Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-01-30
one who is now respondent or dissat-
isfed with the year that is past
WASHINGTON T
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON. Jan. Is, 1886,

Representatives has, this week, settled
down to work. Since Congress met
nearly six weeks ago, it has spent the
time discussing new rules, waiting
for the announcement Of committees.
and voting to adjourn every day or
two for a recess Of greater or less
length. While thus engaged, nearly
four thousand bills and resolutions
were laid upon the Speakers table,
and are o awaiting the action of
the various Committees. Just think
Of four thousand bills in the House
alone, already, and more to come on
every Monday throughout the session.
This food of bills reminds me that
the rules have not been changed half
as much as is necessary yet, and that
no abQse needs investigation so much
as Congress itself. About three
f"urth5 OF th>sa bills are little meas
nres aad petty private claims which
should never go to Congress at all.
No attention could possibly be paid
to half Of them under any circum-
stances, but it is an Ubiquitous waste
of the peoples time for Congress even
to read the titles of the measures.
Senator Hoar has proposed that the
time for the meeting Of Congress
shall be changed, SO as to give more
weeks for needed legislation, especi-
ally during the second session, which
meets on the first Monday in Deem
Der and adjourns by law on the
ensuing fourth Of March. Congress
never sits more than ten months in all,
though paid for two full years Of SER
vice. Still, much more work could
be accomplished if members would
attend to the duties for which they
are paid by remaining at their desks
during business hours. And this
growing abuse of absenteeism is the
one to which [ referred above. and
for which some remedy will have to
be demanded sooner or later. The
journals of the Senate and House
show culpable neglect in this respect
and prove that the most important
appropriation bills are sometimes
passed without the recorded presence
Of quorum in either body.
Then, ''pairing," as it is called, is a
device for neutralizing votes, and
sheltering our statesmen from the
penalty Of losing their pay for non
attendance at the daily sessions.
This plan of lodging the record has
Interestingly prevalent. When a
vote is in progress in either branch Of
Congress, a Senator or Representative
will often say, 7 am paired with
Mir" That is to say if Mfr
votes yes, he votes no, and vice versa.
Oratory has been expended during
the week, on the subjects of national
monuments and the Army in the Sen
ate, and on Silver in both Houses.
Senator Henderson of Nebraska,
spoke in behalf of Army reform.
Senator Blair of n. FL. proposed that
monuments be erected to Abraham
Lincoln and General Grant. Senator
Coke of Tex, Brown Of Ga, Vance of
n. G., Pugh of Ala, and Representa-
tive Reagan of Tex, all added their
contribution to the fund of informa-
ton on the silver question. All Of
them differ from the President with
regard to money, and all advocated
continued coinage. The agitation of
the silver question is likely to con-
tlnue in both Houses of Congress for
some weeks yet, if not, at intervals,
the Mtire session. A late
canvass among Senators and Mem
.ers however, indicates that no meas
ure calculated to interrupt the coinage
Of silver dollars is likely to pass either
the Senate or House. :
Moral ideas are notably popular in
Senate now; great deal of NOR
legislation having been proposed
his session, Senator Plumb Of Kan.
s going to ask the Senate to provide
sor a new article Of war, which shall
any officer Of the Army, and
soldiers as well, to gamble for
my stake, however small, whether on
luty or on furlough. '
Senator Blair who is addicted to $
formulating measures for the promo
ion of morality, is now preparing a
Jill against whisky and tobacco.
lie proposes that special instructors
'e employed in the schools of the |
District Of Columbia to demonstrate .
0 the children the physical injury Q
which arises from the use of liquor a
+ tobacco in any of their forms. He Re
proposes to have this novel plan tried E
ere first, and if it works SATISFACTORY !,
he hopes to see it adopted by the ?
re
ther States. CT
The Senate has confirmed a long
st of the Presidents important recess :