The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-11-22
Our Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 10Th, 1873.
Many congressman are already here. The
session begins in two weeks and besides pre-
paratory work of Committees, there is always
something for members to do before the actual
day of meeting. | fancy, too, that quite num-
Der of repudiated Congressman prefer. since the
October and November elections, TO be outside
rather than inside their Districts Conversation
with the Democrats who have already arrived
leaves no room for doubt that Mr.. Randall will
be the nominee for Speaker of the Forty.siXth
Congress, and will be elected The growing i'm
portance of this office-an importance which
can hardly be explained to one who has not
watched legislation here for many years-calls
early attention to the selection of fit man.
Mr.. Randall is not exactly the ideal Speaker but
MS quaiiications are greater than those of any
other man in the House, and he has signally
proven capacity for improvement.
When the U. s. Steamer Huron was wrecked,
just year ago, many bodies were not recovered
or identified. One man, always supposed to have
died, reported yesterday at the Navy Yard in
this city. His wonderful story is that he was
picked up after remaining in the water q whole
day and night, and carried to Norwegian port,
and that he has since been in hospital there
The Secretary of the Navy and other officials are
convinced that his story is true, and the money
due him, which has already been paid to person
represented as his father, will be paid him
The earnest attention of members of Congress
from all the States is asked to the present con-
dition of the District of Columbia financial and
other affairs. Your correspondent has no special
scheme for District Government, and will not
now urge that the United States assume further
responsibility for the existing debt. but all will
admit that those who are creditors of the District
to the amount of twelve or fifteen millions have
right to know exactly what the responsibility
of the Federal Government is in the premises.
Citizens of the District, also, who find that under
present laws their Governors are in continual
conflict with other United States officers to the
great detriment of District business, have a right
to at least an official inquiry into the causes of
never-ending disagreement, Denied representa-
tion in any form, the District Taxpayers and bus
mess men can only appeal indirectly to Congress.
Every member should feel himself in some de-
gree our representative. To Mr.. Blackburn, of
KY, and Mr.. Hunton, of Va we are indebted for
much intelligent labor in our behalf, but no two
men, however able or digent. can spare the time
from their Congressional duties to master all the
difficulties of our exceptional position. The
House and the Senate should give more attention
to District affairs, and in that way save money
to the United States and to our citizens. would
like to see special Committees on the District,
to be composed, say, of Messrs. Wheeler, Blaine
Edmunds, Voorhees, and Gordon, of the Senate,
and Of Messrs. Randall, Blackburn, Stephens,
Frye and Conger or of men of like standing of
the House. The whole country would heartily
agree o any proposal of such Committees, and
District people could never thereafter complain
of unfair treatment. SEMINOLE.