Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1890-01-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, JAN, 6. 1880.

| w AN. " 1OoU.
A quorum was hardly to be expected
in congress to day, owing to the raw
ages of the grip. The .adherents of Mr..
Reed confidentally assert that business
will he SO rushed from this date that
adjournment will actually be earlier,
instead of later than usual. The oppo-
nents of the administration still assert
that it will be the longest session in
the history of congress. The ways and
means and the appropriations COM
mittee are the ones whose work is cx-
pected to prolong the session. The
| first named committee is expected to,
according to several of its members, to
report its general bill in the latter part
of February or first Of March, and to
have the work finally cleared away
before the first of the summer months.
Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the appropri-
| ations committee, thinks the committee
will surely not prevent, by its work,
adjournment in July.
Justice Brewer, just raised to the
Supreme bench, freely admits that he
has not reached the goal of his ambition.
He has certainly reached a place where
he can haYe all the work his soul may
yearn after, for the supreme court is
still confronted with 4 docket of thir-
teen hundred cases and the docket is
swelling every day. 1t would take the
judges over three years to go through
this calendar, even should no additions
be made to it. This long delay is
equivalent to u denial of justice. The
time is fast coming when persons hav-
ing legitimate ground for appeal, will
remain the sufferers from error rather
than court veyations and expensive
delays.
In the face of over whelming accu-
mutation Of work, the justices have
performed herculean labors. Three of
the judges Justices Miller, Field and
Bradley-are entitled by age to retire
ment at full salary, and only a zeal for
the public good impels them to con-
tinue on the bench. at best the salary
is adequate. 1t is less than the salaries
given to judges of the supreme and
superior bench in New York. For
years the court and its practitioners
have asked congress for relief in the
form of an intermediate tribunal, such
legislation was recommended by Presi-
dent Cleveland and has been endorsed
by President Harrison.
Judge Kelley has probably been on
the floor of the house for the last time.
On the first day of the session and once
thereafter he managed to apper among
his colleagues, but the effort was too
great to be repeated. His enfeebled
condition admitted by himself in his
letter to speaker Reed, declining in
advance to serve on important COM
mittees, was the subject of comment,
but only few knew the real nature Of
his ailment. 1t is now fully developed
and very virulent. Just under the
right side of the jaw is a cancer, which
is spreading rapidly into the throat.
He speaks now only in whispers and
with great pain. The taking Of nour-
ishment and even the least locomotion
involves distress. Still, the Judges
indomitable energy cannot be conquered
and he expresses a constant desire to
be back on the floor of the house. Mr..
Kelley's long and valued services to his
party will be greatly missed. There
probably never was congress that
needed men of recognized ability on
both sides more than does the fifty-first,
and every notable loss will he deeply
regretted.
Judge Kelley will be seventy-six
years OF ageif he lives until next April.
He is native of Philadelphia. His
public career illustrates the loyalty of
Philadelphia to faithful public servants
Elected to congress when Lincoln was
elected president, he has never failed to
be returned with very little opposition.
So long as the republicans were III the
ascendency he was regarded as that
party's greatest tariff authority. Dur
ing the last two sessions waning health
has compelled his withdrawal from
active service.
Besides being notable for abominable
weather, the New Year reception at the
white house was made brilliant by the
largest number of foreign representa-
tives ever seen on a similar occasion.
The addition to the diplomatic Corps
of the delegates to the Pan-American
congress, together with minor bodies.
made the array of brilliant uniforms
most dazzling. Mrs. Harrison's absence
due to the death of her sister, was
greatly regretted.
The government printing Office
finished the printing of all OF the senate
and house bills introduced before
recess this morning. There were over
four thousand public and private meas
ures, and as several hundred impress
sions of each bill are required, the
resources of the public printer were
| seyare1y taxed