Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-01-09
WASHINGTON LETTER
OUTLOOK FOR WORK IN CONGRESS
THE COMING WEEK.
The Fate Of the Elections Bill to BE
Decided at Once.
A Summary of the Happenings of
the Past Week.


the Past Week.
IL begins TO be apparent that the present
unsatisfactory state OF affairs in the senate
must soon be terminated. Fifty working
days will end the life Of the fifty-frst con-
gress yet the first of the regular annual APP
! preparation bills remains TO be acted upon
! by the senate. The feeling Of Impotence
which this condition of the public business
has aroused has gathered strength every
day, and the significant remarks uttered in
debate last week by senator's of recognized
influence appear to have had the effect of
bringing the senate nearer TO "a change of
the program that has held sway since con-
gress met in December last. A caucus of
the republican senators is to be held and it
is confidently expected by most Of the re-
! publicans, as a result of it, that before the
week expires, crisis will have been reach
ed with respect TO the elections bill, and the
senate will have arrived at a clear under
standing OF what course is to be pur-
sued for the remainder of the session.
The lines of battle are narrow
ing, and there is a gathering of forces.
Absent republican senator's have been re-
quested TO return, and preparations are
making on both sides of the chamber for
the final struggle. A part Of the campaign,
1t is believed, will be a series of night ses-
sions designed TO attest the efficacy of the
old methods of passing a bill obnoxious to
the minority, as well as TO secure the adop-
ton of the new cloture rule, if il be de-
| cided TO press this measure. In the house
the first Monday of the month is 'individ-
ual suspension day" and members are
| given an opportunity TO pass measures of
local interest. Chairman Farquhar Of the
merchant marine and fisheries committee
will call up the shipping bill Tuesday.
Its friends propose TO allow two days for
the consideration, but a determined effort
will be made by the opposition TO defer
final action on the bill as long as possible
in the hope Of defeating it in this manner
without running the risk Of a final vote on
the passage of the bill. There is pros
pect that consideration of the shipping
bill may be antagonized by appropriation
bills, and that the former measure may
not secure the floor. Friday may be de-
voted TO bills on the private calendar. 1t
is expected TO fill in any time during the
week not devoted TO the shipping bill and
to special orders, with appropriation bills,
four Of which are on the calendar await
ing consideration, Chairman Cutcheon Of
the military affairs committee, having the
right of way with the appropriation bill.
JUSTICE BROWN AT THE CAPITAL.
Washington society will give Justice
Brown and his family warm welcome.
They have many acquaintance here who
met them few winters ago as the guests OF
Senator and Mrs. Palmer. 1.-THE Browns"
says the Star ARE people Of means and
their future homo here will be the center
|
very pretty woman and dresses with ele-
gance and taste" Judge Brown arrived
here Saturday morning and was accom-
panied by Mrs. Brown. II. II. Duffield and
wife. r. S. Jerome and Walter S. Harsha
of Detroit, and Daniel Goodwin and wife
of Chicago. AT the depot was Mr.. James
II. McKenny, clerk of the supreme court,
who escorted the Justice to the capitol.
The other members of the party went TO
Arlington Hotel, where the Judge joined
| them little later. Justice Brown called
on the president in the afternoon and
thanked him personally for his appoint
ment, il being their first meeting since the
nomination was sent 10 the senate. He
was accompanied by Chief Justice Fuller
and Associate Justice Brewer.
DIDN'T HAVE TIME To DRY.
| The complaints which have recently
appeared in the newspapers respecting the
inferior quality OF the small denominations
of the new treasury notes were not unex-
pected by the officials of the Treasury
| Department who are familiar with the
subject. The demand for small denomi-
nations has been so great and pressing that
the new notes were hurried into circulation
before they were fairly dry. The natural
| IT.. 81, te hrift
according TO the treatment the note may
receive in use; while the ink rubs Off or
smirches, somewhat easily. These effects
will disappear as soon as sufficient supply
of the notes is accumulated so that they
may lie in the Treasurer s vaults short
| time and season. Similar complaints have
been made of every new issue of currency.
They were particularly emphatic in 1886.
when the issue of the silver certificates
was made.
Mrs. Z. ]. Grimes, vice A. d. Grimes
deceased, has been appointed postmaster at
Stockbridge, Ingham county, Mich.
The president has accepted the resigna-
ton of Judge VIM. McKennan. United
States circuit Judge of the third judicial
district of Pennsylvania, who retires be-
cause Of age.
The house committee on rules has for
some time had before 1t MIR. Dockery's
resolution asking for an investigation Of
the public charges that some legislators are
interested in silver pool. 1t is the pur-
pose of Mr.. Dockery to offer resolution
reciting the facts and discharging the COM
mittee that the house may aet at once on
the proposition. REX.
WASHINGTON, DC, Jan. 4, 1891.