The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1902-03-14
Harris Washington Letter.
Washington, March 9.

the government who labors with me
told me this afternoon that he had
lust seen two hundred robbins
spelled with one bin the grounds
of the National Museum. Then
decided to go out and buy pair of
low shoes and straw hat. When 1
had this firmly decided on and had
turned on the electric fan a co1ored
messenger came in and posted bull
letin from the Ananias club at the
weather bureau stating that there
would be rain or snow tomorrow.
Thereupon l cussed the weather,
credited myself with five dollars on
the shoes and hat as money saved
and took some more quinine.
Talk about paterna1 government;
this is paterna1, maternal, grand
motherly and an old maid aunt, all
rolled in one. The Senate sergeant
alarms furnishes us with quinine,
phYsic-and how it does act!-por-
GUS p1asters, sulphur and molasses,
teething cordial and all the comforts
of home except coal bill and a re-
frigerator full of beer in the back
room. The latest rumor is that
they will add laundry and Turkish
baths.
The conduct of Congress reminds
me in certain important respects of
a man acting as the centre around
which a few thousand hornets are
revolving. His attention is diverted
from one hornet to another so rapid
1y that he don't seem to have an OPP
portunity to get in any conclusive
work. This is somewhat the case
with Congress. 1t has very many
irons in the fire simultaneously and
puts an artistic touch on several
during a days work. Then when
you read the record of what was
done the day before you wonder
what the harvest will be. And you
keep Oh wondering indefinitely.
In the Senate the program was to
call up and discuss the bill provid-
ing for the irrigation of desert lands
in the west last Monday, nearly a
week ago, and it was thought that
this might consume several days.
The bill was reached the Saturday
before, however, and passed in a
half hour. Then came the Frye and
Hanna ship subsidy bill, which has
of +1,a n IN
ton during the past week. Incl
dentally one or two appropriation |
bills have been passed and rambling |
discussion has been had on several
other important matters. The sub
sidy bill will be finally voted on the
18th.
The best speech on the subsidy |
bill and at least one of the best of
the session thus far was made by
Senator Hanna and l want to say
right here that Mr.. Hanna is one of
the most able, forceful and convinc-
ing speakers in or out of Congress.
1t goes without saying that he pos
sesses a nasterfu1 business mind,
and his remarks are strong in their
irresistible logic. To those who on
ly know Senator Hanna through
such despicable sewers as the New
York Journal my deep sympathy is
conveyed. They have been lied to
and made fools of. No man can
draw larger audience or hold it
more closely than Mark Hanna, the
business man and statesman prodigy |
of this age.
The Senate has several good
speakers and numberless fluent
takers, but few men of well earned
national prominence as orators. De-
pew, of course, is always excepted,
but he appears to much better ad-
vantage as an after dinner speaker
than as a profound and eloquent rea-
soner in the Senate. The days of
oratory as oratory have gone by in
the Senate, and the proceedings |
more closely resemble a directors
meeting or conference of business
men.
The House has devoted pretty !
much all the past week to the con-
sideration of the bill to place r. F.
d. mail carriers under the contract |
and lowest bidder system, and the
fight over the bill has been white
hot one. There is where the oratory |
has been heard, and it came out |
strong. Columns and pages and |
hours and days of it. Everybody |
wanted to talk at once, and some of
the time they did. But that's the
regular thing. Only one man may |
have the floor, but everybody is
talking to his neighbor or advanc-
ing some argument to a little group /
in his vicinity, and the ceaseless
roar of conversation can be heard
block away.
Meanwhile the speaker dozes or
gazes profoundly into vacancy while
the orator of the moment saws the
air and the great ant hill pursues its
divers activities. How business can
be done in such a babel is beyond |
comprehension except to the initial
ed. But it is done, or the chair
rules that it is done, and the next |
thing is something else.
The "new" members of the House
got together at Barton's, local ho-
tel the other night, and organized |