The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1889-12-19
Washington Letter.

Secretary Blaine, in answer to a
question, expressed himself, as
entirely satisfied with the progress SO
far made by the three Americas
congress and confident that the con-
gress will result in great benefit to
all the countries represented therein.
Monday the congress will adjourn
until after the Christmas holidays.
Prominent prohibitionists are
making a fight on the confirmation
by the senate Of the nomination Of
Justice Brewer, because he took the
ground in a legal decision that the
owners Of certain 5reweries in Kan
sas were entitled to compensation
from the state for their property
which was rendered useless by the
adoption of the prohibiting liquor
law. The decision was afterward
reversed by the U. S. Supreme Court.
Judge Brewer is himself a prohib-
Zionist, and it seems a little strange
that the only opposition to his con-
frmation should come from the pro-
hibitionists. There is not the
slightest doubt of Judge Brewers
confirmation.
The congressional celebration of
the centennial of Washington's
inauguration, which was postponed
from April 80, to December II,
because congress was not in session
on the former date, came off on
Wednesday before what was prob
ably the most truly cosmopolitan
audience ever assembled in America.
The ceremonies gained in grandeur
from their simplicity, and that deep
impression was made upon the large
number Of distinguished foreigners
present was plainly apparent to
even the most casual observer. The
ceremonies took place in the hall of
the house of representatives and was
presided over by the the vice presi-
dent. On the floor were seated the
president and his cabinet; the
supreme court; the senate; the
three Americas congress; the Inter
national Maritime congress; the gov
errors or their representatives, of all
the states and territories, and other
prominent personages. The diplo-
matte gallery was crowded to its ut
most capacity by the official repre-
sentatives of the nations of the world.
The ceremonies were begun with
"HaiI Columbia" bv the Marine
band, and ended with the "Star
Spangled Banner" Chief Justice
Fuller delivered the address. The
language was apt and we'll chosen,
but the delivery was hardly up to
what was expected from the orator;
it lacked that subtitle oratorical mag
netism which seizes hold of an audi
enCe when under the magic spell of
the voice of a great orator. But
nobody ever claimed that the Chief
Justice was a great orator. Had the
same address been delivered by Mr..
Blaine it would scarcely have been
recognized.
Senator ingalls, has joined the
rapidly increasing number of cong
gressmen who believe the present
civil service law to be a delusion and
a snare, and that the humbug should
be wiped out of existence. Two
thirds of congress express the same
belief privately. and it begin to look
as though the time was soon coming
when they will do so publicly.
Speaker Reed gave the dry bones
of congressional precedent terrible
rafting when he announced five of
the most important committees of
the House-wavs and means,
Mckinley, chairman; appropriations,
Cannon, chairman; manufactures,
Kelley, chairman. This is a very
decided improvement upon with
holding the committee announce
ments until the middle of January,
as Mr.. Carlisle did two years ago.
There are various other presidents
that might be improved upon, and
Mr.. Reed will doubtless continue
the vigorous work so auspiciously
begun.
Mrs. Harrison has the deep SYM
pathy of this community in the sor-
row caused by the death of her