Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-02-20
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 1885.

cefllv, IT'S eaSeiHeoo ~ 81 " ou'i
ness. 1t complains of the multipli-
cation of perplexing problems. 1t
complains, and with justice too of
the matters to which certain of its
members insist on calling its atten-
ton. Still it can be led into filibus-
teriug all night, until two o'clock in
the morning, rather than face a trou-
blesome question. The friends of
the bankruptcy bill were in the ma
jority the other day when the matter
was before the House and voted
down every motion to adjourn. The
attendance of members was large at
the beginning of the struggle. but
one member after another stole
quietly away, until orly about one
third of the House WAS present.
Midnight came aud .'ill there was
no prospect of adjournment. The
usual scenes attending a night SEES.
sion were enacted, the time being
! mostly occupied with roll calls fol-
l. wing motions to adjourn, while
tie dila,orv proceedings were diver
sitied with banter, fun and personal
tiles. Mr.. Springer of Illinois asked
to have the rules suspended and a
! very little bill passed for the benefit
of his constituents. Mr.. White, of
Kentucky, objected. "Iknew some
crank would object to this said MIR.
Springer, whereupon Mr.. White
went into a white rage. Filibuster-
ing continued upon various motions,
and finally Mr. Hiscock asked,
"What can we accomplish ? You
know it is impossible to accomplish
anything" Mr.. Collins retorted
that oil things were possible in u
sensible assembly. Another hour
had dragged its slow length along,
and the friends of the bankruptcy
bill succeeded, after many efforts, in
having call for tie House ordered.
The Sergeant-at-Arms sent his depu-
ties forth through the city, in search
of truant Congressman, and first one
batch and then another was brought
! in to give an account of their absence.
The same tbreadbare excuses, which
have done duty on similar occasions
for years, were offered. They were
as usual greeted with bursts of deri-
sive laughter, but were in every case
deemed satisfactory. The new re-
cruits voted, of course, for the next
motion to adjourn and carried it.
1t cannot he denied that Congress
has been worshiping the rising
rather than the setting sun in its
do nothing policy" Not knowing
Mr.. Cleveland's views on certain iw-
portant questions and fearful OF en-
barrassing him by action, the major.
ity has sought safety in inaction.
There will be no further seclusion
or repose on MIR. Cleveland's part,
however, and from this time on his
influence will be felt on legislation.
The Democratic pilgrimage to New
York commenced on Wednesday
evening; quite little party of Con-
gressmen having started to see the
President-elect. A gentleman who
has seen Mr.. Cleveland several times
since bis election, told me it was
great mistake TO assume that lie does
not know all about prominent party
men, simply because he has not been
in positions which brought him in
contact with prominent Democrats
ofthe country. The gentleman men
toned that Mr.. Cleveland was not
SO much in need of advice as many
seemed to think. He has been an
active Democrat ever since he has
been old enough to have any part in
politics, said he, and has taken deep
interest in the party and all its af-
fairs. He Gun to-day measure party
men more accurately than many
others who have long been in ma
tional public life.
1t is said the Civil Service Com.
mission will strongly recommend
that naval cadetships shall be &C.
quired by Civil Service examinations
instead of through Congressional
selections. There is popular i'm
preston that relationship or &C.
quaintanceship with a legislator is
not the highest qualification for nm
embryo navigator. 1t is thought
possible that among a dozen appli-
cants in district the one who could
pass the best examination might
prove worthy of the appointment,
more so than the one who could
bring the most pressure to bear upon
the member Of Congress.
Owing to the part taken by the
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher in the
late Presidential campaign, some
curiosity was felt to know what char.
acter of audience would meet him at
his lecture here, on Tuesday evening.
1t was a fair one as to numbers, but
was not overAowing. and there was
large number of Democratic Rep.
reSentatiyaa md Canotoro ,,ro,.,t