The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-05-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., May Q, 1876.

The message President Grant sent to the
House last week, in response to resolution
of the 80 of April asking If any official acts
or duties of the executive had been per-
formed at any other place than the Capital,
is the subject of much comment. lie tells
the House that it has no right to ask such
question, That as chief executive he is SUI
peror to one branch Of the Legislative power
of the government, and that he shall not
answer the resolution by giving the informa..
ton He then says that he has done official
acts at other places than Washington, and
that he is President wherever he may be and
is bound to perform these acts. To justify
himself he quotes acts done by all the Presi-
dents from Washington to Lincoln,at points
distant from the Capital and gives a table of
the number of days each President was alb
sent from the Capital The message was
evidently prepared for campaign document
to answer the charge of absenteeism and
really disposes of it if precedents justify
| such actions.
The House has been discussing the p. o..
appropriation bill which is reported from
| the committee by and in charge of Mr.. Hol-
man. The bill saves $2,000,000 from this
years cost of the mail service, and meets
with opposition from great many Demo-
Gratis of the South and West, who think it
will reduce their mail facilities in these
sections. The clause stopping the delivery
system n all cities with less than 10000
inhabitants is also warmly opposed by
members who have cities in their districts
containing between twenty and forty thou
sand inhabitants, and think combination
will be made by which the figures will be
raised TO about the amount of the present
appropriation.
| The question of the jurisdiction of the
Senate, in the impeachment of officers who
have resigned, is being ably argued, but no
| idea can be obtained of what the decision
will be. Mr.. Randall says the committee
on appropriations have their business so far
advanced that the House will be ready to
adjourn by the tenth of June. But | have
no idea that an adjournment will be made
until late in the summer. There is every
| indication of deadlock between the SEN
ate and the House on the appropriation bills
and tnat none of them will be passed by the
first of July. In that event | am of the
| opinion that the government offices will be
closed, for it is reported tnat the President
| has said tnat il the consular and Diplomatic
bill is passed as it came from the House
he. will order all our ministers and con-
suls home on the first of July, upon the
ground that the appropriations are insult
ticient to sustain the service properly"
Congress adjourns from Tuesday until
| Friday to attend the opening of the Centen'
nial grounds. The President, Secretaries
Judges OF the Supreme Court and Congress
will all be there, going over on special trains
furnished by Col. Tom. Scott, free of charge
For three days the clerks will conduct the
affairs of the nation and | have no doub
they will be as well attended to, as if the
chiefs were present. Report says that mex
week the Texas and Pacific bill will be re
ported from the committee and will pass thu
| House with but little opposition. 1t is to b'
hoped this is true, as it will put thousands o
men to work who are now idle and INTRODUCES
large amount of money into circulation.
Fitzhugh, doorkeeper of the House, wrot,
a very foolish letter in December last to
friend in Texas, and it has been published
1t places him in a very awkward position
out of which his only method is resignation
Unless he is required to do this his lette
will hurt the party seriously in the coming
campaign.
The friends of the Presidential aspirant
are all steadily at work. Tilden's seem tn
best organized among the Democrats, ant
Blane's among the Republicans. So ia
Tilden's chances seem the best, but he has Il
fear a southern and western combination
which may prevent his receving the two-thlrd
needed in Democratic convention to nomi
nate In that event he may be able to nam
the man, and it Is said that. failing to obtail
the first, he is willing to take the seron
place on the ticket. Conkling is gainin
strength because he is evidently the tavorit
of Grant, and the office holders are at wor
for him. There is nothing of interest trou
abroad RENO.