Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-12-11
From our regular Correspondent. |
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON. d. c., Dec. !. 1890,
Speaker Reed, as the hands of the big
clock facing him indicating noon, called
the House 10 order and formally declared
the second session of the Fifty first Con
gress opened and ready for business. At
| ter prayer by the chaplain the Presidents
message was received. Wien the clerk
began reading the message many of the
members were llstlcss or intent upon read
| ing newspapers or writing letters but as
the burning words of patriotism and par
| ty loyalty, which not even the sing song
torres of the professional reader could
make dull, began to pour forth every form
was erect and the closest attention was
paid to every word. Speaker Reeds face
was study as the reading Of the message
| proceeded. He smiled most expressirely,
and from time TO time nodded his head
| in manner which said as plain ss any
! thing could those are my sentiments:
and occasionally brought his chubby hands
| together, as If TO congratulate himself for
| being member of tie same party a. the
| man who could write such ringing ard
timely message just after his party had
been defeated
The Democrats too paid close attention
to the reading of the message, but their
faces did not beam with satisfaction at
the strong points as did those of the Re-
publicans. Republicans are all congratn-
{ latt ba prasi,I.pt ud ka
universal among them that the message is
one of the best ever sent to Congress and
1t is no eSaggeration to say that II has
made Mr.. Harrison more popular with Re
publicsns in both branches Of Congrc>,
than he has ever been before. and the par
ty leaders express the belief that II u)i
put an effective quieius upon the small,
very small minority Of the party in Con-
grcss that lost their heads over the result
Of the late elections 10 -uch an extent a.
u De willing to abandon one of the cardj-
nal principles Of the Republican party in
order To curry favor in certain quarters
It i now an absolute certainty that no
backward step, viii be taken By the Re
publcaus during this session Of Congress
The cry j. forward. forward" ard tie
marching viii be done 10 the same old
party music that ha> lrd the party b Il.
greatest triumph> IN the past, which vii
bc repeated in the future, jus, certain
as diligence always in the course Of
time gets the best of ignorance. The Re
publicans are sill! In control of both
branches Of Congress, and Republican
ideas VIII dominate all HE legislation
passed between this and the fourth day OF
next March. and in spite Of Democratic
threats howl, and piteous appeals the
original Republican programme, mapped
out long before the elections, is to be car
ried out 10 the letter.
Mrs. Harrison has gone Oh the long dc-
fcrrcd visit to her old indianapolis home
She woulJ have gone several weeks ago
but the President " i~hed her To stay and
take part in the reception rendered to the
Brazilian naval officers who came here TO
present this Government with a gold med
al for its timely tction In recognizing the
young Brazilian republic. The reception
took place at the Whit" House Friday
night and was very brilliant affair. To
night Secretary Tracy entertains the yis-
tor, and tomorrow they start for home,
not being able to s,snd the cold or our eli
mate at this season.
| had very Interesting talk this morn
Ing with Representative Dunnell, chair
man Of the House committee on the census,
ami author of the appOrtionment bill,
which was int. duced at the last session
aud referred 10 that committee. He says
there Will be no. delay in reporting an APP
portiorment bill. and that II mill be along
the line Of his bill, the difference between
the estimated and actual population Of the
country being the only drawback to the
bill Just a. it stands and that. he thinks,
can easily be remedied. asked him what
he thought Of the proposition to reduce
instead Of increase he number Of Repre-
sentatiNcs. He said III will not do at
ali. Representatives are nearly worked 10
death now, and to increase the number of
constituents which cach nl them have 10
represent means to increase their work.
You may be sure that the apportioument
law enacted this winter will increase the
membership Of the House 10 at least $50
i am personally in favor of making the
increase much greater.
From another source | learned that 1t is
/ proposed to amend the apporlionment bill
/ in such manner a- to forever stop the
1 State legislatures from making partisan
! gerrymauders Of the Congressional dis
| tricts. Certainly such law is badly need
I cd when the Democrats are openly threat
/ ening to gerrymander every s;ate in " which
/ they control the legislature in such way
/ as to practically shut ont the Republicans.
Some uneasiness was felt when the
/ House opened this morning without quo
rum of Republicans; but from diligent in
quiry | am certain that a quorum Of Re
publicans will be here this week, and be-
leve that they will remain here continu-
ousy to the end, at least they say they
will, and if they don't, their political fu-
ture is not to be enyied.