The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-01-26
Our Washington Letter.

Our Washington Letter.
Especial Correspondence OF the VIRGINIAN.l
A BAD START FOR BUsINEss-How THE
TIME AND MONEY ARE WASTED A
PLEASANT SCENE IN THE HOUSEWIFE
THOEBE- CARLISLE CONTEST PERSON
AIS, &C., &C.
Measured by results, the 5Oth Congress
promises to be no improvement on its i'm
mediate predecessors. One-fifth of the
session has already expired, and apparently
not step forward has been taken. The
only measures of really national impor-
lance, so far considered are the Agricul.
tural Experimental Stations, and the new
Postal Regulations Bills, both of which
passed without dissenting voice, and
might have been disposed of in an hour.
AS for the rest, the daily sessions have
been about as profitable to the people as
gathering of old maids to discuss village
gossip How not to do seems to be the
principal object with those whose posi-
tion enables them to control legislation.
II the verdant member from the back
woods vetures to suggest that it is the
prevailing opinion in his "deestrick" that
Congress is body chosen to make laws
for the people, to protect their rights and
advance their interests. he is met with a
paralyzing smile and the assurance that
under the rules" it is impossible to get
through with business. Under the rules"
one man may obstruct legislature for a
week. Under the rules'' the opportunity
is offered of dlshing up lot of old cam
paign chestnuts by those whose chief am.
bition seems to be to get into the Record"
and let it be known to the home people
that their representatives have been
heard from, !" and the Potomac has begun
to smoke. The other day, for instance, a
vote was about to be taken upon meas
ure to which not soul objected. Just
ere the clerk commenced the roll call,
"under the rules a member obtained the
floor and with mighty beating of the air
and great noise announced himself the
chosen champion of the s'horny listed
sons" &c., and in the name of the op-
pressed called with loud voice for the
relief the measure would afford. AS he
took his seat an auricole of satisfaction
circled his classic brow, and when the bill
had passed without one dissenting vote.
his triumph was something beautiful to
see. 1t reminded me of tale they used
to tell on prominent citizen in our town.
He was authority on every subject Re-
ligion, law. political science and mechanics
were alike his chosen fields, and in them
! he acknowledged no master, if indeed an
equal. One day while experimenting a
game of ten pins he insisted that the
player must start his ball certain way to
obtain the best results. The player disre-
garded the instructions and curved the
| sphere in precisely the opposite direction.
AS it left his hand the scientist exclaimed,
| Dang it, will you never learn anything
some people are too dumb to see the head
light of an engine on dark night'-but
ere he had completed his censure. the ball
had brought down the last pin. what
more could you expect?" asked the player,
There's ten strike, and angels could do
no more" well, 'er. F" said the scientist,
stumped for moment, Its true you had
got them all down, but if you had followed
my advice, you would have cleared the
alley of all the dead wood" The young
orator might have thought the measure
would possibly pull through. but nothing
but his frantic appeal cleared the dead
wood"-at least, that is the assurance he
will cause to be conveyed to an admiring
constituency.
But the rural reader naturally asks, us
there nothing to do, that all of this time
should be wasted and expense incurred?"
There is work enough for dozen Con-
crosses. Already five or six thousand diff
| ferent bills introduced and are demanding
consideration. To be sure many Of these
are not worth the paper on which they are
printed. and will never be heard of after
the first reference to them has been for
gotten, but there are others. the effects of
which would reach to the homes of the
humblest and the demand for which comes
up from every section. Alike they are
buried in the tombs of the committees.
Meanwhile the surplus is piling higher
and higher in the Treasury, and the MEM
bers are exhaustlng all of their powers on
motions to adjourn and discussions the
only effect of which is to afford a conduit
for the escape of accumulated gas.
The Committee on Ways and Means,
upon which rests the heaviest burden,
have as yet given no authoritative indica.
tion as to what suggestions will be made
to relieve the Treasury. There are init
nations of secret sessions among the DEM
ocratic members, and mysterious whisper
ings about the cloak rooms as to what will
be proposed, but the only really definite
information so far vouchsafed, is that Mr..
Mckinley, one of the brainiest Republic
| cans Of the House, and member of the
committee, has proposed, as a stal ting
point, the abolition of the tax on tobacco,
and that the proposal was promptly sat
down upon by the committee. 1t is the
generally accepted belief that the repeal
of the internal taxes will be coupled with
the abolition of the duty on so-called raw
material-especially iron ore and coal
and that the two must stand or 60 together.
If this is the alternative, there is little
prospect of action.
Private measures receive about as much
attention as those of more general
nature. There are claims before Congress
| to-day that have been there for genera
| ticn-just claims for which the govern
ment has received full value, and such as
no honest man would hesitate TO admit
and pay. And yet, year after year and
year after year the claimants or their de-
scendants hang around the halls of Con.
gress, begging, not for favors. but for
simple justice. If by perpetual toadying
of members they are enabled to secure a
favorable report from committee, the
chances are hundred to one that the bill
will not be reached on the calendar during
the session of Congress and when the next