The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-02-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.

ter than no bread, good frlen06!
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From OR Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, January 30, 1885.
With dynamite debates and resolu-
tions in both ends of the capitol ;
with some attention TO appropriation
bills. and to a mass of rather unim-
portant miscellaneous matter; with
the secret sessions of the Senate over
the treaties, aud filibustering in the
House, the Representatives OF nearly
sixty millions of people have writ
ten anothe, page in history this week.
The work cannot be called credita-
BILE to themselves, or profitable to
the people. 1t is the old habit OF
Democratic dilatoriousness. But
more OF this anon.
The Edmunds anti-dynamite bill
which passed the Senate with but
one opposing vote. will provoke op-
position in the House frsm
other members besides the eternal
twisters of the British lions tail.
Those whose constituencies are large
ly Irish will vote against it. A wes-
tern member rem lrked to me yest-i.
day that the laws against crime were
ample, and the bill was superiuous,
He thought if the Secretary of tie
Treasury required his subordinates
to do their duty, in the matter of in
spection of shipments, dynamlters
could not export explosives to Eng
land. In other words large part
of his constituents hated England to
such degree, that he was fearful
they would remember to leave him
out at the next nominating conven'
tiun. if he voted for bill that SAVIOR
ed of sympathy for that nation.
There are daily contests In the
lower House now over the precedence
of business. One member after an
other brings his favorite measure
forward for consideration. The Ions
roll call is taken, and usually th'
House refuses, by vote, to consider
the bill. The other day Mr.. Hewitt
Of New York. proposed the bill
to carry into effect the Mex
ican treaty, but the house declined
to discuss it. 1t will not be passed
this session. Congressman Single
ton, Of Mississippi, pressed forward
the Congressional library bill Mr.
Townsend of Illinois, presented tht
claims of the mexican pension bill
Mr., Stockslager. of Indiana. though
the pubic building measures wer'
entitled to consideration: Represen
taiive Hunter, of Louisiana, sugges
ted that it was time to take actor
on the bill for the encouragement o
the American merchant marine
and Mr.. Heuley, of California, wan
ted to take up Northern Pacific and
forfeiture bills, which was agreed to
The first bill on the calender. how
ever, forfeited certain land in Michi
gan, and the House refused to dis
cuss it. Likewise the mex
land grant bill was rejected
Mr.. Van. Eaton of Miss, then sub
mitted various filibustering mo
tions,-to adjourn, over, to take re
cess. Several more roll calls were
taken, and finally wearied with rol
calls, the House adjourned.
If Republican President hat
been elected, policy of administra
ton would have been outlined fol
the next four years, during the pres
ent winter, which would have as
sumed form in legislation. The Re
publican leaders in Congress woulC
have pressed the legislation to a vot'
and it would have passed. or else ar
issue would have been made upor
it against the Democratic House t.
decided by the people in coming
elections With such laws and
methods as it might command. tn,
fourth of march would have seen
the new administration at work t.
accomplish its purposes, mindful
that four years are, after all, bu
short period in a Nations life
Look at the Cleveland leaders il
Congress. They are incompetent
and have no policy. no measures, nc
ideas. Since the death of the hori
zonlal tariff bill, the Ways and Means
Committee has been utterly express
sionless. Its head, Mr.. Morrison, i.
thinking only about the Illinois
Senatorship. The Appropriation
Committee devotes itself to stintine
every necessity of the Government
while it's Chairman, Mr.. Randall, il
maneuvering for the next Speaker
ship. The Banking and Currency
COMMITTEES do nothing. The Judi
ciary, under Mr.. Tucker, and tn,
Foreign affairs Committs under S. s
Cox, is waiting for Mr. Cleveland te
sa;, whethr by and by, it may no
be good administration measure Il
build gunboat. And so one nigh
iso through all the committees
Nothing has been done. and moth
ing is likely to be done. The South
ern men have been ont of power *
long that they are awkward, and d.
not now how to lead. Their unex
pected victory oyercame them, ant
they arestill in a convivial, maudlir
state. Besides most of them woult
rather assert tina; secession VA
right, and that jeff. Davis was I
patriot, than bring forward and
advocate any wise measure of legis
lation. While they 60 to dinne
and parties, drink, smoke, tell sto
ries, and ignore their duties as th'
leaders of q party, coming int
national pover, democracy
is becoming laughing stock. Thei
ambitions are the Offices, 10 thoei
I they expect to hold high revel, ami
the lootipg win soon begin.
l,ew APpsrsssn1sqt nile.
Senator Macfar]ane will to-ds.
Introduce congressional and sena