The Press., 1885-02-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASMAaGIVN LEAH&As
 Washington, D. C., Jan. 30, 1883.
 With dynamite debates. and resolutions in both ends of the capitol with some at- tention to appropriation bills, and to mass of rather unimportant miscellaneous matter with the secret sessions of the sen- ate over the treaties, and flibustering in the house, the representatives of nearly sixty millions of people have written an- other page in historythis week. The work cannot be called creditable to themselves, or profitable to the people.
 The Edmnnds anti-dynamite bill, which passed the senate with but one opposing vote, will provoke opposition in the house from other members besides the eternal twisters of the British lions tail Those whose constituencies ara largely Irish will vote against it. A western member re- marked to me yesterday that the laws against crime were ample, and the bill was superAuons He thought if the secretary of the treasury required his subordinates to do their duty in the matter of inspection of shipments, dynamiters could not export explosives to England. In other words large part of his constituents hated Eng land to such degree, that he was fearful they would remember to leave him out at the next nominating convention, if he voted for bill that savored of sympathy ! for that nation. .
 There are daily contests in the lowe, house now, over the precedence of busi, ness. One member after another brings ais favorite measure forward for considera. tion. The long rolrcall is taken and us- ually the house refuses by vote, to consid- CT the bill. The other day MT. Hewett, of New York, proposed the bill to carry into effect the Mexican treaty, but the house declined to discuss it. It will not be passed this session. Congressman Sin gleton, of Mississippi, pressed forward the congressional library bill !; MT. Townsend of Illinois, presented the claims of the Mexican pension bill Mir. Stockslager, O Indiana, thought the public building measures were entitled to consideration
 Representative Hunt of Louisiana, sug gested that it was time to take action o, the bill for the encouragement of the Amer l tcan merchant marine and Mr. Heuley of California, wanted to take up Nertherl
 Pacific land forfeiture bills, which wa
 agreed to. The first bill on the calender however, forfeited certain lands in Michi gan, and the house refused to discuss it
 Likewise the next land grant bill was re tjected. Mir. Van Eaton of Mississippi
 then submitted varlous fillibustering mo
 tions, ito adjourn, to adjourn over, to take ;recesses. Several more roll calls were ta
 ken, and finally wearied with roll calle the house adjourned.
 If republican president had been elect ed, policy of administration would hav been outlined for the next four years, dur
 ing the present winter, which would hay , assumed form in legislation. The repub
 lican leaders in congress would hay pressed the Legislation to & vote, and , would have passed, or else an issue woul 7 have been made upon it against the demo cratic house to be decided by the peopl D in coming elections. With such laws an
 methods as it might command, the foult
 of March would have seen the new admir- , istration at work to tosccomplish its purpot
 es, mindful that four years are, after al but short period in nations life. Sine the death of the horizontal tariff bill, tn ways and means committee has been utter <, ly expressionless. Its head, Mr. Morrison , is thinking only about the Illinois senator
 ship. The appropriation committee d. ! votes itself to stinting every necessity r the government, while it's chairman, M ! Randall, is maneuvering for the ne1
 speakership. The banking and eurrenc , committee do nothing. The judiciary, LII
 der MT. Tinker, and the foreign affairs con : mittee under 8. 8. Cox, is waiting for M ! Cleaveland to say whether by and by, i, may be good administration measure t Q build gunboat And so enc might & f through all the committees. Nothing hs
 been done, and nothing is likely to be don' 7 The southern men have been out of powe { so long that they are awkward, and do nt ! know how to lead. Their unexpected vi,
 tory overcame them. Besides most c
 them would rather assert that secessio
 was right, and that Jeff. Davis was a pa 7 riot, than bring forward and advocate an = wise measure of Legislation.