The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-02-10
Washington Letter.
Washington, Feb, l, 1885,

The proceedings of the week IN Con-
gress have been partly overshadowed
in interest by the fight which the Repub-
licans of the Senate have forced with the
Administration. Our lawmakers have
not been idle, however, although there
has been but little legislation to speak
for their industry. Both ends of the
Capitol gave one day to obituary eloqu-
ence. 1t was given by the Senate in mem
DRY of Vice-President Hendricks, by the
House in memory of the late Representa-
tive Ellwood of Illinois.
Then Dakota has consumed a large
share of the Senate's time and debate on
this question promises to be long. In
terest in Dakota's affairs and demands
has been enhanced during the discussion
, by the presence ON the floor Of the
Senate of her two aspirants for Senatori-
al honors, Messrs Moody and Edgerton.
The are similar in appearance, both being
large portly men with short gray bear DIS.
They listen to every word that is said
about their territory, and occasion
ally furnished speaker with some data
or some explanation that is needed.
The Republicans of the Senate do not
rest easy with a majority Of eight. They
are trying to get additional strength in
Dakota, and are planning to capture
Washington and Montana territories in
the near future with Idaho in the dis
tancs. They have not forgotten that but
for Colorado coming in 1876, the Hayes
fraud would never have been consum'
m ated.
During the week the House of Rep
resentatives has talked great deal on
.unimportant subjects, has quarrelled a
good deal to no purpose, and has passed
fifty little pension bills. l have alluded
before to the many new pension schemes
that have been intro Guced into the
present Congress, besides all of the old
ones of the last. Congressman seem to
vie with each other in proposing absurd
plans for increasing pensions. If they
were all carried into effect they would
bankrupt the Treasury of the United
States. And tie worst feature of every
new pension proposal is the demagogic
spirit it inevitably awa'ens in both
parties in Congress. Many of them
are not even seriously intended, theiI
real object being to ensnare and capture
what is known as the soldier vote.
The Presidents refusal of the Senate Is
latest demand for papers has been the
topic of discussion here for the past three
days. The papers called for were those
bearing upon the official character of a
District Attorney of Southern Alabama.
They were in the custody of the Law
Department and referred exclusively to
the suspension of the late incumbent
The Senate, in secret session was no.
tilted by Attorney GeneralG Garland shat
it was not considered promotive of pub
lie interests to comply with its request
for the transmission of the documents
mentioned"
Some of the Republican Senators who
do not believe in trying to extort reasons
| from the President, and who have been
forced into this attitude by the caucus
are disposed to be recalcitrant. Rumor
has it that there are three who are so
much opposed to the stand taken by
their brethren that the majority are ex-
tremely anxious about them. Mr.. Ed
munds has been accused by these dis
fected Senators If the President had
been beaten he would have obtained
the credit of having made good party
fight.
The Democratic Senators caucused
again and were all in favor disappearing
the President, believing him to be right
In maintaining his constitutional prerog-
alive. Senators of both parties seem to
think the issue is pretty well made up
now, and that for some time, at least,
there will be no action upon the NOM
ludllOn VI pcIoOlo W SuCCcOu buEpCHuSu
or removed Republicans. The fact that
the President has not hitherto been call
ed upon for any expo sure OF his reasons
for making official changes is evidence
that the Republican Senators were only
seeking partisan advantage.
Reversing the usual order. the Presi-
dent made the people his guests of honor
at the first of his evening receptions. The
levee to the Diplomats, Congressman,
and the Army and Navy will come later.
Quite as elaborate preparations were
made liz time east for the entertainments.
The conservatory was open and
lighted, and the Marine band played
drought the evening The reception
was crush as usual, but the President
was cordial and smiling, and the crowd
was good natured and patient.
BUD BAKER.