Sun River sun. [volume] (Sun River, Mont.) 1884-1885, 1885-02-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 6. 1855.

W Asfi1NGToN. feD. u, 1900.
Congress is nothing if not slow. 1t
Processes, and no doubt with sincerity,
its cage,ness to get to business. 1t
complains of the multiplication of
perplcxing problems. 1t complains,
and with justice. too, Of the matters
to which certain of it's members insist
on calling it's attention. Still it can
be led into fillibustcring all night,
until 2 o'clock in the morning, rather
than face troublesome question.
The friends Of the bankruptcy bill
were in the majority the other day
when the bill was before the House
and voted down every motion to ad-
jouln. The attendance Of members
was lurgc ut the beginning Of the
struggle, but one member after an
other stole quietly away, until only
about one-third of the House was
present. Midnight came and still
there was no prospect Of adjournment.
Tho usual scenes attending night
session were enacted, the time being
most occupied with roll calls follow
ing motions to adjourn, while the dila-
tory proceedings were diversified with
banter, fun and personalities. Mr..
Springer of Illinois asked to have the
rules suspended and very little bill
passed for the benefit Of his constitu-
ents. Mr. White, Of Kentucky, OBJ
jected. II know some crank would
object to this" said Mr.. Springer.
Whercupon Mr. White went into q
white rage. Fillibustering continued
upon various motions, and finally Mr..
Hiscock asked "What can We accom-
plish?' "You know it is impossible to
accomplish anything" Mr.. Collins
retorted that all things were possible
in sensible assembly. Another hour
had dragged its slow length along
and the friends Of the bankruptcy
bill succeeded, after many efforts, in
having call for the House ordered
The sergeant alarms sent his deputies
forth through the city, in search Of
truant Congressman, and first one
batch and then another was brought
in to give an account Of his absence.
The same thrcadbarc excuses, which
have done duty on similar occasions
for years, were offered. They were
us usual greeted with bursts OF deri-
sive laughter, but were in every case
deemed satisfactory. The new re-
cruits voted, Of course, for the next
motion to adjourn and carried it.
1t cannot be denied that Congress
has been worshiping the rising rather
than the setting sun in it's "do nothing
policy Not knowing Mr.. Cleve-
lands views on certain important
questions aud fearful of embarrassing
him by action, the majority has sought
safety in inaction. There will be no
further scclusion or rcpose on Mr..
Cleveland's part, however, and from
this time Oh his influence will be felt
on legislation.
The Democratic pilgrimage to Now
York commenced on " ednesoay even
ing, quite Il little party Of Congress-
men having started TO see the Prcsi-
dcnt-elcct. A gentleman who has seen
Nh. Cleveland several times since his
election, told me it was Il great mis-
take to assume that he does not know
all about prominent party men, sim
ply because he has not been in posi-
tions which brought him in contact
, with prominent Democrats Of tho
country. The gentleman mentioned
that Mr.. Cleveland was not SO mucl
in need Of advice as many seemed te
think. He has been IN active Demo
crat ever since he has been old enough
to have any part in politics, said he
and has taken deep interest in tht
: party and all its affairs. He can to-
day measure party men more accurate
ly than many others who have long
been in national public life.
It is said the Civil Service Commits
mission will strongly recommend tina
naval cadetship shall be acquired b,
Civil Service examination instead o
through Congressional selections
There is popular impression that re
lationship or acqnaintanceship with
legislator is not the highest qualifca
ton for an embryo navigator. 1t il
thought possible that among doze'
applicants in q district the one wh1
could pass the best examination nigh
prove worthy Of the appointment
more so than the one who could bring
the most pressure to bear upon TIN
member of Congress.
Owing to the part taken by the Rev
Henry Ward Beecher in the late Prcsi
dental campaign, some curiosity wa
. felt to know what character of audi
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