Smyrna times., 1888-01-25
For the Smyrna Times.
Washington Letter.
WAsHINGToN. lam. %. 18

WASHINGTON, Jan, %, 1888,
The Speaker and the Democratic
leader of the House were Frustrated bv
sudden illness the past week, and in
consequence, little 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 law, and the bill appro-
priaiipg $585,000 for agricultural ex-
pertinent stations in connection with
the various agricultural colleges
throughout the country.
The House spent a good portion of
one day in filibustering to prevent
consideration of the bill presented by
Mr.. Wilkins, of Ohio, to increase the
national bank circulation, which effort
was successful, under the leadership of
Messrs. Weaver, of Iowa and Ander-
son Of Kansas. The remainder of the
same day was devoted by the House to
the reception of the pictures of the
three Massachusetts Speakers, present.
ed by the Old Bay State, and added TO
the portrait gallery. There were
number of excellent speeches, and the
occasion was of such general interest
that for the first time during the ses-
sion, there was not a vacant seat on
the floor or in the galleries. Among
the orators who attracted most atten-
ton were Messrs. Long and Lodge, of
Massachusetts, and Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE,
of Kentucky.
The first regular appropriation bill
| reported is the Pension bill, the amount
proposed being little over eighty and
a quarter million dollars, which is four
millions above the estimate.
In response to petitions from all parts
of the Union, Mr.. Taulbee, of Ken
lucky, has introduced an iron clad pro
hibitiOn bill for the District of Column
bia, but, with refreshing frankness,
that gentleman. who prides himself on
being the only Democratic prohibition
ist in Congress from his State, admits
that 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 within six years. An
Intellectual attempt was made by the
Southern Senators to include the tax
on cotton.
MS W Jll6 DldlI EuuCdblOIdl Dill,
will mention that Ex-Justice 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 student.
of Columbia Law school of this city
His last lecture was on the first clause
of the eigth section, Article l. Thu
Congress shall have power to lay ant
collect taxes, duties, imports and excis
es, to pay the debts and provide 70
the common defense and general wei
fare of the United States"
In the course of the remarks of the
E Judge, he was asked by a student if il
! his opinion, the Blair Educational bill
was constitutional The Judg
, promptly replied, =" 1t is my OpiniO
that it is unconstitutional, and this
believe to be the opinion of the presen
= bench.
e The above was obtained from a stu
q dent of the law school not wishing t
s make any mistake in the matter, you
: correspondent proceeded to the res
dence of ex-Justice Strong, finding hir
at home. He was asked Is it tru
r that you gave an opinion before til
# Columbia Law School against the col
# stitutiOnality of the Blair bill?" H
s, answer was did say that it was m
e opinion that the measure was unconst
10 tutiOnal, but it was in reply to a que
n ton and not as part of my lectur
l had no intention or thought that n
remarks would become public proper
y or would not have given an Opinio
Ever since retired from the bench,
- has been my fixed principle never
~ give publicity to an opinion on al
70 matter before the Supreme Court, al
r. shall not depart from it. am col
TO stantly in consultation and intercOuT
% with members of the bench, and u
~ opinion on questions before the court
pc frequently asked by the judges, but
"a never vary from the determination t
'W ken when left the bench. If were
Congressman, might feel more at Ii
Of erty to discuss the Blair bill and Xxi
~ bred measures, but am not. belle
~ in strict construction Ofthe cOnsti
=, ton.
II, The above opinion from Judge StrO
he is undoubtedly heavy handicap
re the Blair bill to carry, for in all prOl
ia bility the Judge but voiced the Opini
m of majority of the Supreme COu
~ What effect it will have on the stat
Of of the Blair bill in Congress, it is imp
I'd sible to say at this time but it {
~ scarcely be favorable to that measu
--ssp--