The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-01-27
washington Letter.


washington Letter.
(From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, JAN. 80, 1888.
The Speaker and the Democratic leader
Of the House was Frustrated by sudden Ill
ness the past week and in consequence lit
tie of importance was done in that body
Among the bills passed by Congress in
that time will name the act in regard to
permissible writing and printing on third
and fourth class mail matter, which has
Just become a law, and the bill appropria
ting $685., 600 for agricultural experiment
stations in connection with the various ag
rieultural colleges throughout the country
The House spent good portion of one
day in filibustering to prevent considera-
ton of the bill presented by Mr.. Wilkins,
of Ohio, to increase the national bank cir
culation, which effort was successful, I'M
der the leadership of Messrs. Weaver, of
Iowa. and Anderson, of Kansas. The re-
mainder of the same day was devoted by
the House to the reception of the pictures
of the three Massachusetts, Speakers, pre-
scented by the old Bay State, and added to
the portrait gallery. There were num-
Der Of excellent speeches, and the occasion
vas of such general interest that for the
first time during the session, there was not
vacant seat on the floor or i'll the CALLER
les. Among the orators who attracted the
most attention were Messrs. Long and
Lodge, of Massachusetts,, and Brecken-
ridge. of Kentucky.
The first regular appropriation bill re-
ported is the Pension Bill the amount pro-
posed being little over eighty and quar-
ter million dollars, which is four millions
above the estimate.
In response to petitions from all parts of
the Union, Mr. Taulbee, of Kentucky, has
introduced an iron clad prohibition bill for
the District of Columbia, but with re-
freshing frankness, that gentleman, who
prdes himself on being the only Demo
cratic Prohibtionist in Congress from his
State, admits there is no possibility of its
passage.
The most important legislation in the
Senate was the passage OF the act to refund
the direct tax of 1861, all such claims to be
filed " thin six years. An incii 1tnal at
tempt was made by the Southern Senators
to include the tax on cotton
AS 10 the Blair Educational bill, | will
mention that Ex-Justicc VIM. Strong, of
the United States Supreme Court, retired,
is delivering a regular course of lectures
on the Constitution Of the United States
before the students of the Columbia Law
school Of this city. His last lecture was
on the first clause of the eighth section,
article /. ''The Congress shall have
power to lay and collect taxes, duties, i'm
ports and exercises, to pay the debts and
provide for the common defense and gem
eral welfare of the United States" IN the
course of the remarks of the Judge, lie was
asked by student if, in his opinion the
Blair Educational bill was constitutional?
The Judge promptly replied, 1T is my
opinion that it is unconstitutional, and
this believe to be the opinion of the pres
emf bench" The above was obtained from
make any mistake in the matter, yoar cor
respondent proceeded to the residence of
ex-Justice Strong, finding him at home.
He was asked. is it true that you gave
an opinion before the Columbia Law school
against the constitutionality of the Blair
bil?" His answer was, 81 did say that it
was my opinion that the measure was I'M
constitutional, but it was in reply to
question and not as part of my lecture. !
had no intention or thought that my re-
marks would become public property, or
would not have given an opinion. Ever
since retired from the bench, it has been
my fixed principle never to give publicity
to an opinion ON any matter before The
Supreme Court, and | shall not depart
from it, am constantly i'll consultation
and intercourse with members of the
bench, and 10Y opinion on questions before
the court is frequently asked by the
Judges, but never vary from the determi
nation taken when left the bench. If ]
were a Congressman, | might feel more at
liberty to discuss the Blair bill and kim
dred measures but am not. | believe in
strict construction of the constitution"
The above opinion from Judge Strong is
undoubtedly a heavy handicap for the
Blair bill to carry, for in all probability the
Judge but voiced the opinion of majority
Of the Supreme Court. What effect it will
have on the status of the Blair bill in Con
grcss, it is impossible to say at this time;
but it can scarcely he favorable to that
measure,
WESTON.