Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-05-07
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

firm PrOtectiOniStS as ever.
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Written and compiled for the HERALD.
The opinions of congressman diff
fer widely as to when the body will
adjourn. Representative Reed Of
Name thinks, since it is the policy
of the Democratic party to do moth
ing at all Tor fear it should do some
thing wrong, Congress may as well
depart by the first of July. Others
say it will depend upon the man.
agement of the Tariff bill whether
or not they will be able to get away
by the first Of August.
Ii is thought now that the Tariff
debate will begin about the middle
of May. So far, about eighty mem
bers of the House have signi6ed
their determination to give to the
world their views on the subject,
and others are 20 report yet. That
will take at least three weeks
Still theIe are so many possibilities
in connection with the Tariff bill,
so many ways to kill it by iDdirec-
ton and prolonged delay upon it,
that it would not be safe to forecast
its future.
The Democratic Representatives
do not succeed in cOnCealing their
distress when brought face to face
with their situation in Congress
and the probable effect of their CO.
nOthing-cOurSe upon the votes Of
the country in the fall electiOns.-
The leaders do not even count upon
a solid Democratic representation
in the House from the South for the
next Congress, but expect the Re-
politicians to carry twelve OF fifteen
Southern districts. The present
Democratic majority in the House
is only forty four, and a loss of
twenty three districts would pass
the majority over to the Republi-
cans.
But was speaking of the chagrin
of the Democrats at their inability
to make in Congress a record upon
which they can appeal to the cOun-
try to retain them as a party in
control OF legislation. If they could
dictate to the President they would
want him, as did Senator Vance in
his speech against Civil Service, to
break all his promises, TO reject the
Civil Service, to break all his prom
Uses, to reject the Civil Service law
as an encroachment upon his pre-
negatives, and to call the Senators
and Representatives to feast Of
patronage.
That is at least what the average
Democratic member would suggest.
The late Speaker Kerr said that the
average Congressman was a Jack
ass and Mr.. Kerr knew a good deal
about him from experience and as
ISOLATION. 1t is difficult at any rate
for the average member to get out
of his district opinions and to catch
the drift of public opinion or Of the
country's opinion. The Forty
Niath Congress, or rather, the con
trolling party in it, is a narrow
minded one. 1t is composed of local
issues. The questions of the day,
such as the tariff, silver, rivers and
harbors, education, pensions and
bankruptcy, stand or fall according
as the measures on these subjects
are advanced or retarded by the
wishes of districts.
The Senate has passed the bill
for building an addition to the
White House, located directly South
of the present structure and con
nected with it by a corridor. Sena
tor Hawley of Connecticut opposed
the measure on the ground that be.
cause of its historic memories and
associations the old mansion should
not be remodeled, reconstructed or
touched. IL was entitled TO preser-
walton in its original condition. He
thought additional accommodations
for executive offices should be pro
vided by erecting a building be
tween the present structure and the
War Department. He was told,
however, by Senator Morrill, Of
Vermont, who was active in push
ing this bill, that all such PROPOSE
tons and suggestions had been con
sidered and found impracticable,
and when a vote was taken, it was |
carried almost unanimously.
Society, released from the restric.
tions of Lent, has plunged into
gayeties during the week, as if de-
termined to make the most of the
few weeks left before the time for
flight to the mountains and sea.
shore. The principal post Easter
event thus far was the Calico bali
at the Chinese Legation, for the
benefit Of the Garfield hospital
The wife Of Gen. Logan, who was
one of the leaders, is the president
Of the hospital board. 1t was a
very brilliant and successful affair,
the ladies wore calico
frocks and The gentlemen calico |
vests and neckties.
The new Chinese Minister, whose |
castle-like residence was the scene !
Of this event, did not make his APP. /
naaranoo on tha M saeiOu hpcauea