Nevada County picayune., 1888-02-22
WASHINCTONTOPICS. Weekly Budget ofNews From the
 National Capital.
lFrom our Special Correspondent.

W AsIIINGTbN. Feb. li. lSSS.
 During the present session of Con gress, which has been in session q little over two months. more than G350 bills have been introduced in the House of Representatives. Not one fortieth of them have passed, and before final adjournment. the number of bills presented and referr- ed will probably have reached twice that number
 The life of a Congressional bill is rather interesting. To give you some idea of the red tape that bill must encounter. it is onl V necessary to say that full grown hill must be printed six times. and must pass through the hands of at least twenty five persons before it can he num- bered with the laws of the land.
 There seems to he a growing dis position on the part of Congress to regulate. or rather to restrict the publication of certain matter in the press-such as lotteries and gift en- terprises. Thirteen bills of this character were introduced in the last Congress. and eight or nine have been brought forward in the pres ent. The House Committee has re- ported adversely the bill to license railroad conductors. and this is prob ably the last that will be heard of that measure.
 The House Judiciary Committee has ordered favorable report on the Senate bill to refund the direct taxes collected during the late civil war. with an amendment providing that money SO collected shall be restored to the rightful owner. There is lit i tie doubt of the passage of this act.
 The Ways and Means Committe has reported bill authorizing tn, Secretary of the Treasury to invest the surplus in the purchase of niteo States bonds. Heretofore this all thoritv was conferred upon that otli' cial by virtue of the provision of the annual appropriation bill. As an ls- sue has been raised questioning hi. right in the matter, it was thought best to finally settle the controversy by such legislation.
 The Republican Senators have but two subjects to discuss when they wish to talk fer political effect When weary of assulting the Presi dent message they are reduced t' the necessity of attacking the mai service in the West. Senator Rca- gon was to the point when he Salt that if reform was honestly sought the complair'> would not be sent t' the nited States Senate. but to the PoStotiice Department, where steps could he taken to correct the alleged shortcomings.
 Blaine's letter is variouslv viewed both by Democrats and Republicans The former place little faith in his sincerity, while those of the latter who are unfriendly to the aspirations of the man from Maine are more than willing to take him at his word. On the other hand. the ardent support CTS of MT. Blaine are hoping that there will be a reaction in his favor, which will apparently make the can didacy of their favortc q necccSsi- ty.
 As a result of the retirement of Blaine. there are number of Presi- dcntial booms. among which may be mentioned Senators lIawlcy. Shcr- man. Allison. as well a- Gresham and General Sheridan. In fact the Republicans in Congress are now thinking more of Notwithstanding than of legislation.
 At last the so called everlasting Blair bill'' has again passed the Sen ate this time hy vote of 59 to 29. IL has been in three Congresses now. and has occupied much valuable time which its enemies say will he to no purpose, Its fate in the House is problematical. but most of the Dem ocrats voted against it before. and the longer the bill has been thought of and talked of the weaker it has grown. The last vote upon il by the Senate was not SO strong as the vote of two years ago.
 The fisheries Commission having concluded its labors and signed a treaty. the same will be submitted to the Senate today. Ii only includes the disputes on the Atlantic coast.
 The President and party are eN- pectcd to make their living trip to the Land of Flowers early next week,