The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-02-21
Things At The Capital.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18th, 1885.

The threatened extra session of Con-
gress has been the chief subject of spec
ulation during the week on Capitol hill
There is difference of opinion us TO
whether it will be called or not Sena-
tors are generally of the belief that there
need be no extra session, while members
of the House think it cannot be averted.
\ Senator remarked to me yesterday
that he never in all his experience in
Congress, saw the appropriations in bet
ter shape, and that they could get them
all out of the way by the fourth of March.
Half an hour afterward | heard Il repre-
sentative declare that the appropriations
were in very bad condition and he did
not see how they could be passed in time
to avoid an extra session. Then there
is an impression among the Democrats
that the Republicans are working secret
ly to force an extra session, while the
Republicans believe there is clique of
Democrats who are trying to bring about
the same result. The question was
sprung so unexpectedly that many Con
gressmen are alarmed at the probable
Illustration of their well laid plans for the
coming summer, Senators would be less
Inconvenience than members by acall of
the Forty Ninth Congress. Many OF
them live in Washington, and would un-
der any circumstances spend the greater
/ ,,nrt of tI,n;, e,,Y,p,or hove
The dynamite bill died quiet death,
the dynamite sympathizers were depriv-
ed of an opportunity to declare their
views on the floor of Congress; and the
expected quarrel was avoided, and the
House of Representatives got out of the
dynamite business without committing
itself in any way. The House foreign
affairs committee voted that it is beneath
the dignity of the House to pass dyna-
mite resolution similar in tone to that
passed by the Senate. 1t behooves the
Senate to look to its dignity after this re-
buke. The upper chamber has been
considered very strong in that line, here.
tofore, while the House has had bad
name for easy morals and random
manners
Another House committee has just
taken action that will bevery disappointing
to gentlemen who contested seats in pre-
yious Congresses, and who have filed
claims to eremunerated for the expense
of their contests. There are many of
these claims, and many of their owners
are now in the city, thinking to get them
through Congress in the hurry of the
closing days of the session. The com
mittee has decided to report only those
claim where the contests were for seats
in the present House.
Mr. Cleveland's friends and advisor,
are expecting and hoping that he will
announce his Cabinet within the present
week They think it best that the hopes
anxieties and disappointments ofaspirant'
should be over with as soon as possible
so that some necessary preparation may
be made by the fourth of March. Mr.
Cleveland intimated to a certain states
man that he would make his slate public
by the twenty second of Feb, and thai
all the names would be announced Al
once All politicians in Washington
think Mr.. Bayard will be the next Sec
rotary of State.
A gaeat deal Of interest is manifested
in the work of preparing the new pen
sion building for the inaugural festivi-
ties and many have expressed doubt us
to whether it would be ready in time
We know Just where we are and where
we will end, besides, we will have by
fur the finest parade, decorations, and
pyrotechnics the people of this country
have ever seen. 1t is evident no time
is being lost at the Pension building. a
large force of men work in rain and snow
both day and night.
On Saturday next the Washington
Monument will be dedicated with becom.
lug pomp and ceremony. Many visitors
are expected to attend, while they are in
the city President Arthur will hold his
last public reception, so that they meet
him and shake hands.
Since its completion, the Monument
has been photographed by artists from
many cities There is scarcely con-
Ceivable view of the shaft that has not
been taken by the camera. And these
pictures have been taken morning noon
and might, by daylight and moonlight.
But they are not satisfactory. \ picture
that shows the simple outlines and loses
all the effect of the proportions is not
striking. The memorial is, in itself, i'm
posing and grand, but it requires back
ground of sky and plain to inspire admit
ration. The only approach to work of
art that it have seen is picture
that shows the reflection of the Monu-
ment in the lake beside it, 1t has been
demonstrated by critics that it is almost
impossible to correctly describe the Mon
ument by any word in the language; and
now it has been shown that it is impossi-
BILE to correctly represent on canvass or
card beoard by camera, paintbrush or