Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-07-03
CAPITAL NOTEg.
Especial Correspondence

| Looking back over the past week it does
not seem that Congress has accomplished
anything in the direction Of passing any leg
islation material to its existence 1t may be
said though, that important necessary meas
ures are in process of maturing, and could
be finally disposed of in the next two or three
weeks IL the two houses are at all anxious
for an early adjournment. There are al>
ways a number of minor measures which
can be taken up and put out OF .he way in
the intervals between the consideration of
the measures which Congress must pass be-
| fore it can think of dissolving.
| The Senate has been rapidly Kidding its
calendars of such measures. Among the
| measures it has passed in tie past week are
the bills repeating the prescription and tim
Der culture laws and for the relief of Fitz
John Porter.
Thus, so far at this session, and. very likely
this Congress is concerned, the expense of the
investigation. and the exhaustive report of
the commission on heavy ordnance will go
for moth ng. The report may b, interesting
to future Congress and generations. 1t is a
very thorough piece of work, but it will not
be official Besides, the conditions and facts
upon which the data of the commission were
obtained, will be different in the future. SO
that the report will be rendered practically
worthless for legislative purposes.
In the intervals, during the preparation
and consideration of the pending appropria~
ton bills in both Houses, an effort will be
do tN oil ar
measures. 1t is very probable, however, that
there will be such wrangle between the
con mittees bavirg the bills in charge, that
the time will be consumed and nothing done
before the appropriation bills are out of the
way nd Congress is ready to adj urn.
The burial of the Beck resolution concern
ing railroad attorneys in Congress- has ex-
cited much unfavorable comment here, 1t
has been openly stated that several Senators
have been engaged in this questionable prac
tice, and KAYE received large fees, and 1t was
this discovery that led to reconsideration of
the vote by which the resolutions were ori>
gnally passed. Senators were unwilling to
scandalizs themselves by the exposure of
their colleagues
This is carrying Senatorial courtesy iris
fle further than it was ever carried before.
OF course Senator Edmunds will never re-
port back the resolutions Of the Senate. This
was the object of the reconsideration and
reference. Il will now leave the railroad
lawyers in Congress to pursue the even tenor
of their way, as illustrated by their acts
every time one of the land forfeiture bills
comes up. The land grant roads have to hire SO
many Congressional lawyers, it is scarcely to
be wondered that they are unable to pay
their dues to the Government. These paid
Counsel" render their clients good service,
however, for it is practically impossible to
get any Of the general forfeiture bills
through Congress. There is a conspicuous
tack of delicacy and nice moral sense smong
Congressman concerning these interests, but
it is no more conspicuous in the railroad
Counsel" than in national bankers, railroad
wreckers and patent lawyers, who are DO.
cuniarily interested in legislation.