Year: 1879

IDENTIFY less opposed to an extra session than some
time ago they seemed to be. everything points to
such delays and action by the two houses as will
leave some of the most important and necessary ap
preparation bills incomplete on the 4th of March.


PROMISE WORK.


Prominent democrats in the House. who will serve
also in the next Congress. said to-day that if there is
extra session they mean to begin with the adop-
ton of q resolution combining its work rigidly to
certain measures TO be prescribed and they desire
that the shall not last at than six
weeks But when Congress meets in q called session
il is never easy TO foretell how long it will sit
" ARREARS PENSIONS. =
In the Senate this afternoon the proposition to
allow the Secretary of the Treasury TO borrow
per cent enough money to pay the arrears of
pensions gave rise debate. Senator Voorhees, Offer
ing amendment that the arrears shall be paid by
the reissue OF greenbacks formerly cancelled on
which he made a vehement speech. Mr.. Voorhees, is
one of those who demand a repeal of the election
laws or extra session. and his debate had for him
the double advantage Of springing new imitation
movements aud causing delay Of other business.


OPERATIONS LOBBY


There is here just now alarge and disappointed
lobby. which crowds the halls and passages and but
tonholes representatives and Senator's The strictly
enforced regulation Of the House excluding all ex-
cept members and privileged persons from the floor
is great relief and protection to the members; but
the lobby is very eager and brazen and if fashion
ably dressed women who haunt the passages and
buttonhole members knew what is the general opin-
ion of their characters they would perhaps be shyer
OF appearing in what is very compromising situa-
tion. That considerable and jealous section Of the
lobby which has been pushing the Brazilian subsidy
got bad black eye to day when the House defeated
this measure by sixty-six majority. II Mr.. Roach
has hired the people who have been lobbying this
scheme in both Houses he has lost good deal Of
money. for they were toleraby numerous crowd.
1t is said that most of them served for contingent
fee. in which case they may be said to have been
working for nothing and feeding themselves.


THE SANDERS AGAINST SPEAKER RANDALL.


The Randall Committee made short work to-day.
The man Williams who is. to the disgrace Of the
government, employed a special agent of tho
Treasury. being summoned to make good his accusa-
tions against the Speaker and Others confessed that
he knew nothing at all about the matter and in ef-
feet that he had slandered honorable men without
the least cause


MINISTER SEWARD AT THE BAR OF THE


HoUsE-cRITIcIsMs ON THE ACTION OF SEC


RETARY EvARrs.


The long drawn scandal concerning Mr.. George F.
Seward, some time Consul at Shanghai, and since
and Minister to China, to def
inite point to-day in the House, The
Foreign Affairs Committee brought Seward
before the House for contempt in conceang and re:
fusing to deliver mp to the committee for examina-
ton the books Of account of the Consulate. The
proceedings long and tedious. At the close Mr.
Seward said that he would deliver the books to the
Secretary of State Of the Treasury but not to the
committee, whom he regarded as his enemies.
On this the House voted to refer tho whole
matter to the Judiciary Committee. 1t remains
now for Secretary Evarts to demand the books from
Mr.. Seward and turn them over to the committee
and he ought to do without delay. Mr.. Evarts has
already been criticised here for the in which
he has stood behind Mr.. Seward, aud he will now be
expected to help the House to the books.