The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-12-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
! Our Regular Correspondent.

FRO" W" htyHH 'VIfesPoH"e'S-
WASHINGTON, Dec. l, 1884.
The newspaper prophet in Washington,
after he fashions cabinet for the Presi-
dent-elect to his own intense salts action,
is fully prepared for more arduous labor,
and is now busy in planning the work Of
Congress with great zest. 1t seems to
have struck him that possibly Mr.. Cleve-
land may have a voice in the selecting
of his Cabinet.
Members who have arrived in the city
express the opinion that Congress will
not find time this session to attempt any
very important legislation. Besides the
appropriation bills, the land grant for
fixture question will probably be taken
up, and it promises to bring about long
and bitter fight. Some of the members,
however, have not given up the idea of
tackling the tariff, and say that some
thing should be done this session. Mr..
Morrison, it is understood, is primed for
another fight. He looks upon the sue.
dorsement of tariff reform, and has ex-
pressed the opinion that something should
be done this winter to reduce the rev.
enue. If congress is disposed, however,
to make a busy and eventful session Of
it, there is no lack of material in the
shape of pending legislation. There is,
fnr ipS fha Silvar anipora aSti
which urgently calls for attention. A
very respectable element is calling for a
bankruptcy law; there is groat desile
in legal and business circles for action
which shall expedite the work of the
Supreme Court; much remains to be set
| tied respecting the relations of railroads
and land corporations to the government;
and there are various private canal and
railroad schemes to which Congress will
be asked to give helping hand; the
pension laws are not yet satisfactory to
some influential classes; and the friends
| of the shipping interests look upon last
winters legislation as merely prelimi-
| nary, and are anxious TO follow it up by
broader measures; the education bill
| presents its claims to the House; and two
or three territories which have now a
large aud ambitious population are
clamoring for the rights and dignities OF
states. 1t will be seen readily, therefore,
that even if Congress prefers to ignore
the tariff and follow precedents pretty
closely in the appropriations, there is an
abundance of important subjects on
which it can protitably spend the winter.
Among the first questions presented at
the Capitol today will be a resolution in
the House calling for diplomatic inves-
tigation of the action of the French in
prosecuting work on the Panama canal,
and declaring in favor of the American
policy of predominance on this continent.
Several leading Democrats have the mat
ter in charge, and it is indeed gratifying
to see some inclination towards enforce
ment of the Monroe doctrine. The rep
resentatives of the three great Isthmian
inter. oceanic transit projects are gathered
| here in anticipation of some action by
Congress on this important question.
The Panama people are simply anxious
to be let alone. The Nicaraguan people
want substantial recognition. The Te
hauntepic people are willing to take any
thing they can get James B. Eads, the
father Of the Tehauntepic scheme, went
to London last summer to get some
money. don't understand that he got
any there. But he has apparently got
ten some on the way home, for he is ex-
hibiting quietly to New York capitalists
a working model of his inter-oceanic ship
railway which cost him $4,000 and oc-
cupies twenty feet of space. He is now
arranging to exhibit at New Orleans.