Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1884-01-16
From Our re gular Correspondent /
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Jan. l2l

lne Iorly'eiStn congress entered MOn-
day upon its perilous career. Organization
was complete, committees were formed
machinery was all in order for legislation
in both branches.
Now for the working out of the issues
of the approaching presidential campaign.
Not only are the measures that promise to
demand the attention of congress import
ant in themselves, but every one " inter-
ested to see what will be the attitude of
parties, and of men. The democrats are
following the traditions of their party.
Family quarrells are now in order: A
formal split in the ranks is threatened, and
it is confessed by all, that the differences in
the party on radical questions are serious
and open. Republican prospects are even
better than they were several months ago
and the party will have nothing to fear so
long as the democrats hold the present
tenor of their way. No doubt an effort
will be made. in the name of harmony
and policy, to stop a controversy which
is SO ominous of democratic defeat.
Democrats say, when the party leaders
see the danger fully. and Can confer as to
the best policy to be followed under the
circumstances some sort of compromise
will be the result. But laundering is
proverbial with the party and it is most
probable it will follow ancient traditions.
There is discord just now between the
house judiciary committee and the public
lands committee concerning the Pacific
railroads land grant question. Messrs.
Tucker of Virginia and Cobb of Indiana
are the rival chairman, each insisting
that the matters be referred to his commit
tee, and each greatly incensed at the
others opposition. could cite Il number
of such family rows.
Considerable work was done in com
mittee during the recess. but most of
the committees met for the first time this
week, and agreed upon the hours for
their regular meetings. Several of the
Appropriation bills are ready for the action
of congress, and others will quickly fol-
low Outside of these supply bills, the
legislation that will excite the most dis
cussion relates 10 the revenues and cur
rency. There will also be determined
effort 10 augment the military and naval
establishment; to encourage shipping; to
help the whiskey interest; improve the
Mississippi river; perfect the machinery
Of the electoral college; relieve the su
preme court; arrange an improved system
of dealing with private claims; frame
satisfactory bankrupt law; alter the postal
laws in some particulars; and preserve
the uDsguandered remnant Of the public
domain from the rapacity Of railroads,
So you see enough work has been mapped
cut to make a busy useful session, but
the fact that the houses ARC at variance
politicallywill be q serious embarrassment
to leyi la,ion.
During the week over thirteen hundred
bills have been presented in the house.
The session so far has been marked by an
unusual number of proposed Amendments
to the constitution. One Of the latest was
by Mr.. Sumner of Wisconsin for limiting
the veto power of president, by providing
that measure may be passed over his
veto by majority vote, A bill was
offered by Mr.. Robinson of New York,
calling On the secretary of state for infor-
nation as 10 whether our ministers obey
the law, which forbids United States
ministers to foreign countries to appear in
pub ic, in court dress, and requires them
to wear The ordinary apparel OF American
citizens.
A bill was presented for the Immediate
of Il million dollars in
accordance with the urgent request OF the
Mississippi river commission In the
presidents message to congress this week
he reviews and comments fayorably upon
the work of this river commission, invites
the attention of congress to the import
ance Of the enterprise and recommends
the early passage of a separate bill on
the subject. The extensive arrangements
that have been, for some time in progress
throughout the Mississippi valley states
for convention to be held in this city on
the 9th day of February, indicate that it
will be the largest gathering of Western
i;izens ever held in Washington. Its
chief object will be TO discuss the suhiec t
of the Mississippi river Improvement in
all its bearings; to determine what the
n, cessites the situation require at the
hands of the government, and to formulate
for presentation 10 congress the represent
ntive sentiment of the states most deeply
interested in the work. The convention
will have thousand or more delegates.
Every state along the Mississippi river,
and every state and territory ramilied by
its tributaries will be represented