Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-12-12
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
tFrom Our Regular correspondent.l


from Our Regular Correspondent
The event in Washington to-day
was the beginning of Congress The
session opened in the usual way.
There were crowds in the spectators
galleries and in the corridors of the
Capitol, while on the floor of the
House there was the old time confu-
sion, hustle, noise, handshaking, ex-
change of congratulations and intro
auctions. The old officers were re-
elected from the speaker down. The
Republicans gave a complimentary
vote for Speaker to Mr.. Reed, of
Maine.
There were more than a hundred
new faces among the Representatives,
and the hall looked much improved
by its new carpet and freshly var
nished furniture. The seat-drawing
presented the usual amusing scene of
expectation, suspense and disappoint-
ment on the countenances of the fort
innate and less fortunate Members.
The Senate chamber looked but lit
tie changed since the last adjourn
ment, except for the Grape draping
and floral decorations around the
chair of the late Vice President. The
Senate opened as quietly as if Its vaca-
ton had been only nine hours instead
OF nine months
Senator John Sherman was elected
to succeed Mr.. Hendricks as Presi-
dent pro tenn, Senator Logan having
declined the first caucus nomination
for the place. Nothing could have
been more repugnant to the Demo
Gratis than the selection OF Sherman.
They would have preferred Logan, as
the lesser evil. While Senator Logan
is narrow, positive partisan, his dis
Greet action after the last Presidential
election was in marked contrast to
the undignified conduct of Mr.. Blaine.
And then it must be admitted that,
while he has been in Congress during
period OF unparalleled extravaganza
and corruption, his personal honesty
has never been questioned.
Sherman is an accomplished hypo-
critic. While protesting patriotism,
he would at any moment be willing
to plunge the country in war, if he
could thereby promote his own selfish
interests. During his public life in
Washington, while engaged in no
other business ostensibly, and while
receiving the limited pay of Congress
man or Secretary of the Treasury, he
has accumulated fortune estimated
at several millions He is known to
have been the brains in the Presiden-
tial theft of 1876, and to have been al
ways an inscriptions, plausible, am
bilious, avaricious demagogue.
OF the Cabinet reports sent to the
President that of Secretary Whitney
may be mentioned as one of the ablest.
He has found, during his incumbency,
decaying dock-yards, squandered mill
ions, bad management and no ships.
He scathingly reviews past methods,
and holds that the only remedy is in a
complete reorganization of the Navy
Department While he wastes no
time in dragging to light past rascali-
ties or in making accusations against
former Secretaries, the plain manner
in which he exposes the mismanage-
ment, evasiOns and violations OF the
law, which existed when he assumed
control, is the most effective indict-
ment he could make against his pred
ecessors.
In regard to prospective legislation,
it may be asserted that the House will
first give attention to change OF its
rules. Then bill will be presented
for giving the Presidential succession
to the Cabinet. IT. is urged that the
temporary President, provided by
such bill, would not be the peoples
choice, but neither would an officer
elected by the Senate. Such a bill
would meet the emergency better
than any other plan that has been pro-
posed, for it would secure the contin-
uance in power of the party and the
Administration elected by the people.
Then there will be debates on the
Silver question, and hard fight over
it and the tariff. There are many
theories among the silver men. The
West will be for silver, the East
against it and the South will be di-
vided.
The session has opened very quiet
lily, but sensations will come later
Among them will probably be a
scheme of Republican Senators to inn
peach the Attorney General in con-
nection with the great telephone case.
Washington, Dec. 9TH.
THE GAINESVILLE Female Academy