Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-01-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
from Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Jan, is. 81


animated with each week. In the Sen
ate there has been an immense amount
of oratory on the silver question from
democrats who felt constrained to diff
fer from the president and advocate
continued coinage.
The majority IF the House of Repre-
sentatives, coerced by the contingency
of possible republican restoration be-
fore 1888, adopted the measure they
once rejected, aud now the Hoar Pres
idential Succession bill is ready for the
Presidents signature. The first divi-
sion of the session on party lines, took
place over this bill, leading to little
filibustering and several roll calls.
The opinion prevails among public
men of all political shades that the
presen' session will be the liveliest for
many years, although it may not be
marked by much legislation beyond its
appropriation bills. 1t is thought
there is no chance of the House and
Senate agreeing to any general tariff
bill, and on all questions of currency
and coinage there is great diversity of
opinion in both parties.
Some of the ablest leaders Of the
republican party are in the Senate
and as the republicans retain control
of that body they will protect and
promote the interests of the party.
Still it will be almost impossible for any
measure, of distinctively party char
acter, to become u law during the life
of the Forty-Ninth Congress. The
| democratic majority in the House. and
the republican majority in the Senate
each stands as an effective bar to par
ty legislation. There can be no bar
gain, no compromise. no agreement or
arrangement by which any bill intend
ed merely to carry out the pledges of a
campaign platform, and manufacture
political capital can escape defeat, The
most inexperienced new member knows
this Gs we'll as the veteran member, and
the country knows it SO thoroughly
that it will not be disposed TO tolerate
Il waste of time in attempts at the iuI.
possible. For this reason the Dcmo-
Gratis, who are getting ready TO agitatr
certain questions that promise no prac-
tical results. have been admonished TO
let them alone, and take up subjects
on which both parties can agree.
In a Senatorial republican caucus
the relations between the President
and the Senate were discussed. and the
action TO be taken upon his nomina
tions in cases Of suspension, and par
ticularly, the course to be pursued in
regard to obtaining explanations for
removals and appointments. 1t was
practically decided that if the Presi-
dent and heads of Departments do not
produce the required information, the
nominations are to be shelved for the
present. I'VE can stand it as long as
the President can" said one of the
Senator's" land if there is dead
lock. We are prepared for it."
Notwithstanding all that has been
said and written on the subject of
Civil Service appointments, the press
ure for Office is as great now as it has
ever been. OHice-seekers pay no at
tention to what is said to them by their
Congressional friends, and refuse 20 be-
lieve that the hands of Congress are in
any way tied by the Civil Service law.
Some of them refuse to take mo" for
an answer. and continue to harass
their indorsers day and night.
Senators have been discussing Nep-
otism in connection with the Judicial
Salary bill. One section of the bill
provides that nc person related within
the degree Of first cousin to Judge of
the United States shall be appointed by
such Judge to any position in his court,
and il also legislates on. of Office the
relations now in. Senator Edmunds
Thought it would work great hardship
and injustice to lecislate out of office
men who by experience and training
had perhaps come 10 be The most capa-
able and efficient persons WHO could be
found TO fill the Offices. II so much
was said of Judges who had appointed
kinsmen TO Office, he thought Senators
should remember that they had pro-
vided for their own sons and other rsla-
tives in the same way. Even this
reform Administration, " continued the
Senator from Vermont--''ihis reform
Administration, the picture of purity
and grace. and everything that is love-
~, has sent to the Senate Cor confirma-
ton the nomination of father and
son to the same place, to exercise the
functions of two offices, the one under
the oiher.'
On Saturday afternoon, social fes-
tivites at the White House was inter
rupted by the announcement of the
sudden death of Miss Bayard, the eld-
est daughter of the Secretary of State
She was TO have assisted at Miss Cleve-
lands reception at three o'clock p. Dr.,
and when. at two o'clock, she was call
ed to dress for this occasion, she was