Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-02-05
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Written and compiled for the HERALD.

has been in the habit OF adJourning
from Thursday of each week until
Monday. The feeling among Sena-
tors was that they could well af-
ford this indulgence, inaSmuch, as
they work when in session, and
inasmuch as the Senate is always
| in advance of the house by several
hundred bills at the expiration OF
each Congress. An aggreivcd
Senator from Massachusetts, Mr..
HOar, thought these facts were
insufficient excuses for Senatorial
dilatorineSs. He offered % resolu.
ton requiring that She yeas and
nays be called hereafter on all mo.
tions to adjourn over legislative
day, so that the country can know
which Senators favor constant
work, and which are willing To
take the world easy.
In the House OF Representatives
more rev bills, undigniiicd attacks
Of a personal character, routine
business, and general idleness have
been the order of the week. As
usual, upon the formal announce
ment of the death of u member
the body adjourned immediately
after cOnvening, through respect to
the memory of the deceased Re
preventative from Wisconsin, Mr..
Rankin.
Thus two more days have been
lost by Congress, the other being
the day devoted to the Hendricks
eulogies in the Senate. 1t would
not have been appropriate for
either body to have done different
! " in the absence of any rule re-
quiriag different action But each
of these occasions again emphasiz-
ed the fact that announcements of
death shonld be made Just before
the time for the daily adjournment,
and memorial services and eulo-
cystic sessions should be held on
Sunday or night. Due respect
could be shown deceased Senators
and Representatives in this way
without interrupting business.
Pablo opinion is not yet ready
to sanction the proposition to far
nish each member Of Congress
with a clerk, although very strong
case can be made out for such
policy. Nearly all members who
can afford it employ clerks now at
their own expense. The public
would be surprised to learn how
many Congressman hire assistance
to help them meet the requirements
OF their constituents. As under
stood by most constituencies, the
duties of a member Of Congress
are not confined to speech making
and voting. Scarcely day passes
that each member does not receive
dozens Of letters from ciIzeus of
his district asking the most absurd
and unanswelabio questions, or
making the most impossible de-
mands. And then sour member
is expected to act as guide to all
visitors from his district who come
to w Washington. He is expected TO
be their counsel in all troubles be-
fore the departments, their agent
in prosecuting all claims, their
source of supply for public docu-
mentS, and their friend in every
effort to get Office. \ member who
tries to attend to his daily mail and
the duties that flow ont OF it, is a
very busy man, independently Of
his legislative functions proper.
The contest between the admins
tration and Republican Senators
has become intensely interc sting.
The Senators have called for more
papers and information bearing on
removals from Office. The late
Cabinet meetings have been de-
voted to discussing the Senate's
requests, and the President has de
cided to Disregard them. He
takes the position that the reSolu-
tons of Senators Edmunds and
Morrill, asking for information in
regard to appointments and re-
mOvals were attempts to make him
subordinate to the Senate. The
Senate will be formally notified of
his decision, and what next?
The debate over Dakota's adj
mission is going on in the Senate
now, and it promises to be long
and interesting. If it were posi-
ble for Democratic politicians to
consider the question from any
point of view except that Of the
partisan, Dakota would pass
through both Houses of Congress
without debate her claims to
Statehood being so fully establish
ed by her wealth, population, edu-
cation etc. Interest in Dakota
and her affairs has been enhanced
by the presence and prominence in
the Senate Of her two applicants
for Senatorial honors, Mcssrs.
Moody and Edgerton. They are
both portly, dignifcd looking
gentlemen, who pay strict atten-
ton to the discussion Of their COM
ing commonwealth, occasionally
enlightenlng a speaker on some
point that needs explanation.
Mrs Ravard the wife or Spcre.