Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1890-01-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 1890.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 10, 1890.
President and Mrs. Harrison dined the
vice president and Mrs. Morton, the cabi-
net officers and their wives at the first state
dinner Of the new atlminist ration Tuesday
night. In many ways. notably as to floral
decorations, il was one of the finest affairs
of the kind ever served. The dinner itself
was not So heavy of wine aud food cooked
in liquor as in the days Of that good bach
.lor President Arthur. IL was. indeed,
less of IL mans dinner as tho menu went,
but he via n,ls were better suited to an as
semblage oi both sexes.
The president and Mrs. Harrison were in
the east room before the earliest guests ar
rived. Secretary Blaine was "a good ten
minutes late. considering the hour men
toned ON the cards of invitation. Ex-
Speaker and Mrs. Carlisle were the very last
arrivals. There were white table servants.
which is an innovation at state dinners.
and the dinner would have been served at
half after seven had not business Of i'm
portance delayed several guests.
No disintercsted witness of the proceed
'ngs of the house since the recess can ear
nrstly predict an early adjournment Of the
present session. The path of Speaker Reed
is not going tn he II smooth one; that much
was settled on Tuesday. The row began
with a resolution offered by Mr.. McC
OF MARYLAND. that the house GO into com
mittee of the whole for the consideration of
the District "f Columbia appropriation bill;
that the debate should last n certain num-
ber oi hours, and in the consiiern lion of
the hill the rules of the last house should
mittee by resolution, the usual way being
by simple motion. Mr.. Breckenridge OF
Kentucky opposed the resolution, as il in
volved the adoption of rules.
Mr.. Reed promptly decided Mr. Brecken-
ridge out of order, whereupon the Ken
10y Mr. Reed as not sustained. though the
Democrats claim that the vote being with
ont rrca pitulatiou by the clerk. is matter
of considerable doubt. The meaning of an
appeal in such cases las considerable grav-
ity, as il i- seldom made by IA minority
from Il Speakers ruling unless the minority
feels that the decision at issue is grossly
partisan aud unfair.
Mr. Carlisle il announced as having his
war paint on ard to be particularly az
grieved at Mr.. Reeds conduct. As u mem
her Of the committee ON rules, he holds
that hc should have been consulted about
the rules. Vet, hc says, there has been no
-. 4 :.
aud that if any new rules have been adopt.
ed he does not know it. Mr.. Mckinley de
frnd, Mr. Reeds action in not verifying the
list Of yeas and nays on the appeal by the
fact that the house has no rules, and there.
fore the speaker was not Obliged to order
the clerk Ia make n recapitulation.
The equanimi,y of the senate was rudely
disturbed yesterday 10y the action of Sen.
atnr VOORHEES, in dragging in Col. Duiley's
"bluck of five letters senator Noorhees'
ARA ignmcnt # c'.l. Dudley was carefully
considered effort. and will undoubtedly y call
piece If the other party.
some amusing complications ARISE in all
mini-terin- the affairs ni the h.nse without
rules. The other day Congressman Ander-
,"n al Kansas annoyed the speaker by
Openly smoking on the house foor. The
speaker -larcd aud s,nt "a d,puty sergeant
at-arms to inform the member that the
rules of the house forbid smoking ON the
floor The western member sent back his
compliments and begged to be informed
when the rules had been adopted
speaker Reed and Cannon
yesterday called upon Representative Ran
dali at his residence and administered the
oath Of office. Mr. Randall, in the enforced
confinement oi IA sick chamber and against
the advicc Of his physicians, keeps abreast
with the news of the day. His room is lit
tered with papers and official reports. The
Congressional Record is Thoroughly read
each day, aud all the New York Philadcl-
phia aud Washington papers receive full
attention. The latest reviews and maya.
zines Till out the time. Yesterday he talked
long and earnestly apropos of the North
American Review debate between Mr.. Glad
stone and Mr. Blaine ON the relative merits
oi free trade and protection. A sign of re-
turning strength is in the symptom that he
managed to avoid the issue with all hi, old.
time adroitueee.