Great Falls tribune., 1885-12-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
" ssuJNcT0H nao + 1SSS

WAsH1NeToN,Dec. 5, 1856.
IRE this communication reachea
you Congress Will have convened
The Senate and House Of Represent
atiyes will be called to order simul-
taneous!y. After the formal organi-
zation the House and probably the
Senate, will open with a discussion Of
the rules. The contest will be between
those who want to make this a
working session, and those who it is
alleged, would squander it in idleness
and in talk.
Many Of the arriving Congressnen
say il any business is to be accomplish
cd during the session, thers must first
be a revision Of the rules The
popular plan is to take some Of the
power away from the Committee on
Appropriations, by placing a part of
their work il the hands Of other
Committees.
It was standing joke during the
last session that the United States
Congress consisted Of the Senate and
Sam Randall. Underneath the Joke
there was much deep felt jealousy Of
the fifteen members who compose Mr..
RandalFs potent committee. Any
plan to curtail their prerogatiyes it is
thought, will meet with favor from
the remaining three hundred and ten
Members Of the House, whe belong to
the less important committees.
The Democratic majority in the
House Of Representatives has a useful
if not a brilliant part to perform il
national politics this session. It will
occupy peculiar position. The
Senate being Republican by a small
majority, the House will be without
power Of positive legislation, while at
the same time it's responsibility viii
be great. It will be practically on its
good behavior It will be required to
show to the country that it is not
inclined to do anything radical and
extreme and that tits ready to propose
everything. that is conservative and
good.
It's first work probably will be to
provide for a rational count Of the
Electoral votes and for an orderly
succession to the Presidency in case
OF vacancy. After these matters are
disposed OF, three questions Of great
importance will have to be dealt
w1th,-the reform of the currency, the
reform of the Tariff, and the reform
Of the Civil Service On the latter no
affirmative legislation will be required
beyond the passage of the necessary
appropriation. But efforts will be
made to prevent the appropriation, to
repeal the law, and cripple thessystem.
The question Of a successor to the
late Yice-President Hendricks con-
tinues to be an absorbing topic here
The caucus Of Republican Senators to
be held at the Capitol tonight will
decide who it shall be You will
know the result Of the caucus before
this letter reaches you. Consequent
" it is useless to forecaste its action.
The Democrats would greatly prefer
Senator Edmunds for presiding officer
of the Senate, and look upon the
selections OF either Senators Logan
or Sherman as kind of menace.
Having completed his message, the
President has begun upon the District
Of Columbia appointments. The
Marshalship being first in order, the
long struggle for that Office has end
ed by Col. Wilson, a well known
citizen Of Washington, securing the
coveted prize. AS usual. the contest
ants were all left in the race. Mr..
Wilson was not all applicant for Office