The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-01-21
Washington Letter,
rom our Regular Correspondent.

Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Jan. Is, 1885.
Congress has been persistently ir.
relevant this week. Both Senators
and Representatives have shown an
irresistible inclination to ignore bust
ness and deliver speeches on pet SUBJ
lects. On one day the Senate lis
tened to three Orations on totally dis
similar measures. Silver, Art and the
Army. Senator Henderson called
attention to his bill for building up
the Army, Senator Blair asked that
Monuments be erected to Lincoln and
Grant, and Senators Pugh and Vance
advocated continued coinage of the
silver dollar.
Ex-Gov. Curtin's resignation of the
Craftsmanship of the Banking and
Currency Committee, and Senator
ingalls, coinage resolution are the
prominent financial features of the
week at the Capitol. Mr.. Curtin's
action. which was anticipated, brings
an extreme3silver man. Representa-
tive Miller OF Texas, to the head of
this committee, and the Senator from
Kansas proposes to continue the pres
ent coinage of silver until limit has
been reached of $500, 0O0. 900. At the
present rate of coinage, $4,000, 900 a
month. it would take fifteen years
from date to reach this amount. In
declining the position to which he
was assigned, Mr.. Curtin said he was
not lacking in appreciation of the
honor conferred upon him by the
Speaker. .but that he could not escape
the conviction that the tastes and ex-
periences of his public life were not
such as fitted him to serve in that po-
sition with satisfaction to himself or
with usefulness to the House.
The silver men have established
their headquarters here, and their
work is apparent in the halls of Con-
gress. Scarcely a day passes without
n Congressman introducing a petition
against the retirement of silver. Agl-
tatiOn OF the silver question will
probably continue through the en-
tire session. But remarked Sena.
tor Colquit of Georgia. '.it will be
only agitation, for no legislation will
be accomplished" The opinion is
fair reflex of the views Of majority
of the Senators from the South and
West, party line would be quickly
sbliterated on vote for the demon
etization of silver. Senator Pugh. of
Alabama, in a good natured reference
to the Administrations silver policy
said, that ON this subject, both par.
ties allowed differences of opinion
within their ranks. On next Monday
the silver question will be formally
presented for consideration and then
talk on silver. which has been given
out so freely of late. will be relevant
in that end Of the Capitol at least.
A Democratic Representative was
speaking Of the hardness of the
House in getting down to business,
and of the tendency of Members to
to speak in season and out upon their
favorite measures. Said he. '.this
House is like a glass of beer, there
Is lots of frOth to be blown off before
you can get down to the substance.
Scores OF Members have speeches
prepared on various subjects, and
they had just as well be blown off
now when the house has nothing else
to do. They are sure to waste time,
hereafter. when the house gets fairly
to business. They are the froth that
has to be got rid Of before any real
work can be done"
The House has shown commenda-
BILE alacrity in regard to the Presiden-
tfal succession bill, which has already
passed the committee and been re-
ported to the House without amend
men,. Some Members are disposed
to object TO certain provisions OF the
bill, but il is probable that it will
pass substantially as it came from the
Senate. The feature IN the bill most
criticised is that which creates a
cabinet interregnum till the expira-
tion OF the full Presidential term.
Bat the contingency is SO remote
that this objection is rather fanci-
fnf one. 1T being altogether unlikely
that both President and Vice-Presi-
dent will ever die at the beginning
Of term. The Senate. in secret seq
sion. has been confirming the Presi
dents nominations, many OF them al-
most as fast as the names could be
read. Among the frst were the new
Civil Service Commissioners. When
Mr.. Eaton's name came up. Senator
Logan made the point that he was =
smugwumr j and that the spirit OF