The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1888-03-02

The weeks work I'm Congress, SO far,
makes poor showing. Both the Sen
ate and House have accomplished less
than usual. The District OF Columbia
has had more attention than any other
ssetlon of Uuncle SANS domain, and
several bills of local interest have been
passed. There has been no lack of IN
teresting debate however, Ia both ends
of the Capitol.
a qunrtette Of Territories are knock
Ing loudly for admission to the sister
hood of states, and an enabling act will
soon be reported, which will probably y
be passed before the session ends. An
'enabling actp does not enable, strictly
speaking. As Mr.. Springer says, the
IL the Chairman of the Committee ON
ferritoricsl II IL simply nm act of en-
couragement, After such encourage
ment, the Territory forms State Con-
stitution, constructs the machinery for
State government, prepares for admIs-
sion into the Union as states, and de-
mands IT,
The nsplrants alluded To are Dakota
Montana, Washington and New Mex
leo. ] did not mention Utah, who did
not walt for Congress to give her the i'm
itiative. The people of Utah held their
Territorial Convention, adopted State
Constitution, and now now demand adj
mission TO the Union. This they had
a right to do, Chairman Springer says,
only they will have to pay all of their
own expenses, whereas, IL they had
waited for Congress to passan enabling
act, the United States Treasury would
have paid all Of their expenses.
The Blaine letter of dleclInation Great
ed quite a stir I'm political circles here
Interest In 1t was particularly intense
i'm the Senate, for quite number of the
Senators have had the Presidential bee
buZzing around them. Senators
Hawley, sherman, Allison and n few
Others were even congratulated. laugh
ingly, that the path TO the Presidential
nomination had been 50 happily open
ed To thenl
General Sheridun's most intimate
friends here take special pains TO re-
present him ms entirely FREE from the
Presidential mania They say that
the measure of his ambition Is filed
with the office he now holds, aud that
he has no intention OF plunging into
political strife. III true, the pathway
Is still more open To those who are will
ing Ia endure the wear and tear of
mind and body, the vexation of spirit
and sickness OF soul that must come To-
every man who allows the buzzIng In
sect To enter his ear, for Little Phil''
would make popular candidate.
The Department Of superintendent
of the National Educational Assncia-
tion have been holding convention I'm
this city, for the past three days and the
meeting attracted prominent educators
here from all parts of the United States
The daily sessions and the subjects dis
cussed have been highly entertaining
to all persons interested In educational
matters.
Sunday last Was an unusually lusy
day among the Temperance workers of
Washington. Large meetings were
held and stirring addresses were made
in different parts of the city. Notable
among the speeches made for prohibi-
tion were those Of Congressman Cutch-
con. Of Missouri, and +. B. Taylor, of
Ohio.
4 Washlngtonian says that some
bills pending In Congress i'm relation to
the District of Columbia are ealculat-
ed to create the impression that parents
in this City desire the Federal Govern
ment to take charge of their children.
He was alluding particularly TO IA bill
introduced by senator Chase, OF Rhode
Island, providing that tobacco shall
not be sold in any form to residents of
the District who are under sixteen
years of age.
The Blair educational bill which has
age through the Senate has at last pass
ed that body again, by vote Of 80 to
20. The bill has occupied much valua-
ble time during three Congresses, and
and has gained no converts i'm the Sen
ate wing. A comparison Of this last
vote with that OF two years ago shows
that the longer the measure has been
thought of and talked of the weaker il
has grown. Every Senator who voted
against before, voted against il on this
lasi occasion, while some, including
Senators. Kenna, blackburn. Voorhees,
and Spooner, who voted were in favor
of it two years ago, voted against 1t on
Wednesday. 1t is believed by many
the bill will stand no chance OF getting
safely through the House.
Senator Blair himself made the clos
ing speech ON his cherished measure,
and in ii attacked the Jesuits for their
opposition to the common school sys-
tenn.