New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-30
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.


one like tins which would be strongly opposed and give
rise TO long debate.
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
PREMATURE sPECULATIoNs UPON THE SPEAKER
SHIP OF THE NEXT HOUsE-sECRETARY BOUT
WELLS SUCCESSOR JUDGE sTRICKLAND's
REsIGNATION-MR. BRIsBANE's PNEUMATIC
TUBE-PRoBABLE DEFEAT OF THE TWO PER
CENT CLAIM.
IBY TRLRGRAPHiTo THRsTRIBUSEI
WASHINGTON. Dec. %. 1917.
The coniectures nI regard TO the speakership Of
the House OF Representatives are, of course, all
premature especially In view Of the fact that the cleo
lion is still nearly year distant The only candidates
thus far named Mr.. Blaine Mr. Wheeler Mr.. Dawes,
and Mr. Maynard Mr.. Blaine is to-day, without doubt,
stronger than all the Others together and MEM
bers such as those who will constitute large pro-
portion the next House, generally greatly nfu
enced In the choice OF officers by those OF longer ex
perience, he would now, In all probability, be the sue
cessful candidate But between this and the close OF
the session may which will entirely change
the situation No foresee what may be the re-
suit Of the Credit Mobier investigation. or how far
il viii shake the confidence Of the country In the
tegrity Of leading members or Congress. To say
were mentioned in Connection with the scandal last Sum
mer. and who made denias winch led their friends TO
believe that they had never, in any indirect way,
derived benefit from the stock in embarrass
ing position, and II the investigation is enlarged IN its
credit Mobier and show what members of Congress
aided by their efforts and their votes few directors OF
the Union Pacific Railroad to enrich themselves at inc
expense of the road and Of the Government. 1t s mpos
sDe to predict whose reputation viii suffer specula-
lions 10 the Speakershp therefore, before the close
af tins session are worthless.
The President visited the Treasury Department, yes
terday morning, and was for two hours in conference
with Assistant Secretary Richardson This Circumstance
has set the gossps guessing who is to be Secretary
Boutwells In he should resign to take
the seat in the IT, Senate be made vacant by the
resignation OF Mr.. Wilson. The President is reported to
have the fullest confidence IN MT Richardson as man
OF sound judgment and financial tactj and the
friends OF both have often cOnectnred since the election
that Gen. Grant would attest his friendship and respect
bv inviting the Assistant Secretary 10 take charge OF the
Department after the Alta OF March next On the other
hand as Is well known Mr. Richardson has recently said
hat he did not desire the place but that he should retire
with his chief and engage in banking business In En
rope In such an event many believe that the PIes-
dents choice for Secretary Of the Treasury would fal
upon OF the prominent bankers OF the country Win
whom tue President Is on such intimate personal ter
The proposed resignation Of Judge Strickland of the
o. s. Court of Utah will leave the court there as far as
is known entirely In the hands OF those who are In
favor the Newman policy Of severe dealing with the
Mormons. The feeling Of the new DistrietAttorney
appointed since the meeting of Congress- is not fully
known but from expressions dropped during his
late visit TO Washington bit is believed that he will go as
far as the law will allow in carrying on the Admnisra
tlon crusade against MOrmOnsm. The majority OF tine
present Congress seems disposed to let the MormOns
alone allow the moderate of them an oppor
n Of TTn tse policy em of Of Se
will be can tell though some OF te Leaders Oh tne
legislation. They say that the history OF Mormonsm
illustrates the truth of the old adage haI the DOod Oh
the martyrs the seed Of the church, Mhen mOrmOh-
ism has been let alone, they say, 1t has grown very
slowly. II at all. but prosecutions, whether In Omo or
Indee strickland is not understood contemplate
resignation becauss OF any ere s wa" AIKEN inc Of the
pStsPss can q 5e Ass ysaP GS no says mat
while Congress refuses negects to appropriate funds
for proper maintenance OF the court II rs unable 70
fore dead letter which he cannot endure ana IuIther
that he afford to be judge for 5000 year When
he make twice as much money Dy piacuehs A' inc
bar.
sixty feet Of the pneumatic tube from the capital to
the Government Printing Office was laid yesterday and
Mr. Brisbane the inventor, expresses himself well salts
fed with the work far 1t has gone This plan OF
nropeine hollow rspheres through tube fully
plained and illustrated In THE TRIBUNE year or two
ago. but tube constructing Is the hrst enort TO
srcceeds Mr. brisbane promises In few years 10 deliver
the Sew-York morning Journals in al the principal cites
OF the Union east OF the Mississippi before 90 CLOCK
a. mq on the day of publication
A majority Of the members Of the Senate Judiciary
Committee including the Chairman Mr.. Edmunds, are
known to be opposed to the bill which passed the House
inst before recess pay what known as per
cent claim Of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois Its defeat In
the senate looks probable from the fact that almost Its
only support appears 10 come from the Senators repre-
senting the States interested IN the ciam'
Congress will be urged during the present session, to
remove the restriction which prevents appointments
and promotions In most of the Army staff Corps This,
1t will be held is really necessity In the medca De
partment for when it is full, it is so small that
more then physicians under contract have to be EN-
poyed in addition to the commissioned medical officers
~ the army 10 care for the officers and enlisted men
stationed at the numerous posts throughout the country
These contrsesurgeons cost the Government las much
as commissioned medical officers not subject to ex-
animation and may resign at any time There are now
50 vacancies this department. and the President and
secretary of War have called the attention Of Con
sress 10 this matter. The Medical Department OF the
army active and retired, has only 233 officers, 10 OF
whom hold rank above that OF major One OF these Is
brigader general The navy, only about onefoulth as
large as the army and having no greater necessity IN
nronortion its Size has active and retired 1877 medical
oicers so OF whom have rank above that OF major or
these II hold equivalent to that OF