Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-01-20
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Written and compiled Tor the HERALD

Congress has been nOminally in
session six weeks to-day, and while
no really practical achievements can
be pointed to in the way of legisla
ton, still a great deal of work has
been done. During this time 4,7GO
bills have been introduced into the
House, and 400 in the Senate. /
find, on comparison, that this is an
increase of SO per cent. over a cor
responding period of the last Con
gress.
Many of these bills are of per-
sonal character, such as pension
and private claims against the Gov
eminent, but all are appropriately
referred to Committees and must
consume more or less time in their
examination by committees. A few
Congressman take their task indif-
ferently and have an easy time, but
the majority work hard and more
than earn all that they get.
There is a marked difference be.
tween the Senate and the House in
the matter of speech making. The
Senators almost universally prepare
and write out their speeches before
delivery, and there being no limit
to their time, read them IN a DELHI.
crate and dispassionate manner
Right the reverse in the House.
There the time is limited to one
hour. The issue to be discussed is
often sprung suddenly, and Of ne
cessity, the speeches must be i'm
promptu, and subject to repeated
and annoying interruptions. The
member who can stand this inces-
SAINT fire, keep his temper, and cling
to the question involved, wins the
praise of his associates and takes a
step higher in their regard. But
many a good fellow has been buried
under his first speech, never to be
heard from again. Most new men,
bers are very cautious nowadays
about engaging in debate.
There is far more rivalry for lead
ershlp in the House than in the Sen
ate. The Senate is extremely dig
nifed and has great regard for
what Roscoe Conkling termed "sen-
atorial courtesy" If personalities
are INDUCED in they come in such
a way that the rough corners are
smoothed and rounded off so that
no offense is given, though the Ian
guage may be severely cutting
Not so in the House of Representa-
tives. Turmoil and confusion reign
there, and the greater the din,
the more satisfaction experienced,
and the greater opportunity for di-
rect, personal antagonism. There
are scores of instances every session
where bitter enemies are made, and
all growing out of this great lati-
tude given in debate.
The Horse Committee on cleo
tons held a long session on Satur-
day and gave full hearing on the
Th9be- Carlisle contested case. The
result was a unanimous vote of the
Committee in favor of the Speaker.
This was expected and therefore
gives no surprise. There are SIX
other contested seats which will
probably be as easily settled. The
Senate Committees are always nine
or eleven, the House thirteen or
fifteen, giving majority in favor
OF the controlling party in either
branch. The Senate is Republican,
the House Democratic, and this fact
should always be remembered IN
the settlement of any party ques
tiOns.
In the Senate Committee room on
public lands there was singular
meeting last Friday, and all by &C
cident, which made it more remark
able. There happened to be pres.
ent Eve ex.Goyernors of Kansas
and two ex. United States Senators
from the same state. The coinci.
dence was the subject of good
deal of pleasantly, and Senators
left their seats to witness the un.
precedented sight.
AS the session progresses, the
lack of Democratic harmony be-
comes apparent. Mr.. Mills, Of Tex
as, the Chairman of the important
Committee on Ways and Means,
assumes that the responsibilities of
the entire Government are upon
his shoulders. He received Sc
we're back.set on Friday, through
his party associate, Mr.. Hatch, of
Missouri, much to the merriment Of
the Republican side of the House.
Mills is very arrogant. Hatch is
practical and wants straight bust
ness, and the result was that Hatch
scored several good points, much to
the discOmfOrture of Mr.. Mills. |
do not know that there is any truth
in the report that Speaker Carlisle
has already expressed his regret
that he has put Mr.. Mills at the
head Of this committee, still 1t is
thought to be fact,
l have good reasons for believing
that there will be no action this SEES.
sion on the Postal Telegraph BILL
Desirable as it may be the people
will have to wait for a Republican
House. This ia confidently expect
ed at the next election.