Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13
From the National Capitol.
WASHINGTON, MAY 9Th. 49,

WARRINGTON, May 9TH, 1914.
Ed Republican:
Congress is slowly pecking away at it's
business, but aside from the mere routine
work very little seems to be accomplished
and it is more than probable that the ses-
sion will extend far into the summer. if
that season is ever to come in this latitude
for the weather remains very rainy, cold.
! aud Gisagreeable. new finance bill will
of course have to be agreed upon, and
aside from the action taken in the House
on the Railroad Bill, no important meas
ures have as yet been acted on Members
are, however, beginning to be restless and
longing to gel home to set the pins for the
coming campaign, and when they set
about it, & good deal of business can be
done with a rush.
A good deal Of speculation has lately
been INDUCED in as to the removal of Sec
rotary Richardson of the Treasury Depart
ment and the appointment of his successor.
Several names have been mentioned in con-
necuon with II, and the latest story is, that
it has been offered to MIR. Washburn, at
present . 5. Minister at Paris and that Az
answer is awaited from him. That Mr..
Richards on will have to 90 out seems to be
beyond doubt, but it is not at al, likely
that Mr.. Wash burn will be his successor
1t is generally conceded that be is the most
prom inent candidate for the Presidency,
and he has great advantage over all his
competitors in this that he has. on account
OF his absence, been able to keep out Of all
late unpleasant entanglemeuts in our roli.
tics. It's not therefore likely that he will
new step in and take a opposition where
be would necessarily be enveloped in dit
hcultie5 that might make him less popular
than he Is now supposed to be. Other well
known Would-be candidates are Morton,
Logan Conkling, aud possibly Butler, but
Nashburn undoubtedly has the inside track
of any OF them, and his popularity with
the Germans, for his action during the
GermanF T: enct war, is strong point in
bis favor.
The nvestigation into the district affairs
is nearly concluded, entirely so far as prose-
cution is concerned. No evidence whatever
has been found of any. attempt Of fraud or
dishonesty on the part of any off cial, aud
Governor Sheppard, the man most assailed
has on the contrary been proved to be as
honest an efficient an officer as can be found
anywhere. His vigilance in stopping at
tempted frauds, his severity in dealing 18th
and his thorough knowledge of all the de-
tails OF the government deserved to be men
toned as, unfortunately, rare examples of
faithfulness among high officials. Except,
perhaps, in charging the general govern
mtnt too high prices for improvements on
its property do not see that the Board Of
Public Works has been guilty of any bad
act, and, under the circumstances, knowing
the stingy policy of Congress towards the
AAoNA'<sJ AoI OuC, w NV LidLuC kueu lOE
that. The testimony has often been very
amusing, and on the whole quite instructive
in showing outsiders how easily parties are
led to believe in the lobby. One Grm of
| contractors paid three men the sum of $97-,
600 for supposed influence in getting
contract and the three did absolutely moth.
ing for the money. One trick played was
to take contractor out in buggy aud
| drive down to the store Of the Governor.
The lobbyist would 80 in, exchange few
words with the clerk, come out rubbing his
hands and assure the contractors that
everything was call right" The three
lobbyists finally cheated each other out Of
the money, squandered it in various ways,
and the last one, a "Rev." fnally got off
with $40, 0CO to Europe to which be had no
right. w.