause
and laughter 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 explaner was Representative
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 re.
fused to 90 into another personal investiga-
ton. Referring to his recent trial he
showed that he had not pleaded the statute
of limitation, but was obliged TO confess
that he had not exercised his privilege of
waving it. He stated that the law which
prohibits members of congress from receiv
ing compensation for services where the
United States was party had been VIC
lated a thousand times" Mr. Hammond
said it was Il humiliating confession for a
of congress to say that he knew
800 men who had represented the people
here. and who had committed felonies, and
vet to admit that he had never mentioned
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 general
of the army. He says under ordinary cir
he would be glad to do Gen.
Grant honor, but now is not the time for
the congress of the United States to come
to his relief. He associated himself in
Wall street with spectators who have
ruined his fortunes and the regulations Of
his partners by the most disreputable prac
tees that have ever been exposed in the
financial transactions of this country. The
the habit of increasing the pay of men who
are receiving as much as $1,000 IA year
ought to be stopped until the men in the
ranks and their widows and orphans have
received their dues at the hands of the Gov
eminent.
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 10 the unveil-
ing of the Luther statue called To pay their
respects, and large delegation of the bish-
OPS and ministers of the African NJ f.
church in conference at Baltimore came
over with their wives and sisters, cousins
and aunts to shake hands.