The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-12-04
Our Washington Letter.
(FRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
Washington ID. C.. Nov. u Iss5.

Washington ID. c., Nov. q. 1885.
| There is Il dearth of Congressman in
| the city this week. In fact. the arrivals
at the leading hotels are comparatively
few in number for the time of year.
Usually for several weeks proceeding tie
convcniIg Of Congress the city is full of
Senators and Representatives, to say
nothing of bdndreds Of outsiders, who
coMe here to look after their political and
bfsiness interests, or those<sof their
friends. Hotel proprietors and merchants
are almost an unitin declaring that Wash
inSton is enjoying an unccmmonly quiet
time for this seaeoa--so quiet, in fact,
that it Is trille discouraging.
This state of affairs is partially due to
the Presidents recent order relative to
visitors, and partially to the fact that
there is unlikely TO be any contest worth
speaking OF for Speaker of the House of
Representatives. il being generally con-
| ceded by Democrats anu Republicans.
high tariff and low tariff men alike, that
Mr. Carlisle of Kentucky, will have no
opposition. For the empty honor to be
conferred by the Republicans, unless they
| meet in caucus to nominate a candidate
for Speaker, the name of Mr.. Reed. of
Maine and Mr.. Hiscoek of New York, are
the most prominently menticbed x
Mr. Engine Higgins, the appointment
clerk of the Treasury Department, whose
name has been mentioned meonnection
with the House edoor-kcepership has new
er thought much Of tie scbeiIe. He has,
within the past two days, been called up
on by number of members of Congress,
who have urged him to run for the posi-
ton of Sergeant-at-Ar1ns. He says that
he would prefer that place TO the door,
keepership. and intends to see what, if
anything, be eau do towards securing the
caucus nomination. .s ~
Carlisle arrived here this afternoon
with HE wife. lie was il. by the rough
riding on the Baltimore and Ohio road,
and took to his bed soon after his arrival,
declining TO see callers. His illness Is i
mere nothing. as he expects to be ont to-
morrow. He will remain here until Con-
grcss meets, two weeks from next Mon
day. Ills arrival Will undoubtedly hurry
up the coming Of the members, so that
they can talk with him as to their places
upon the committees. lie is so sure CT
his recollection as Speaker that he will be
able to devote his laisure until the meet
ing of Congress to the making up Of his
committees. =
Much has been published during the
last eight or ten days about the changing
of the House rules, and elaborate arg,i-
ments have been made In favor Of divi-
ding the work of tie House Appropria-
ton Committee among various commit
tees. Among the strongest and noisiesi
advocates of this are the Western menu
beiS, who have fer years fayored the
Hcnnepin Canal project. This scheme
for taking great sums out of the Treasury
has been killed every year through the
inability of the advocates to procure
place for it upon any Of the Appropria-
tion bills. Nearly every man who has
had Il job defeated In Congress Is anxious
10 have the Appropriation COMMITTEES
under Mr.. Randairs economical manages
mens broken down. The House viii be
called upon to pass upon this changing
of the rules at the very outset Of the ses-
sion, and it is expected that. at least ten
days will be given up TO the discussion.
The people who are advocating the
change profess to be aefuated by desire
to improve the method of doing business
In the House.
1t is said that the otlier executive de-
pariments viii follow the example Of the
Treasury in strictly enforcing. rules as to
the time OF arrival and departure Of em-
ployees, and against reading. smoking
and writing, among the clerks during Of
fee hours. In the Treasury. the system
Of enforcing the rules Il being perfected
gradually and complete system Of
daily reports OF violation Of the rules II
being put into effect. More than dozen
clerks have already been reported for vi
olation Of the rules to an extent that Is
regarded by the belief clerks are Justify
ing their removal. Is has not yet been
decided what degree Of severity should
be exercised. AUGUST.