The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-01-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WAsuINGTON. Jan. 10Th. 1884.

[FRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, JAN, 10Th, 1884.
The work of the week in Congress
has not been of particular interest.
The Senate has held secret sessions
on the pending treaty questions, and
has debated the Interstate commerce
and Indian bills. Both the House and
Senate have discussed the Okalahoma
lands invasion, and in both Houses q
day was spent in funeral oratory, the
subjects being Senator Anthony, and
Representative Evins deceased.
Representative Hurd made strong
speech in oposition to the Blair educa-
tional bill basing his argument on the
ground that the Senate was usurping
constitutional prerogative of the House
when it originated money bill to the
Judiciary committee vas lost by a
small vote. This is understood to in
dicate that the bill has more friends
than enemies in the House and will be.
come law. The amount of money,
about $l00,0O0,OOO appropriated by
the bill is not the full measure of its
Importance. The greater part of the
money will go to the south, and will be
potential in the intellectual habilitation
of the darker part of that section. I'm.
der Republican administration the
money would no doubt have been used,
like the Freedman's bnreau, as a means
of political propaganda, but in five
weeks republican administration will
be nightmare OF the past.
There are several important meas.
ures awaiting the consideration OF the
Honse, which ought to 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 the session
there is ample time to perfect all the
appropriation bills and to act inteli-
gently upon the other measures refer
red to, bat disposition has been
shown to prevent the consideration of
any but appropriation bills, and great
deal of the time of the House is being
wasted in dilatory motions and roll
calls. This may have serious results.
If the wheels of Legislation are blocked
Tor any length of time the ap-
preparation bills, if passed at all,
will go through in the closing
hours of the session and without prop
per consideration If any appropria-
tion bill fails it may be necessary to re-
convene Congress Immediately after
Inauguration of President Cleveland.
This would please the Republican Sen
ate and might result in greatly embar-
assing the new administration.
The Committee on Appropriations
expect to report the Army
and Post Office Appropriation
bills in time TO call them up on Tues
day, and Wednesday. 1t is the inten-
tion Of the Committee on Rivers and
Harbors to ask the consideration of the
River and Harbor Appropriation bill
during the latter part of the week.
There is disposition on the part of
the friends Of various prominent meas
ures now pending to antagonize the ap-
preparation bills. Mr.. Hewitt will en-
deayor to call up the bill to carry into
effect the provisions of the Mexican
Reciprocity treaty during the week.
Mr.. Townsend viii press the Mexican
Pension bill Mr.. Stockslager, the bills
providing for public buildings through
out the country; Mr.. Singleton, the
National Library bill, aud Mr.. Willis,
the Educational bill at every opportu-
nifty.
For the next two years at least the
political complexion of the respective
Houses of Congress is to remain un-
changed. The House will be Demo.
cratic, the Senate Republican as has
been the case during four Congresses
since the memorable election of 1874.
If the legislation which the country
needs is to be adopted there must be
more Of the statesmen, and less of the
mere politician at both ends of the
Capitol.
The impression that the bill intro
duced by Senator Edmunds Saturday
to punish dynamiters was subsequent
to the arrival of the news of the explo-
sion in London turns out TO be errone-
GUS. The bill was introduced before
the Senate went into executive session,
which was at 1880 p. m. The report
that serious explosions had occurred in
London did not reach the Capitol until
fifteen minutes later. 1t is a curious
circumstance that Senator Edmunds
should have in a manner anticipated
the news of the crime committed in the
British Parliament House by introduc'
ing bill in the United States Senate
to prevent and punish offenses of that
nature.