The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1890-01-10
il Letter.
(trom u regular correspondent.)

later than usual. The opponents OF the
administration still assert that 1t will be the
longest session in the history of Congress.
The Ways and Means aud the %appropria-
tions committee are the ones whose work
is expected to prolong the session. The
first named committee is expected, accord
ing to several OF its members, to report
its general bill in the latter part OF Febru-
ary or first of March, and to have the work
finally cleared away before the first of the
summer months. Mr.. Cannon, Chairman
of the appropriations committee, thinks
that committee will surely not prevent, by
its work, adjournment in July.
Justice Brewer, just raised to the Su-
preme bench, freely admits that he has now
reached the goal of his ambition. lie has
certainly reached a place where he can have
all the work his soul may yearn after, for
the Supreme Court is still confronted with
a docket of thirteen 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 de-
lay is equivalent to a denial of justice. The
time is fast coming whea persons having
legitimate ground for appeal, will remain
the sufferers from error rather than court
vexatious and expensive delays.
In the face of this overwhelming aceu-
mutation of work, the justices have per-
formed herculean lobors. Three of the
judges-Justices Miller, Field and Bradley
are entitled by age TO retirement at full
salary, and only a zeal for the public good
impels them to- continuc on the bench. At
best the salary is inadequate. 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 legisla-
ton was recommended by President Cleye-
land and has been endorsed by President
Harrison.
Judge Kelley has probably been on tie
IiDOI VI lliE llVGcC io1 nv lASk INV 0h
the first day of the session and once there
after he managed to appear among his
colleagues, but the effort was too great to
be repeated. His enfeebled condition, adj
mitted by himself in his letter to Speaker
Reed, declining in advance to serve on i'm
portant committees was the subject of COM
ment, but only a few knew the real nature
of his ailment. 1t is now fully developed
and very yirulent. Just under the right
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 nourishment and even the slight
est locoinotion involves distress. Still, the
Judges indomitable energy cannot be o n
quered 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 pro-
baby never was a Congress that needed
men of recognized ability on both sides
more than does the Fifty-frst, and every
notable loss will be deeply regretted.
Judge Kelley will be seyenty-six years of
age if he lives until next April. He is a
native of Philadelphia. His public career
illustrates the loyalty of Philadelphia to
faithful public servants. Elected to Con-
gress when Lincoln was elected President,
he has never failed to be returned with We
ry little opposition. SO long as the Repub.
licans were in the ascendeney he was re-
garded as hat party's greatest tariff au-
thority. During the last two sessions
waning health has compelled his W withdraw.
al from active service.
Beside being notable for abominable
weather, the New Year reception at the
White House was made brilliant by TIE
largest number of foreign representatives
ever seen on a similar occasion. Theaddi
ton to the Diplomatic Corps of the dele
gates to the Pan-American Congress, to
gether with minor bodies, made the array
of brilliant uniforms most dazzling. Mrs
Harrison's absence, due to the death of he
sister, was greatly regretted.
Christmas day was distinguished il
Washington by weather as balmy as May
and people on the street were obliged t.
dof heavy wrays. The observance Of tht
day was v idespread. In the White Houst
the family celebrated in the old -fashionet
way, having a Christmas tree for TIA,
children and the customary dinner in tn,
afternoon. The children were up by day
break to Re delighted by the receipt o
miniature wagons and locomotives and tn,
most surprising dolls. The Presiden
joined in their romps and even the hour III
tried to devote to business was not FIRE,
from their natteIing attention. The fam
lilies of the members of the Cabinet spen.
the day quietly in their respective houses
John Wanamaker was the only Cabiner
officer out of the city. Secretary Tracy
was the only one that went to church
Secretary Rusk gave a dinner in the even
ing to a number Of Wisconsin Congress
men who happened to be in town.
Society is conyulsed by the mighty ques
ton of precedence in official society. Mrs
Ha~rrison's selection of her daughter tt
represent her in the line at the Nes Yea