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Show CONGE-EdSIONAL CAUCUS. j Representatives Phelps and Foster have been re.ad out of the republican party by tho president's hand organ, the Washington J!eitbtiean, for their Louisiana ruport. Speaker Blaine is &lo censured fur the appointment of those men, who are said to be "inimical "inim-ical to tho president, to hia southern policy, and to the success of the republican re-publican party." The restraint upon independent action by republican congressmen is becoming almost despotic under the rigid preaidentiai discipline and tho constant whippiog-in whippiog-in of refractory members by king caucus. The question is not asked as to what course of action or policy will benelit the country, but how cauth. republican party be maintained. main-tained. The presnt administration at Washington with the majority in congress, jegard themselves aa the leaders of the republican party, and under the terrible infliction and popular pop-ular rebuke of last fall have determined deter-mined to act unitedly while they retain re-tain the power by legislation to shape the next political campaign. Hence king caucus is to-day tho ruling power in Washington, and the president consenting, the tyrant ol the lioD. This partisan attitudo of the national legislature is alarming a groat many conservative republicans, who have sustained their party generally gener-ally in its political measures. Tho Philadelphia Ledytr, which is an in-depondont, in-depondont, non-partisan paper, is very explicit in its censure ol this caucus government. Caucus, it says, has taken in its hands Louisiana matters; mat-ters; it has ordained that the wholesome whole-some rules of tho house which stand in theyvay of "jobs" hould be so amended as to throw tho doors wide open to all tho schemes and schemer in which Washington abounds; it recently instructed tho senate com mittee on commerce w mseii. utiiuiu additional items of appropriation in tho river and harbor bill, for improvements improve-ments to the navigation of the Mississippi Mis-sissippi and other rivers, and for certain cer-tain water communications with the great lakes. The Ledger does not object to such improvements, but mildly characterizes the proceeding as extraordinary l:eauseof a private outside out-side asse in bingo o!' s-naton in "caucus" RftunaiiiR to " instruct" an official committee com-mittee of tbo nenito in tho discharge ol thoir publ'c dutit's, fjr tho proper and fnittrul administration of which they are refj'uiisiblo, r.ol to any caucus, but to the wu le senate not to the opinion, r dnci.-ion, or fixing up of a caucus, but l their blates, and to their oaths. Tho Ledger's objections to such caucus action are well taken: It removes tho seat of responsibility fr m congress, where it is placed by the iviiistilulion and tho laws, to an out'ide i partisan body, which docs not consider whether the pawner or def at of a measure will be good or bid for the public welfare, but whetbor it will be a good or bad piece of tactics for tho party. Such practice cannot fad to b'uut and deaden the congressman's con-gressman's soiife of public duty, and must wpakrn hia respect for, and bis due observance ol tho requirements of his oath of otlic. The ciuc.13 was never de-igned to in ke this wide range to fubsti uio the di-erHiow ih c. en co of toma- ator and rejmjsentative, in maitors of legislation, its only proper function ie that of an informal conference a convenience conve-nience for tho comparison of views, and for consultation as to persons who shall be put f rward as cai.didates for congressional congression-al olKces. It lias 1.9 business to attempt to bird the action ot senator or repr ihi-tatives ihi-tatives ai to public m chs urea much les to aisimie to " instruct " otBc:al committees, commit-tees, and to direct the two houses in measures meas-ures of legislation. Theso latter are gross abuse3 oi the functions of a caucus, and, as lias bo n already intimatod, a dangerous danger-ous innovation. BRIEF TELEGRAMS Sovigny, a distinguished ultramon' tante, died at Frankfort on Friday. Rev. Dr. Jaggcrhos announced hit acceptance of the bishopric of southern south-ern Ohio. The Adams' express company has declared a quarterly dividend ol $2 per share. James S. Fly, once the private secretary sec-retary of Presdent Grant, died at Chicago Thursday. Vote for West Virginia senator Monday: Camden 31; Walker, 23; Price, IS; scattering, 13. The state counsel of Prussia has determined to prohibit tho importation importa-tion of American potatoes. The old Californians in New York had a jollification at the Sturtevant House on Thursday night. Edward Kendall, the American theatrical manager, was accidentally poisoned at Loudon on the 11th inst. Representative Beck, of Kentucky, fell on the ice on Thursday night and broke his wrist. He is confined to his room. The ways and means conimiUee have agreed to amend the now rev-enuo rev-enuo bill so that milado will pay sugar duty. The San Francisco liquor dealers ; protest against the proposed tax of j 15 cents a gallon on stock in the hands of dealers. The election of C. W. Jones as senator from Florida, wns the result of a compromise between tho democrats demo-crats and republicans. The Canadian dominion parliament parlia-ment is considering a bill granting amnesty to those engaged in the northwestern rebellion. George Rufer, who killed Hermann Schilling, at Cincinnati, and burned his body in a furnace, has been convicted con-victed oi" murder in the first degree. The vote in the French assembly to elect senators by the popular vote is K favorable to the Bonapartists that dissolution of the assembly ia pre-iicted. pre-iicted. A fire on Main street, Hartford, i t., Friday morning, consumed Sl'oO,- 1 MO worth of business properly: in- ( u ranee, $172,000. Several firemen 1 rere injured by falling walls. s Ice in the East river cut off com- 1 lunication between Now York and Irooklyn on Friday, and Evarts L auld not get to the Beecher trial, ViiU a.nnrnpil till '2 nVlrvr s P- HI. I |