The Press., 1886-02-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.


 Washington D. C., Jan. s9 1883.
 In the higher branch of congress the week, thus far, has been marked by eulo- gies of the late Vice President Hendricks, l by debates over the admission of Dakota to the union, and by lecture from asre- publican senator administered to that august body for eulpable addiction to ad- iournments The senate, being far ahead of the house in the work of the session, has beeu in the habit of adiourning from Thursday of each week until Monday. The feeling among senators was that they could well afford this indulgence, inasmuch as they work when in session, aud inas- much as the senate is always in advance of the house by several hundred bills at the expiration of each congress. An ag- grieved senator from Massachusetts, Mir. Hoar, thought these facts were insuffi- cient excuses for senatorial dilatoriness. He offered resolution requiring that the yeas and nays be called hereafter on all motions to adjourn over legislative day, 50 that the country can know which sena- tors favor constant work, and which are willing to take the world easy.
 In the house of representatives more new bills, undignifed attacks of person al character, routine business, and gen. eral ideness have been the order of the week. As usual, upon the formal an- nouncement of the death of member, the body adjourned immediately after convening, through respect to the mem- ory of the decease d representative from Wisconsin, MT. Rankin
 Thus two more days have been lost by congress, the other being the day devoted to the Hendricks' eulogies in the senate. 1 It would not have been appropriate for  absence of any rule requiring different ac- tion. But each of these occasions again emphasized the fact that announcements of death should be made just before the time for the daily adjournment, and mem orial services and eulugistic sessions should be held on Sunday or at night. Due re- spect could be shown deceased sena' ors and representatives in this way without interrupting business.
 The contest between the administration and republican senators has become in- tensely interesting. The senators have called for more papers and information bearing on removals from office The late cabinet meetings have been devoted to discussing the senate's requests, aud the president has decided to disregard them. He takes the position that the resolutions of Senators Edmunds and Morrill, asking for information in regard to appointments and removals 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 admission is going on in the senate now, and it prom ises to be long and interesting. If it were possible for democratic politicians to con- sider 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 established by her wealth, population, education, 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, Messrs. Moody and EdgertoD. They are both portly, digniied looking gentlemen, who pay strIct attention to the discussion of their coming commonwealth, occasionally enlightening a speaker on some point that needs explanation.
 Pubic opinion is not yet ready to sanc- tion the proposition to furnish each mem Der of congress with a clerk, although a very strong case can be made out for such a policy. Nearly all members who can afford it employ clerks now at their own pense. The public would be surprised to learn how many congressman hire assist ance to help them meet the requirements of their constituents. As understood by most constituencies, the duties of m+m- Der of congress are not confined to speech making and voting. Scarcely day pass es that each member does not receive dog ems of letters from citizens of his district asking the most absurd and unanswerable questions, or making the most impossible demands. And then -four member" is &o o9& x7oA A1>D his district who come to Washington. He is expected to be their counsel in all trou- bles before the departments, their agent in prosecuting all claims, their authority on all political subjects, their source of supply for public documents, and their friend in every effort to get office. member who tries to attend to his daily mail and the duties that flow out of it, is a very busy man, Independently of his legis- lative functions proper.