The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-12-19
ORR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. Is. 1872.
/ EDr7oR CAMBRtA FREEMAx-The two houses
have agreed TO adjourn from Dec. 18th to Jan. eth
an unusually long holiday reeess-and already
/ homcvard. There Fill Hardly De a quorum here
TO pass the three small appropriation bills, which
! adjournment; but perhaps no one viii make the
! point Of order asainst them.
( The House Committee on Printing have done a
good thing In agreeing to report the bill 10 make
the Public Printer an elective officer OF the Senate
The principle settled by the Republicans wears
ago, and acqulesced in by the Democrats that this
office ought be under the control OF Congress for
whose service the position was created and for
which by far the greater part Of the work is done
The Joke OF this measure Is that 1t will place the
ibry care aZtfr 1 an fT P9sIos41, IL
Hayes voted for the precise thing which the Demo
all the older Republicans in the senate and House
while Public Printer Defrees, who is now to be
hoist by his Vetard Iohbicd In lstriorlsv for tbe
measure. To prevent the patronage Of this Office
from being taken out Of their hauds-and its ex-
penditures are near 8. 900 900 per anuur1-the Re
publicans will have to eat their own woris and
the President will have to veto measure which
he voted for when meniherof the House OF Repre-
sentatiyes. The greatest wonder is that the Dem
ocrts did not go for this Office Al the session.
and the explanation is that those whose duty it
sileuced by having the appointments they wanted
and all they could hope to get under any fair
g.nle under the present Public Printer. 4 too Of
ten happens, r few influential Democrats sacrificed
the rghtiui patronage OF their party for the sake
Il The bill which the Irin ing Committee have
agreed upon isils TO pass ut this session IL win be
The House has already exhibited adisincIinatlon
TO dispose OF the enormous mass Of business its
private calendar, having adjourned over its first
"pryatc bill day" II this indicated a settled in
tcntion to do what ought TO be done. viz: create
OF claims. this action could not be repTobatcd But
IL probably means denial of Justice to class OF
persons TO whom tho Government owes money
for fear some jobs will slip through If any attemD Dt
IL made 10 adjust such cases. There is enormous
amount Of legislation Of general character which
Congress ought TO undertake, and which would
run the session well into next sumner if properly
Houses it must be admitted Is now Leaviy in favor
OF little legislation and early adjournment The
fact Is that Senators and RepreSe entatives prefer
President making to public business, and they
want TO be at home among their constituents as
what Il have LETT il for the last is really the up-
permost topic Of the hour in Washington. On
ddates discussed pro and con he obscrvation ton
OF single person j. necessarily limited. but so far
as sec. Hancock sta uds ty the best chance
ri this writing, of getting the Democratic nomina-
ton. have seen in newspapers and heard in
and ind that while the Pennsylvania General is
the first choice Of majority lie Is also the second
this significant fact dnd that IL shows unfyer-
sal Jacit admission that he Is. taking east and
west caritslisjs aud gransers together, the strong
est all round OF the various candidates. EE-C0u-
grcSsnan Meyers, editor Of the Harrisburg Patriot
ion that large mH iJrity of the Pennsylvania del
egatou TO the next democratic National Conyen-
confidence in saying that Senator Wallace is con
vIncci Of .he same thing. General Hancock 5
ing skill Of any politician. II j. the creation Of
the people and the leaders in this case are those
who are wise enough TO see the rising tide and u
follow it. Between ourselves, Mr.. Editor it is
. your readers and the class they typify who viii
make the next President Of the nlted States. lie;
them note that the last time the PCunsy ylvania
+ Democracy presented a candidate, aud stood by
him. they made him President.
There is much talk here over the proposition "a
/ push anfcndmcnJ 90 the Constitution to elect
the President and Vice President by the direc
votes OF the people without the intervention Of thl
Electoral College. II cannot, however, be passed
at all in time 70 affect the election in lss0.
The bill prohibiting essEncnts upon Federal OF
4 hcehOidcIs tor political purposes came up in the
House on Tuesday, but wa again postponed bS
the d.latory tactics OF the Republican leaders. i
Is remarkable that whilst Hayes recon- ucudS sim
f liar legislation IN his message. whenever IL &
sought 20 he enacted the Republicans throw Il hem
selves in the breach and resort to- all tao
tics TO defeat 1t. And well they may. for in grca
. measure their success depends upon the amount,
annually levied upon the Ie4 be oticehodcrs, y d,
. are compelled TO either pay NJ OF be discharged.
J. n B.