Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-01-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Confirmation OF Lamar-Uver 5000
Bills Already in Democratic Discord.

I Inc CONTINUATION Iainaf-pNsf bOOO
Bills Already in Democratic Discord.
From our regular correspondent.l
WAsHINGToN. Jan. IL. 1855.
Congress has been nominally in session
six weeks to day, and while no1eally prac
teal achievements can be point d to in
the way of legislation, still great deal OF
work has been done. During this time
400 bills havesbeeu introduced into the
House and 400 in the Senate. ind, or
comparison, that this is an increase of 3;
per cent over CORES pondiug period OF
| the last Congress. Many of these bills are
/ of 4 persOnal character, such as pension
and private claims against the govern
ment, but all are appropriately referred tC
committees and must consume more OF
less time in their examination by com
mitjees. \ few congressman take THEN
/ task indiiTerently and have au easy time
but the majority work nard and nor,
/ than earn all that they get
The event of to-day is the confirmation
of Mr. Lamar by the aid of three republi-
can senators. As it took place behind
closed doors, ali that is known about the
debate Is what leaks out, through senators
| or Senate officials. 1t is understood that
| Mr.. Edmunds led the opposition to the con
/ lirmation, referring to his want of expert
! ence and capacity as 4 lawyer, to his age
| in connection with which he sarcastically
recalled the support given by some of the
! democratic members of the judiciary com
| mittee to a resolution declaring it to be
| neXpedlent to confirm AS United States
| Judge any man of over 90 years of age
and to his other disqualifications.
Mr. HOar reviewed the Mississippi meth
ods to which Mr.. Lamar owed his politi-
cal advancement. He had no personal OBJ
lection to Mr.. Lamar, but in voting
against him he desired to emphasize his
condemnation of the Political outrages
which Mr. Lamar had never rebuked
Nj. Evarts spoke of Mr.. Lamar's want
of judicial temper and legal incapacity
He also referred to the attitude taken by
Mr.. Lamar in voting against Mr.. Ed
munds's resolution declaring the 18th
14th and 18th amendments to the consti
tuition equal in binding force to any other
provision of the constitution.
Mr.. Sherman made a strong arraign-
ment of the Southern democracy, whose
defender and the defender of Jefferson
| Davis Mr. Lamar Is. Gen. Hawley ap.
pealed to the other side to discard party
considerations and decide this case on the
point Of personal fitness for this high
office. He did not object to Mr.. Lamar as
| a democrat, a Southerner or an ex-con
federate soldier; but he had not the rec
ord, qualifications and qualities needed
for the highest bench in the land. Mr..
Rddleberger did most Of the talking on
the other side, though Senator Walthall
defended Mr. Lamars loyalty.
There Is far more rivalry for leadership
in the House than in the Senate. The
Senate is extremely dignfied and if per
sonaiities are INDUCED in they come in
such way that the rough corners are
smoothed aud rounded off so that no Of
fense is given, though the language may
be severely cutting Not SO in the House
OF Representatives Turmoil and Coufu
sion rel n there, and the greater the din,
| the more satisfaction experienced, aud the
greater opportunity for direct, personal
autagOnism There are scores of instances
every session where bitter enemies are
made, and all growing out OF this great
latitude given in debate.
In the senate committee rooms on pub
lie buildings there was singular meeting
last Friday, uud all by accident, which
made it more remarkable There hap
pened to be present five eX governors of
Kansas and two eX- United States senators
from the same State. The coincidence
was the subject of good deal OF pleas
antry. and senators left their seats to wit
ness the unprecented sight
AS the session progresses, the lack of
democratic harmony becomes more APP
parent Mr.. Mills of Texas the chairman
OF the important committee on ways and
means, assumes that the responsibilities
of the entire government are upon his
shoulders. He received a severe back
set on Friday through his party associate
Mr.. Hatch of Missouri, much to the merri,
ment of the republican side of the House
Mills is very arrogant. Hatch Is practlca.
and wants straight business, aud the rel
suit was that Hatch scored several good
points, much TO the discontinue of Mr..
Mills. | do not know that there is any
truth in the report that Speaker Carlisle
has already expressed his regret tnat he
has put Mr. Mills at the head of this com
miJtee, still 1t is thought to be a fact.
have good reason tor believing that
there will be no action this session on the
postal telegraph bill. Desirable as it may
be the people will have to wait for a re
publican House. This is confidently eX-
pected at the next election. X