The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1900-01-19
capital" Letter from Harris.
WASHINGTON, Jan. Is, 700.
Patient Friends:


good thing about Congress; it is great
field for expect alton and hope. Like to.
morrow, it is always in the near future,
an SO we always have something to look
forward to.
The two houses were probably in ses.
sion ten hours each last week, and con.
seuuently the crop of results was very
small and fl in the hill In the Senat e
the time was mostly taken up in wrang-
ling over few matters of no general I'M
portance and in the introduction by the
Philippine Senators-Mason, Hoar and
Pettigrew--of their usual resolutions of
sympathy for the Tagals, Fenians, Boer
WhtecapS and rulfians of all countries.
Very little progress was made with the
important financial measure, but it is
likely to consume most of the time this
week Senator Aldrich, the little black
eyed and white moustached chairman of
the Senate finance committee, says the
democratic opposition must either vote
on the measure or discuss it this week.
and Senator Cockrel,, the democratic
statesman from missouri" allows that
his side will discuss it. So, look out for
an Outburst of oratorical chatf. The re-
publican majority say that they will not
discuss it or explain it, as it requires
nothing of the kind, so the democrats
admitting that the bill will pass by a
large majority-will discuss it and send
their printed speeches home to demon
strate to their constituents that they
have done their duty.
Another burning issue which has taken
considerable of the time of the SeLaturs
when not in session is the attempt to
agree on parties to fill the important Of
fetal positions of Sergeantat alarms and
Secretary of the Senate. These offices,
which carry a large amount of official
patronage, have for a long time been filled
| by democrats, and the overwhelming re-
publican majority is of the opinion that
a change is Bile. William K. Cox of
| North { arolina, formerly a democratic
congressman, has been for long time
Secretary, and the position of Sergeant
alarms has been filled for years by Col.
Dick Bright, a son of the celebrated Jesse
d. Bright of Indiana, once Senator from
that state with national reputation.
Col. Bright is a massive old gentle man
with snowy hair, and as a matter of fact
has made an admirable official. Col.
Ramsdell, a prominent Indiana politician,
will probably succeed Cox, but Brght's
successor is not yet unearthed. AS |
write the woods are being secured for
him.
Very little if anything has been done
in the House of general interest. Secre-
tary Gage has explained to that body the
reason why he named the Capital City
bank of New York as depository for in
ternal revenue and import collections.
but the democrats won't accept the story
and the Bowery democratic statesman
SulZer of New York is after him with
blood in his eye There is nothing on
the House program of general interest
this week, but it is an uncel tain body
and some unexpected incident may pre-
cipitate a two ring performance at any
time. 30, hope for the best and be pre-
pared for the worst.
In this congress there are not dozen
members of the House of especial inter-
est TO visitors, and nine out of ten are on
the same dead level OF mediocrity The
cherubi1 Bailey of Texas is now high
private in the rear rank, and his official
position as leader of the democratic side
is much more ably filled by Jim" Rich .
ardson of Tennessee. The latter is a |
slim, dark man with black hair and nous /
tache. good type of bright, snappy !
country lawyer.
Grosvenor of Ohio, the republican floor |
leader, is solid looking old gentleman !
with white full beard and a shock OF |
white hair He is plain, level headed /
business man, but his mind and tongue |
are not quick enough for the leadership /
of his party on the floor and he not intre- /
quently finds himself in u tangle. The |
republican majoli ity in the house is only !
thirteen and as the democrats have not u
few men of very sharp and quick intel |
lects the republican leader requires lots
hand all the time.
For several years Congressman Fitz-
gerald of Boston was the OILY democrat
ic member of the House from New Eng
land, but the gloom of his political lonli-
ness is now dispeled by Naphen, also of
caught the venerable Walker mapping and
defeated him by close vote. Fitzgerald
is solemn and serious looking boy, in
appearance about twenty, smooth face,
brown eyes and the general aspect of q
a ten-dollar a-week dry goods clerk. He
is, just The same, one of the ablest mem
bers of the house, fine debator and one
of the most influential men in his party.
Better than all, he is an ardent expan-
sionist and goes with the flag.
Senator ProctOr's bill ito regulate for
eign immigration and for other purpOs-
es" is intended TO simplify and render
more easy and less costly of enforcement
our immigration laws, and If IL becomes
a law will make great improvement in
the administration of the statutes con-
trolling these matters. Senator Ross has
introduced his bill to regulate appoint
ments to and removals from civil offices
In our territories, which will be most
important aid in the establishment of
proper SySte of civil government in the
The Senator's great work
however. is the attempt to establish our
and Consular service on the
English basis, in which this service is
made profession, proper promotions are
made, appointments are made entirely
with view to fitness, regardless of poll
Tics, and no removals are allowed except
Tor cause. This system gives a Minister
Dr. Consul something to work and hope
ior, and would relieve the President of
vast worry and responsibility by taking
he whole matter entirely out of politics.
such reform accomplished would prove
IN everlasting monument to Senator Ross
rs one of the greatest reforms in the civil
government of our country in a genera
ion. .
The House Committee on interstate
md foreign commerce will report favora-
IDLY the bill for the construction of the
Nicaragua cana, which carries with il the I
ium of St40O00,000 for the prosecution !
md completion of the work. This bill is /
nearly Identical with that favorably re-
)Orted by the committee at the last ses-
hon, and which, in the rush to get J
through and adjourn March 4th, failed to {
De acted upon. There is little if any {
loubt but that the bill will pass at this ]
ession, possibly with some amendments. 6
The President wishes to make the com !
elton or at least the Inauguration of /.
his great work feature of his admins !
ration, and it is understood that it will