Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-12-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MONITOR.
Washington, Dec. 21st.

Washington, Dec. 21st.
Congress made an excellent record
for the second week of the session.
Some important bills were passed,
such as that ealing the tenure of
once act by the senate, aud ailoting
lands in severalty to Indians, by the
House, and various subjects came up
for share of attention in both
branches. Among them were trade
dollars, appropriations, Mexican bor-
der affairs, the fisheries, the tariff,
secret executive sessions, and the bill
preventing senators and representa-
tives from taking money from the
government and from railroads at
the same time.
1t is long, long distance between
the place where Senator Ednunds
stood year ago, and where Senator
Hoar stands to-day on the question
of executive patronage and preroga-
tive. Mr.. Edmnnds thinks the SEN
ate is taking a step backward by re-
pealing the tenure of office act. Mr..
Hoar regards the tenure of office act
as relic of barbarism that ought to
be blotted from the statutes. Both,
however, are in favor of civil SER
vice reform. The tenure of office
act has worried and puzzled politi-
ticians ever since it was enacted.
There il growing sentiment in
congress against the congressional
record, which is daily growing more
cumbersome. Under the present ar
rangement, congress is too unwieldy
and there is too much talking on un-
important subjects. When a con-
gresham makes speech, and it APP
pears in the Record, his next move is
to have several thousand speeches
printed for distribution among his
constituents, and the latter jump to
the conclusion that their man is fairly
stirring up the world in Washington.
Congressman Oates of Alabama,
wants to reduce the congressional
record by limiting speeches to thirty
minutes. Others say the only way
to do it is by prohibiting the reading
of speeches from manuscript, and
that 1t is boys play to permit men,
bers to read speeches, for such
speeches seldom influence legislation.
Those who advocate the abolition of
the Record, say 1t is only question
of time ere it will be given up entire
ly. Then the correspondents who
sit In the Press galleries of the SEN
ate and house, will give the country
all the news that transpires at the
Capitol.
A momentous question of carriage
hire is disturbing the conscience OF
Judge Durham just now. He is the
comptroller of the u. S. treasury
and he does not see why eleven car
rages. at 500 apiece should be paid
for out of Uncle Sans pocket to con.
vey the nine justices of the supreme
court from their room in the Capito
to the White House to pay their New
Years respects to the president. But
what can he done about it All such
expenses are approved by the JUS
! tees themselves, liverymen feel al
!. liberty to make their charges cores
pond with the prodigal hilarity of the
season, and while justices are very
plain, sociable people, when off duty.
they must have due regard for the
eminence of their stations, and moi
be too particular about the price
They would say that on New Years
day they call not as individuals. but
as members of the U. 5. Supreme
County, virtue of custom that Is
tantamonnt TO a statute, and that il
is perfectly proper for the govern
ment to pay the cost of the perform
/ ance.