The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-12-06
CONGRESSIONAL NOTES.

There Ia every preliminary indication that the
EaGs ship-ralway subsidy will figure TN the Con-
gressional carpet ut an early day In the session.
The hall of the House OF Representatives presents
an improved appearance with Its handsome carpets
ami newly Vanished furniture.
There appears 10 he little doubt but that the Hon.
leas duties OF chairman Of the House Committee on
the District OF Columbia.
Senator Rlddleherger now classes himself poli-
cally a. the single solitary "inhependent" In the
| United States Senate Luckily he does not hold the
| balance OF power OF that body.
Senator Logan ought TO decline to be a candidate
e ere ne n me ak na
AMI demolish Fiiz.John Porter.
Senator Miller. chairman of the Senate Committee
on Foreign Affairs, has had the room formerly oc-
cnred hv the superintendent of Folding lifted up as
| n rettring-roOm To the larger committeeman.
The House Committee of Elections viii have but
little work TO do this session, as there are hut few
contests. and those not OF complicated character
| rhe majority In big enough not to make a vote or
two OF any importance
| Mr.. Springer ia evidently OF the opinion, after a
study Of parliamentary law for twenty-n years."
that the Appropriation Committee has too much 10
do, aud the House OF Representatives too little. He
| proposes TO reverse the situation.
The discovery Of gas in the sinking of experiment
tai shafts In the Potomac Flats has led TO the fur.
,her explanation. From the Notwithstanding quail
| lles OF the gas 1t Ia supposed there must be
| subterranean connection with the Capitol.
Each OF the Democrats elected since the war to
the ONCE OF Speaker was the same age, fory-eight
years old, when his term Of service began This
was the age Of Speaker Kerr In 1875. nj Speaker
Randall In 1915. and of Speaker Carlisle In 1888.
Senator Ransom Is much interested In the compile
tlon of the Potomac Flats improvement, the under
taking of which was largely due to his earnest eff
forts. AMI expects IN secure SUFFICIENT apprOpi Ia
on for the continuation of the work at this session
| Hon. Frank Hurd Is In town. prepared to contest
| the m hnr fro thn nj IN
District The Republican majority was very small,
and 4 s claimed that can be shown to have con-
sisted OF fraudulent votes. Mr.. Iurd is In earnest,
| and his friends say that he has good case.
Senator Hawley has new competitor for his seat
In the Senate In the person of Sam Fessenden, late
OF Maine. hut now of Connecticut. II the Demo-
Gratis fan to carry the next Legislature. It Is alto.
make any successful opposition to Gen. Hawey.
Ills said that Mr.. Townshend, of Illinois. is to
have the craftsmanship of the Committee on Post
ohices and Post Roads, In place Of Mr.. Money, who
Is not member OF me present Congress- Mr.
tiOn bill In the last Congress, and managed 1t with
great ability.
The friends Of Gen. Bragg, of Wisconsin, say
that he will be appointed chairman OF the House
the War Claims Committee In the last Congress of
which he was member, but had served on the
Military Committee IN previous Congress- and
took great Interest In the affairs OF that committee.
Western members 1t seems likely that they will not
follow the lead of Wall street In the crusade against
the coinage OF silver 1t Is evident that the Bland
hill can only he repealed by the union Of the solid
Democracy as will decline TO be bound by House
caucu8 on the silver question.
Senator Cullom, chairman OF the Senate Commit
tee on Interstate Commerce, Is preparing repor,
IN which he will! recommend legislation to prevent
discrimination by through shippers In favor OF a
favored few, and taking strong ground against The
system OF special rebates The report viii also rec
Ommend Legislation against exoriiOnatc charges
and require publication OF freight rates.
ills to be hoped that Congress viii appropriate
SUFFICIENT money for the next fiscal year to complete
the marble terrace and steps and general approaches
TO the Capitol. There is no economy In dollng on
that has been agreed upon on liked plan, and the
inconvenience resulting from pr0lOnRiDg the worl
great. while me appearance OF ne surroundings
thing but attractive
Tho House Committee OF Patents will again hav,
before It the important question Of the power of thu
> Government TO institute suits to set aside patent
, granted tn Inventors Twice has the House passe,
You'd the flea " the Senate committee As In
Commissioner Of Patents has recommended legisla
,l5n on the subject. AM ne contemporaries ar
become prominent question.
Librarian spoGord says there Is good prospect o
the passage OF bill by this Congress to erect suit
, abe building for the Congressional Library. Tn
Senate Ia known TO favor the measure. with scarcel
dissenting voice, and II Ia hOped that the H0us
VIII take up the matter at an early day. All that
needed Ia Q fair discussion OF the necessities OF tn
d Library This has never been had In the Houst
Various Senate hills have come before the H0us
providing for the purchase OF suitable site for IN
Library Building. but opportunity has never "
. been afforded for either discussion or action.
Senator Elmunds has published letter In III
e December Century against tho scheme of maxim
e ex Presidents lie members OF the Senate AZ tn
United States Senate exists solely upon the theor
n that the States are equally represented In on
chosen by the State Legislatures II seems absurd
= talk OF Injecting Into that body life members,
n who represent nothing but the past. Senator II,
10 munds sagely remarksi "There IL nothing that
No. which makes II necessary that an ex-Presder
should have any other station or title than that OF
~ eminent private Citizen"
y A talk with a prominent Democratic Senator d,
10 yeloped the opinion that the various Senate COMM
r. tees TO whom the recess Presidential appointment
Of would be referred would be slow IN acting upo
G. them. The policy outlined by the Republicans wa
to Investigate closely the antecelenis OF every al
u pointee with view TO formulating list OF mpropl
=. appointments for use In the Congressional canvas
Ve next fan Also that II was proposed to introduc
VI the Cabinet asking for the for the dscharG
OF chiefs OF divisions and other employees not con
y, Ing under the civil service rules, where such di
IL charges had been made without ostensible reason
-, Coupled with this opposition to removals will be
y, debate ON the question OF appointments In allege
possibly an investigation by special committee
u tlonal amendment from holding offices In the Sta
aud National Governments have been elected or al
~ pointed to onices In the several States.