Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-12-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
OF THE MONITOR.
WUshipQtOn. Dec. 22d.

Washington, Dec. 22d.
The week has been one of prepar-
alton for the holidays. Charitable
clubs are busy with arrangements
for supplying Kris Kingles and good
things to the children of the poor.
Churches and Sunday Schools are
busy with their plans for the season
merchants and buyers are busy, and
promenaders are busy gazing at the
SNOWY goods in the store windows.
The city put on its holiday appear
ance week ago, but the crowds and
hustle and rush increase every day,
and will continue to do so until they
reach a climax on Christmas eve.
Congress, too, made ready for
Christmas to-day by adjournlng I'M
till the fifth of January. Quite a
number of senators and representa-
tives will eat Christmas turkey at
their homes, though a majority of
them will remain in Washington
through the holiday seasons.
The emphatic vote 226 to 20, by
which the house decided to change
its rules showed how general was the
feeling that reform was necessary.
The 20 whe resisted the change do
not represent all of the members who
look forward with anxiety to the
effect of distributing the appropria-
tons bills among the different CON-
mittees. The change is an expert
ment that will be watched with in
terest, 10 see if it will result in eX-
travagance. Representative Kelly,
of Peun., who because Of his age
and long service is called the Faith
er of the House," said that no new
rules could be worse than the old
code. He no doubt voiced the feel
| ings Of the mass of members. Mr..
Randall fought earnestly against the
| change of rules and his defeat has
been the subject of much speculation
at the capitol. 1t has been doubted
If he would now accept the chairman
ship of the appropriations committee,
shorn as ii is of so much of it's pow
er. Many think that the forty ninth
congress has, by this charge, opened
its first session with serious mis-
take, and the lobby is naturally de-
lighted over the prospect Of argu-
mented business.
The passage of the bill pensionlng
Mrs. Grant was not attended by de-
bate, nor did it arouse opposition in
| either branch of congress, though in
the house one vote was recorded
against it, that of Mr.. Pierce of Wis
oonsin. The precedent has been es-
tabllshed of allowing a pension of
S., 900 year to the widows Of ex-
presidents.
The senate debated and passed
the presidential succession bill.
which the house will consider imme-
diately after the recess. On this
constitutional question: Senator
, Evarts made his first speech in the
senate and had. what few men get
an interested galleries and a thor
| oughly attentive senate. The sue
: cession bill will be antagonized il
the house by several measures which
! will be offered as substitutes to it.
In the senate debate upon the al
+ legged organization of the territory 0
: Dakota into q state, Senator Harri
: sou, of Indiana championed Dakota
: while Senator Vest of Missouri
: branded her recent proceedings a
e revolutionary During the debat
t Senator Harrison was accused b
e Senator Butler of showing bad ten
e per. The senator from Indian
e denied the charge, and added thf
d had the senator from S. Carolin
t. ever seen him out of temper really
n he would know how to discriminate
st The senior Senator Hampton fro,
,e South Carolina has introduced a bi
J. in the senate which is in full accol
lie with civil service reform. The b
as makes ii unlawful for senator's
De representatives to recommend or s.
le licit the appointment of any one
i'd an office under the &. S. Governme
er and provides a fine for the misd
It. meanor. The bill will doubtless fiji
Id favor with the more independe
II congressman, who would like to
ill relieved of the annoyance of ofiic
nr brokerage. But the provisions
the bill are pronounced by many il
a. practicable. It would be next
of impossible to enforce the penalti
de of the act.