Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-03-03
From w ashington..

Progress OF LegisiAtsOn-The FADES
ship kaiiway-The Virginia Claims
Talk about she Blair Biii-sociesy, dc.
Correspondence of SPEcTAToR.)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2Sth, 1885.
In spite of predictions to the contrary the
new rules of the House are operating IA
vOurably. The House is in a fair way to
transact reasonable amount of business
before the dog days drive the statesmen to
the cool shades of rural life. During the
past few days many important measures
have been acted upon by Committees. Mr..
Tucker recently reported from the Judiciary
Committee a bill to regulate criminal
procedure in cases of crimes punishable by
loss OF life or liberty. The bill provides
that no person shall be held to answer for
crimes punishable as above mentioned I'M
less on presentment or indictment of
GRANDEUR The Committee of which Z
are Republicans was unanimous in its re-
port. Mr.. Tucker has instilled into these
gentlemen his political maxim, "give to
the citizen the maximum of liberty and to
the government the minimum of DO wer,
consistent with law and order" When this
bill becomes law there will be no more
proceeding (by U. S. District Attorney on
int ormotion. The Committee on Commerce
will make favorable report on the Fades
ship railway bill. 1t is said majority of
the Committee do not favour the scheme,
but are willing for it to take its chances be.
fore the Committee of the whole. Capt
Fades is here, and has complete model of
his plant in the basement of the Capitol,
shir, dock, carriage, railway, hydraulic
presses, etc, by means of which the ship is
taken out of the water, and actually con-
veyed across a miniature isthmus. There is
no doubt about the feasibility of the scheme,
but the government has no business to put
our money into it. The claims of the State
of Virginia against the National Govern
ment are in a fair way TO be paid at this ses-
sion, if Virginia claim-ageDts can be kept
from worrying members of Congress about
them. Mr.. Tr gg has taken charge of these
claims and with Mr.. fuckers assistance is
vigorously pressing them. Mr.. Trigg is a
member of the Committee on Claims, and
therefore has peculiar advantages for doing
this sort of work, but neither he, nor the
other gentleman who has interested himself
in this matter need Or desire the assistance
of lobbyists IN this or any other direction.
The Women's Rights women headed by
Miss Anthony had hearing before the
Judiciary Committee last Saturday They
| talk like tops, and look like caricatures of
! the daughters of Eve, had the great Crea-
tor, made Adams rib in the likeness of one
of these creatures. Milton would never have
sung of ''man's first disobedience and the
| fruit of that forbidden tree" The Bank
rupt bill is still being considered in commit
tee, they chaw or rechaw, and for the good
of the country, it is to be hoped it will be
pigeon -holed. The House propose to in
vestigate the Attorney General, and of
course i'll court the fullest aud freest look
ing into the telephone business. Mr.. Nor
rison acclaimed this on the floor yesterday
and informed Tom Reed, that if the Attor-
ney General was found guilty the Demo-
Gratis would make him step down and out,
and would not follow the example of the
Republicans by trying to white wash him.
The Blair bill is meeting with considerable
opposition in the Senate tho it is conceded
it will pass that body. It's fate in the House
is, to say the least, doubtful. and it is
rum ored, that should it pass both Houses
of Congress. it will meet with quetus at
the other end of the avenue. There is a
regular carnival now going on in Washing
ton society; all manni of gayety must be
crowded into the next ten. days, for lent is
almost here 1t is wonderful the amount
of endurance which is displayed by the
average Washington Society woman. A
female who could not sew on button, and
who would faint at the sight of sewing
machine, will pin roses in her girdle and
attend high teas, dinners, theatres, and
receptions, the very thought of which, would
kill government army mule. But fear
will weary you, so goodbye.