The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1888-01-06
WASHINGTON


WAahlNofoNt ~. ~, Dec. f9th, 1887.
Congress, although In session two weeks
has as yet accomplished very little work, |
mainly for the reason that Speaker Car.
lisie,owlng to the unusual pressure brought
to bear upon him for choice committee
places, has been obliged to defer the ap.
Polntment Of his committees until after
the holiday recess, which will be from
Dee. aand I'LL Jan. 4th. The only really
Important committee thus far organized Ii
that on elections. which, for reasons per.
sonal TO himself Mr. Carlisle requested the
House to appoint--one OF lts duties being
to decide the Issue between Carlisle and
Thobe. Apparently there 10 no good cause
for contest, still as one has been instltut.
ed by the misguided labor reiormer, 80
called, II must be disposed Of according to
the forms Of law. There can be little
doubt Of the validity Of the Ksasuckys
statesman's claim to hia seat.
| II ID already evident that much OF the
time Of Congress during the present ses.
sion will be uselessly consumed In the dis
cussion Of purely political question but
on the eve Of what IL destined to be one
OF the most exciting and closely contested
Presidential campaigns In the eountry's
history, thisi perhaps, unavoidable. The
FIRST political TRADE Of the session was de.
iivered, without the slightest provocatieA
In the House by the Republican leader,
Mr. Reed, of Maine, being rather feeble
and aatulent arraignmsnt OF the Demo.
eracy on the tariff question. However, a
few ringing sentences from Messrs Cox
and Hatch saliced to efiectually silence
the battsriss Of the bnrly Boanerges Of
the RepabIican party.
In the Senate that notorleus champion
OF fraud, and vote stealcr, "Blli" Chand.
Ter, has presented an Indictment against
foar sovereign States Carollna,
Florida, Mississippi and Loulslana-pro.
posing 10 regulate their Congressional
elections, through the medium Of Federal
Intervention. Chandier'a idea Of regulat.
Ing elections was exsmpli6ed by the Re.
publican rape OF the electoral votes OF
three Of these same States In the canvass
Of Is76-77, and aBlll" realizes that the sup.
port of these eommonaiitics 10 necessary
for Republican success next year. But
Chandler will get nothing bat a little
cheap political capital out Of his partisan
resolution.
Probably the Senate bill that will excite
the most interest and discussion is that Of
Senator cullom, providing for the Ualted
States Postal Telegraph, approPria.lHg
four miilioa dollars for that purpose and
designating a number Of the principal
cities of the eountsy 10 be connected By
the proposed lines the bin also provides
fer the appointment and regulation Of the
employees of the Postal Telegraph. This
measure, like the Blair Educational Bill, is
long and significant step In the direction
OF paterHal Government and In direct
contaict with The spirit and tendencies Of
our republican system. This being the
case. / do not believe the Democrats can
consistently support either measure. But
II both bills should pass there are good
reasons for believing that the Presidential
veto would be interposed.
During the early days Of the session.
while there IL little business 10 demand
their attention, many Of the gay and fes.
tive Congressman, who have doubtless
forgotten their marital vows, are yielding
their devotion 70 the charms Of the giddy
fair ones of the Capital. In the Patent
Office lew days since ssIacIous scandal
came to light--the principals being Con-
gressman from Kentucky, and petite
blonde beauty of the Office. A model at
tendant discovered them In eompromis.
ing position--hence the public expose.
The fair clerk Is protege Of her admireF,
he having secured her place last winter.
Pending investigation Of the case, the be-
witching blonde Is suspended from duty.
This Is mentioned as a common phase Of
Congressional life.
The indications are that there IL some
Opposition to the confirmation Of Mr..
Lamar's nominatioH, bat net enough to
defeat II. II Is hardly probable that the
natter viii be taken up until after the
holiday recess ; then the three most i'm
Portant nominations will be acted upon In
their regular order-Lamar, Villas and
Dickinson.
The recent reception In this city Of two
distinguished Irish members of the British
Parliament, was sa Impressive demonstra-
tion af American national ewuanafhw - for
the suherings of Ireland, and fitting ex-
preston was given to this feeling by the
eloquent utterances Of several prominent
Congressman.