The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1885-12-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9TH, 'S5.

The session opened i'll the usual
way. There We're crowds in the
spectators galleries and IN the cor
ridors of the Capitol, while on the
floor of the House there was the
old time confusion, hustle, noise,
landshaking, exchange of cOngra
tulations and introductions. The
old officers we're reelected from
the Speaker down. The Republi
cans gave II complimentary vote
for Speaker to Mr.. Reed Of Maine.
There were more than d hundred
new faces among the Representa-
tiyes and the hall looked much i'm
proved by its new carpet and fresh
" vanished furniture. The seat
drawing presented the usual anus
ing scene of expectation, suspense,
and disappointment on the counte
nances of the fortunate and less for
tunate Members.
The Senate chamber looked but
little changed siuce the last al
jOurnment, except Tor the Grape
draping and floral decorations
around the char OF the late Vice
President. The Senate opened AS
quietly as if its vacation had been
only niue hours instead OF nine
months.
Senator John Sherman was elect
ed to succeed MIR. Hendricks as
President pro TEN, Senator Logan
having declined the first caucus
nomination for the place. Nothing
could have been more repugnant
to the Democrats than the selection
OF Sherman. They would have pre-
ferred Logan, as the lesser evil.
While Senator Lo gan is a narrow,
positive partisan, shis discreet &C
ton after the last Presidential cleo
ton "a in marked contrast to the
undignifed conduct of Mr.. Blaine.
And then it must be admitted that
while he has been in Congress du
ring a period of unparalleled extlava
gance and corruption, his personal
honesty has not been questioned,
Sherman is an accomplished by
pocrite. While protesting patrio
tism, be would at any moment be
willing to plunge the country in war
ifhe would thereby promote his own
selfish interests. During bis pub
lie lifein Washington, while engaged
in no other business ostensibly, and
while receiving the limited pay OF
Congressman or Secretary of the
Treasury he has accumulated a for
tune estimated at several millions. |
He is known to have been the brains
in the Presidential theft of 1875.
and to have been alwaysan unscru
pulous, plausible, ambitious, ava
ricious demagogue.
The Presidents message is ready
for Congress, and will probably be
sent in at O.morrow's session, OF
the Cabinet reports sent to the Pres
1dent, that of Secretary Whitney
may be mentioned as n of the
ablest. He has found during his
lncumbency, decaying dock.yards.
squandered millions, bad manage
ment, and no ships. he s%cathincly
reviews past methods, and holds
that the only remedy is in complete
reorganization of the Navy Depart
ment. While he wastes no time in
dragging to light past rascalities
or In making accusations against
former Secretaries, the plain man
ner in which he exposes the man
agement, evasions and violations
of law that existed when he al
sumed control, is the most effective
indictment he could make against
his predecessors.
In regard to prospective legisla