St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-02-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular correspondent
Jan. a7th, 1885.

has not been of particular interest,".
The Senate has held secret sessions on
the pending treaty questions, and has
debated the Inter-s state commerce and
Indian bills. Both the House and Sen
ate have discussed the Okalahoma lands
invasion, and in both Houses day was
spent in funeral oratOry the subjects
being Senator Anthony, and Represent
ative Evins deceased.
Representative HuTd made strong
speech in opposition to the Blair educa-
tional bill, basing his argument on the
ground that the Senate was usurping a
constitutional prerogative of the House
when it originated a money bill. A
motion to refer the bill to the Judiciary
committee was lost by small vote.
This is understood to indicate that the
bill has more friends than enemies In
tie Honsez and will become law. The
amount of money, about $1OO,OOO,0OO,
appropriated by the bill is not the full
measure Of its Importance. The greater
part of the money will go to the South,
and will be potential in the intellectual
habilitation of the darker part OF that
section. Under Republican admins
tration the money would no doubt have
been used, like the Freedman's bureau,
as means Of political propaganda, but
ia FIVE weeks a republican administra-
.tion will be nightmare of the past.
There are several important meas
ures awaiting the consideration OF the
House, which ought to be acted upon at
this session. Among these are the bill
to carry into effect the provisions OF the
Mexican treaty, the Bankruptcy bill,
the National Library bill, and the Blair
Educational bill. In the five weeks yet
remaining Of the session there is ample
time to perfect all the appropriation
bills and to act intelligently upon the
other measures referred to, but dis
position has been shown to prevent the
consideration of any but appropriation
bills. and great deal of the time of the
House is being wasted in dilatory mo-
tions and roll-calls. This may have
serious results. If the wheels of legis-
Iation are blocked for any length of
time the appropriation bills, if passed at
all, will go through in the closing hours
of the session and without proper con-
sideration. IL any appropriation bill
fails, it may be necessary to reconyene
Congress Immediately after inaugnra-
ton of President Cleveland. This
would please the Republican Senate and
might result in greatly embarrassing
the new administration.
The Committee on Appropriations
expect to report the Army and Post
office Appropriation bills in time TO call
them up on Tuesday, and Wednesday.
It is the intention of the Committee oD
Rivers and Harbors to ask the consider
alton of the River and Harbor Appro-
spriation bill during the latter part OF
the week. There is disposition on
the part of the friends of various prom
inent measures now pending to antago-
nize the appropriation bills. Mr.. Hew-
iSs will endeavor to call up the bill to
carry into effect the provisions of the
Mexican Reciprocity treaty during the
week. Mr.. TownsheDd will press the
Mexican Pension bill; Mr.. Stockslager
the bills providing for public buildings
throughout the country Mr.. Singleton
the National Library bill, and Mr.. Will
lis, the Educational bill at every Oppor-
tnnity.
For the next two years at least the
political complexion Of the respective
Houses Of Congress is to remain un.
changed. The House will be Democrat.
iC, the Senate Republican as has been
the case during four Congresses sinct
the memorable election of 1874. IT the
legislation which the country needs il
to be adopted there must be more Of
the statesman, and less Of the mere
politician at both ends Of the Capitol.
The impression that the bill introduc'
ed by Senator Edmunds Saturday Il
punish dynamiters was subsequent tt
the arrival Of the news of the explosion
ii 8ndon turns out to be erroneous
The bill was introduced before the Sen
ate went into executive session, which
was at 1880 D. "a. The report that Sc
Eious explosions had occurred in Lon
don did not reach the Capitol till fifteer
minutes later. II is a curious circum.
stance that Senator Edmunds shoulC
have in manner anticipated the news
of the crime committed in the British
Us