The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-10-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Prom our regular Correspondent.

Prom our regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, October 70, 1885.
Congress will assemble in six weeks.
and the election of a speaker and the
organization of the committees viii
probably be accomplished with less
trouble than at any previous Congress
for thirty years. Carlisle will be elec
ted without opposition, and, l have nc
doub;, has already on paper the arrange
ment of the principal committees.
There is no reason why Congress should
not transact considerable business before
Christmas. If it shall succeed in get
ting good start it will have more time
Tor dellberatiOn and debate on the ap
preparation bills. The appropriation.
to be asked for by the different Cabinet
officers will be considerably less than
has been asked by previous Republican
Administrations. Much has been ac-
complished in the direction of economy
useless employees have been discharged
leaks have been stopped, and thousand:
or dollars saved in every department
There is no reason why the debates OF
/ the appi Opriation bills should consume
more than two or three days each
Heretofore they have been protracted
for a week or more and then hurried
I through half made up in the closing
days of the session. The delay in the
passage of the bills has been on account
of Democratic opposition to their ex-
tTavagance and the Jobs with which
they we're loaded. But the Republican
minority in the lower house cannot,
I without stultifying themselves, oppose
the coming appropriations. cor they
! Will be for smaller amounts than they
have often advocated and voted for.
All signs point to smooth, business
like session, as far as the lower House
is concerned. There is probability OF
considerable agitation Of the tariff ques-
tion. and possibility of surprises in the
springing of new issues. The Chinese
question is still unsettled. and the labor
question in its different phases is sure
to come up for discussion.
The Senate will, in all probability, be
a centre of greater interest at the Capitol
than the House. Several Republican
Bourbon Senators have recently shown
their incapcity to learn or forget. The
delirium of Sherman has also firm hold
on Logan and Hoar. They will doubt
less rave aud rumble III the Senate this
winter. Not even time can teach old
Senators new tricks. The Republican
party is absolutely without an issue.
AShCALIoA anu MS ilBlldlOES huO" IHdJ
the old sectional bloody shirt romance
is more easily rehashed and is more
convenient for their party than the
hopeless task of defending its long rec
ord of official rottenness and corruption.
The even and conservative policy of
the President has left the Republicans
without even the semblance of ground
for objection, and has absolutely forced
them to take the bloody shirt.
The President and his Cabinet afford
but little material now for newspaper
gossip. They are ceaseIess in their ap-
plicatiOn to their special duties. and are
giving AL theri spare time to the prep
aration of their annual reports. Presi-
dent Cleveland's candor is remarkable
to say the least, and he is now at the
White House. Hayes was smiling and
insincere; Garfield was gusher, pro-
fuse in promises; Arthur was dignified
and exclusive, but Cleveland is what
some one has called 'brutally candid
During the last week several deIega-
tions have been told that it was useless
for them to visit the White House as
their wishes could not ne complied with,
and committee Of Dakota Democrats
were very hluntly Informed that man
whom they came to oppose would re-
ceive the appointment he sought. But
the most remarkable illustration of the
Preslden'tr candOr is found in the cor
respondence that has just been pub
hshed. regarding the teleph one suit.
Under previous adminis1r atiOns such
a mistake as the Department of Justice
was led into would haze been. .cQIeGteG
but the President not only required the
Attorney General and his solicitor to
reconsider their action, but gave the
correspondence about it to the press.
There is something to admire in this
act of his, as we'll as in the prompt
ness with which Mr.. Garland aud Mr.
GoOde assented to the wishes, but they
will receive no credit from the partisan
papers, which are always on the alert
for subjects of criticism, but never see
anything to commend. X.