Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-12-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Dec. %, 1885.

and shops are thrOnged with people
loaded down with purchases. From
nine O'Clock in the morning until
after that hour in the evening, there
is a ~ceaseless jostling between the
crowds who are engaged in buying,
and the thousands Of promenaders
who r merely gazing atthe beauti-
full Holiday goods.
Congress, too, is out Holiday max
ing. 1t adjourned today, just two
weeks since it convened, to rest
from it's labors until the fifth of
january. Mr.. Beach, a Represen-
tatiye from New York, opposed the
idea, which he called a childish one,
of taking a Holiday recess. AT
this time, he held, it was attended
with danger, and he appealed to a
Democratic House to at least 60 as
far as "a Republican Senate had gone
in taking some action upon the
Presidential succession bill before
indulging in a vacation.
Representative Findley, of Mary
land, was also anxious to have the
bill passed, saying it was infinitely
more important than any speech
that could be made upon it. A
member from West Virginia, Mr..
Golf, asked if the bill was any more
important now than when, under a
Republican President, the Democra-
tic side of the House opposed it,
Mr.. Findley then asked how long the
Republican side of the house wanted
to discuss the bill before a vote
could be reached. A voice replied
" -Four years." Mr.. Reed, of Maine,
the chosen leader of the minority,
who is always ready and sarcastic
when need be, responded that he
was not supplying programmes for
the House. He said in the same
connection that there was nothing
before the House demanding SO
v%oclferous y display Of patriotism as
that of the gentlemen from New
York and Maryland.
Before adjourning for the Holi
days, however, both branches OF
Congress did a creditable weeks
work. The Senate discussed and
passed the Succession bill, granted a
pension of $4,000 a year to the widow
of Gen. Grant, talked over the
Dakota question, removed the disa.
bilities of Gen. Lawton, and indulg.
ed in a little temperance debate
about excluding liquors from the
Capitol restaurants. During the
talk, Senators slaked their thirst at
the well stored restaurant on the
floor below. Senator ingalls, made
a happy picture of Senators trying
to put themselves in harmony with
the temperance movement of the
country upon the surface, while they
were SO we'll provided with whiskey
underneath.
1t was upon the Presidential sue
ceSsion bill that Senator Evarts
made his first set speech in the
Senate. Although he is we'll known
in Washington, having been here as
Attorney General under johnson
and as Secretary of State under
Hayes, the New York Senator is
holding the first office here to which
he has been elected. He took his
seat in the Senate last Spring when
President Cleveland called an extra
session. During that session of a
month he scarceley uttered a word
except to vote. From the traditions
OF the Senate, newcomers are lis.
teners. rather than takers. 1t is
unusual for new Senators to claim
recognition from the Chair so early
ID the session, as did Mr.. Evarts.-
"
He naturally falls into the position
OF an old member, however, his ex.
p~erience in National affairs emitted.
ing him to the first rank. He made
a strong and elaborate argument in
favor OF a succession within the
dominant party and in the Execu-
tive branch of the Governments. A
large audience in the galleries and
Senators on the floor paid him the
tribute of close attention.
The House spent the week in dis
cusSion of a new code of rules. By
the overwhelming vote of 226 to 70.
1t declared its emancipation from
the shackels of the Committee on
Appropriations, and distributed the
power OF making appropriations
among five other committees. OF
course this change opens the way
for extravaganza and increased ex-
penditure. 1t is therefore hailed
with delight by the lobbyist. 1t
makes a fine opportunity for every
kind of lobby plan.
Some rather remarkable bills and
resolutions have been presented in
the Senate during the week. A
smile was created by a memorial