The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1912-12-13
FRIDAY, DEoEMBER is. 1919,
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
Congress has again got into action, and
# il takes care Of all business before ii.
this will be the busiest session bat the
Capital ever saw.
But il is not likely that everything will
be cleared away in preparation for the
special session. which everyone expects
to follow closely on the heels Of the short
session now just started There is too
much on the calendar and far. far too
much In committee waiting chance to
he put on the calendar,
1t is possible that the work done by
Congress will be very important aud
valuable 70 the country: but there 10 not
very much reason to believe that this will
be- the case. One of The things that
many Southern and Western members
are interested IN is some recognition Of
the great San Diego Exposition TO be
held In 1915 in celebration, jointly with
the Exposition to be held in San Fran
cisco, of the completion Of the Panama
Canal. Col d c. Collier, President OF
the Exposition. and worker Of tireless
energy, is expected to be in Washington,
and the Senators and Representatives
who learned to like bin for his frank ness
and enthusiasm, will welcome him back
here While II is not at all determined
on. some Of the Congressman insist that
the Government should have creditable
exhibit. not merely showing BY the
Agricultural and Interior Departments,
but a regular Government exhibit in a
Government building,
~
There Is expectation that both bran
aches Of Congress will dispose Of consider
able business before the holiday recess
The Senate will meet and the House will
meet day in, and day out till the Christ
mas holidays. adjourn over for about two
weeks into the New Year. resume with
some energy, and undertake to close out
the legislative business which should be
disposed Of before Democratic Presi.,
dent takes the helm.
The Senate has its tasks which cannot
be shirked or deferred. chief of which is
the impeachment trial Of Circuit Judge
Robert w. Archibald. designated 70 the
Commerce Court. That tedious and IN
welcome proceeding will occupy ali the
time the Senate can spare to ii before the
holidays
The general public has probably al
most forgotten that such trial was be-
fore theSenate. It was undertaken late
in the last session of Congress on several
charges, the substance Of which was that
Judge Archibald had improperly conduct
ed himself in business transactions with
people in litigation before him. The
purchase Of banks of culm in Pennsyl-
wanna and the negotiations OF loans
figure in the matter. There was little
Doubt that Judge Archibald would have
been convicted had the trial proceeded
last Summer. The outcome now may be
q little more uncertain.
A two-thirds vote Of the Senate will be
required to convict him. The passing of
political excitement since the trial was
begun will probably mean some votes in
his favor, even tho the Senate prides It,
self in this connection of being the high
est judicial tribunal in the land. For il
might be remembered that the Seuate.
sitting as high court of impeachment,
is The very peak of Judicial authority.
II there be canse ii can fby two-thirds
votel strip Justices of the Supreme Court
Of the United States of their robes Of
office
The o6ice-seekers under the Democra-
tic Administration are already hegiuniug
to come to look the ground over and as
certain the prospects. The great over
towering topic for the moment seems
to be Federal patronage. Hardly day
passes that some Democratic patriot does
not break into the local prints with a
passionate outburst about the injustice of
allowing Republicans 10 hold Office after
that redletter day in the party calendar
March 4. Do not blame the Democratic
Congressman. oyermuch fof bis zeal in
demanding fourth class Postmasters and