The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-01-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Prom our regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Jaa. q,


The work of the week in Congress
has not been of particular interest. The
senate has held secret sessions on the
pendipp treaty questions, and has deSa-
ted the Interstate commerce and In
dian hills. Both the House and Senate
have discussed the Oklahoma lands in
vasion. and in both houses day was
spent in funeral oratory, the subjects
being Senator Anthony and representa-
tive Evans, deceased.
REPRESENTATIVE Hurd made strong
speech in opposition to the Blair educa-
tionaI bill. basing his argument on the
oround that the Senate was usurping a
constitutional prerogative OF the House
when it originated a money Dill. a
motion to refer the bill 70 the judiciary
committee was lost by small VOTE
This is understood to indicate that the
bill has more friends than enemies IN
the House, and will become law
The amount of money, about SlOO,OUO,-
GOO apuropriated by the bill is not the
full measure of it's importance. The
greater part of the money will go to the
South. and will be potential in the in
teIlectuaI habilitation of the darker
part of that section. Under Republi-
can administration the money would no
doubt have been used, like the Freed
mans bureau, as a means of political
propaganda, but in Ave weeks Repnb-
iican administration will be nightmare
of the past.
There are several important measures
awaiting the consideration of the House,
which ought 10 be acted upon at this
session. Among these are the bill to
carry into effect the provisions of the
Mexican treaty, the Bankruptcy bill,
the National Library bill, and the Blair
Educational bill. In the five weeks yet
remaining of tue session there is ample
time to perfect all the appropriation
bills and to act intelligently upon the
other measures referred to. but dispo-
sition has been shown 20 prevent the
consideration of any but appropriation
bills. and great deal of the time OF the
! House is being wasted in dilatoTy mo-
tions and Toll-calls. This may have Sc
rious results. If the wheels of leg gisla-
tion are blocked for any length OF Time
the appropriation bills, if passed at all
will go through in the closing hours OF
the session and without proper consider
alton If any appropriation bill fails It
may be necessary to recOnyene Congress
Immediately after the inauguration of
President Cleveland. This would please
! the Republican Senate and might result
| in greatly em EMBARRASSING the new admin
/ istratiOn.
The Committee on Appropriations eX-
| pect to report the Army and PUstoffice
ppropriatiOu bills in time to call them
/ up on Tuesday and Wednesday. 1t Is
/ the intention of the Committee on Riv-
| ers aud Harbors to ask the consideration
| of the River and Harbor Appropriation
| bill during the latter part of the week.
I H.
| friends of various prominent measures
now pending to antagOniZe the apprOpra-
alton bill. Mr.. Hewitt VIII endeavoI
| to call up the bill to carry into effect the
provisions of the Mexican Reciprocity
| treaty during the week. Mr.. Townsend
/ will press the Mexican Pension bill
| Mr.. Sfockslager, the bills providing foI
/ public buildings throughout the coun.
! thy Mr.. Singleton, the National Libra
| ~ bill, and Mr.. Willis, the Educational
| bill at every opportunity.
For the next two years at least the
! political complexion of the respective
/ houses of Congress is to remain uu
| changed. The House will be Demo
cratic. and the Senate Republican, a:
/ has been the case during four Congress
/ ns, since the memorable election oi
! 1874 If the legislation which The
country needs is to be adopted ihert
Il Ust be more of the statesman and less
/ of the mere politician at both ends oi
the Capitol. #rs
The impression that the bill intro
! duced by Senator EdmUndS on SATURDAY.
to punish dynamIter5 was subsequent
10 The arrival of the news Of the eXplO
| sion in London turns out 10 be eTTO
I neOus. The bill was introduced before
the Senate went into executive session
which was at 1870 2. NJ The repor
that serious explosions had occurred il
I London did not reach the Capi oil ill
/ fifteen minutes later. 1t is d cuTiou
| circumstance that Senator Edmund,
/ should have in u manner anticipated
the news OF the cTimo committed in tht
/ British Parliament House by inlroduC
ing bill in the United States Senate t,
prevent and punish offeuses of that ma
/ ture. X.