The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-12-17
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Dec. IL, 1885

WAsHINaToN, Dec. IL, 1885.
Since wrote you the Forty Ninth
Congress has begun its first session,
Its opening scenes did not differ wide
ly from those of past sessions, AS
usual, throngs of people rushed 10 the
Capitol and crowded the spectators
galleries. AS usual. hundreds went
away disappointed unable to get in.
On the floor of the House there was
one hundred and forty new faces and
one hundred and elghty-five familiar
ones. The desks of members We're
loaded with floral gifts from admiring
friends and Mr.. Carlisle in the Speak
er's chair welded the gavel, and swore
ia the members az they stood in q
semi circle around the bar in groups
of twenty and thirty.
In the Senate, the old familiar faces
were for the most part at their accus-
toned desks. On the Democratic side
of the chamber, however. some
changes were noted. Senator Vool-
hees of Indiana, was at the desk long
occupied by Secretary Bayard. Sena
tor Walthall of Mississippi, sat in Sec
retary Lamar's former seat, and Sena-
tor Jones of Arkansas was in possess
ion of the desk that Attorney General
Garland gave up for q Cabinet port
folio. The chamber was draped in
mourning for Mr.. Hendricks, and
Senator Sherman sat in the late Vice
Presidents chair.
The fret roll call revealed but five
absentees in the House, four from the
South and one from the North. An
unusually good showing for the new
body.
The present congress bids fair to be
memorable one. 1t assembled under
circumstances fraught with significane
and expectation. For the first time in
twenty-five years there is Democratic
House and q Democratic President,
and the party is charged with the re-
spousibility growing out of this con-
junction.
There is much important work
ahead for the session. such as revising
the tariff, suspending the coinage OF
silver, making navy, providing for
the coast defence, regulating the
counting of the electoral vote, settling
the presidential succession, and re
ducing government expenses.
President Clevelsnd's first message
was listened to with unusual interest
in both ends of the Capitol. 1t is
pronounced an able state paper by
many Senators and Members who are
antagonistic to its policy. During ths
reading of the message, which occu
pied one hour aud three quarters, tht
sentiment of many congressman OF
the various questions could be deter
mined by their expressions of counte
nance. These who agreed with thu
President that the continued coinage
of silver is an evil, exchanged mods o
approval, while the believers in silve
scowled and otherwise manifested
their disapprobation. The President
positive stand on silver makes it al
most certain now that this will be th'
first engrossing subject to come before
Congress, 1t will doubtless provok,
long debate, for the advocates of sill
yer coinage and its enemies are botl
determined.
The Senate has setteled down t.
business with its proverbial prompt
ness, At least two hundred measures
have been presented to it, nearly all o
which were presented at the last ses
sion by the same Senators. Thus al
most every national question before
tae last Senate will be revived.
The House is discussing how t.
work by amending its rules. It is sc
hampered by these rules that week.
and months are thrown away every
year. Congress is an expensive necess
ity. Every hour of session cost:
what would be small fortune to the
average workingman, To simplify it;
methods of procedure, to do away
with needless Interruptions, to brine
the business of the House within the
business principles, is now the subjec
Of debate.
The Presidents first batch of recess
nominations went to the Senate OIL
Thursday for confirmation. It com
prised about three hundred names. s
number of foreign appointments head
ing the list. They are not of char
acter that stand in danger of being op
posed. The President shows his usua
wisdom in holding back for the pres
ent such nominations as may provoke
contests and delay the action of the
Senate.
OF the Cabinet officers annual re
ports, those of Attorney General Gar
land and Secretary Lamar were tn,
last sent to the President. Rarely hal
Departmental report received 8,
much favorable comment as that O
Mr.. Lamar. Misgivings in regard Il
his fitness for the large, complex ant
practical Department of the Interior
were freely expressed at the time O
his appointment. They have giver
way to the conviction that he is tn,
right man for the place.
A few Republican papers of the ul
ira rabid class try to find fault with
the message of President Cleveland
and criticise il with considerable bit
terness, but the great mass of paper
of all parties comment upon it favora
bly,, and seem to regard it as q stats
paper of much merit and fully equa
to that of any of the former occupants
of the Presidential Office, and showing
its author to be a man of broad, com
prehensive and statesmanlike views
Some subjects of the message will moi
probably meet with the endorsement
L 4