Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1890-01-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Washington, ID. o., Jan. b, 1870.
A quorum was hardly to be expected
in Congress to-day, owing to the raw
ages of the grip. The adherents OF
Mr.. Reed confidently assert that bust
ness will be so rushed from this date
that adjournment will actually be
earlier, instead Of later than usual.
The opponents of the administration
still assert that it will be the longest
session in the history of Congress. The
Ways and Means and appropriations
committee are the ones whose work is
expected to prolong the session. The
first named committee is expected, ac-
cording 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 appro-
priations committee, thinks that COM
mittee will surely not prevent, by its
work, adjournment in Jul y.
Justice Brewer, just raised to the
Supreme bench, freely admits that he
has now reached the goal Of his ambi-
ton. He has certainly reached 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 so
through this calendar, even should no
additions be made to it. This long
delay is equivalent to denial of justice.
The time is fast coming when persons
having legitimate ground for appeal,
will remain the sufferers from error
rather than court veXations and eX
pensive delays.
In the face of this overwhelming ac-
emulation 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 inadequate. 1t is less than the sal
aries given to judges of the Supreme
and Superior bench in New York.
For years the court and its practition-
ers have asked Congress for relief in
the form of an intermediate tribunal,
such legislation was recommended by
President Cleveland and has been en-
dorsed 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 appear 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 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 slightest locomo-
ton involves distress. Still, the Judges
indomitable energy cannot be con-
quered and he expresses a constant de-
sire 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 a
Congress that needed men of recog-
nized ability on both sides more than
does the Fify-frst, and every notable
loss will be deeply regretted.
Judge Kelley will be seventy-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 ser
wants. Elected to Congress when
Lincoln was elected President, he has
never failed to be returned with very
little opposition. So long as the Re
publicans were in the ascendency he
was regarded as that party's greatest