The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-12-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(rRoM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 1885.

''-N~N,NN~A'S ASSs - ASOOs
The city is full of people, and the
long session of the forty-ninth congress
began to-day at noon. Probably no
congress ever opened more quietly and
with less excitement than this. As
usual there were crowds of people at
the capitol to see congress meet. As
usual at the beginning of new session
there were many new faces on the
floor of the house, and the old time
hustle, confusion and noise. Old mem
bers greeted each other Familiarity, new
members were introduced, and there
was an interchange of congratulations
during the hour preceding noon. The
old house officers were reelected, ex-
cept the chaplain, Rev. Mr.. Lindsay.
This place was given to Mr.. Milburn
the blind preacher of Chicago. Repre-
sentative Reed, of Maine, was honored
with the complimentary vote of the
republicans for speaker. This makes
Mr.. Reed virtually the leader of the
minority. He is considered the ablest
man in the house on a quick retort.
He is very strong in tacking and an
swering the opposite party in debate.
And indeed most of the debating ability
in the house is on the republican side.
The senate, which is always quiet
and orderly, was unusually so to-day.
1t met, organized by eiecting Senator
Sherman president pro TEN. to succeed
Mr.. Hendricks, and adjourned through
respect to the memory of the late vice
president, whose chair was covered
black.
The presidents message is ready for
congress whenever congress is ready to
hear it, which will probably be to-mor-
row. Although great caution has kept
the message from premature publica-
ton, it's contents are pretty well
known. It will be useless for me to
give you its points, as YOU will proba-
bly, read it in full by the time this
reaches you.
The forty y-ninth is the first democrat
ic congress to meet under democratic
administration since the days of ex-
president Buchanan. The country will
be watchful to see how much the party
has learned since treason shouted in
the capitol and plotted in the cabinet.
Twenty-six years have passed away,
thirteen coug, esses have come and
twelve have gone since, on the first
Monday in December, 1859, James
Buchanan, the last democratic prede-
cessor OF President Cleveland, sent his
annual message to congress.
Some of the senators and representa-
tives who assembled at the capitol to-
day were there on the first Monday in
December 1859. If they will cast
their eyes over this beautiful city, re-
calling what it was then, and noting
what it is now, they will have a gauge
by which to measure the change that
has been wrought in the nation during
those twenty-six years.
There is much preparation for the
financial battle to be fought this vim
ter. Hon. Manton Marble is still cor
responding with members of congress
and endeavoring in every way to put
before them facts and figures, upon
which arguments on the silver ques-
tion hinge. 1t is claimed that the
basis of financial legislation will he
more clearly defined, understood, and
discussed than ever before
The Hoar succession bill, or some
thing closely resembling it, is likely to
be brought forward early, and there
are no indications that the republicans
will offer any opposition to it. Dur
ing the last session the senate secured
the adoption of the plan to make cabl-
net officers the successors of the presi-
dent and vice president in case of
death, removal, or disability of BOTH |
The bill failed in the house by the OBJ
structive management of democrat
from Connecticut, Mr.. Eaton.
But the first subject brought to the
attention of the house will probably be
4 revision of the rules. Every mem
Der wants them changed, and there is
no question about that. The trouble
S in finding enough members who
want the same change. Each member
4 Il 1 4