Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-11-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Nov. IL, 1873

WASHINGTON, Nov. II, 1880.
Things political are quoting down
and both the cost and the results are
about counted up. 1t is settled that
the next Congress as we'll as the pres
idency will be practically in the
hands of the Republicans, and there is
little left to the realm of speculation
except to canvass the probilities Of
General Garfeld's Cabinet and the
possible results of the new response
bilities with which the party is in
vested. There are rumblings from
New York and suggestions that the
vote of that State may be contested
before Congress, but it does not as
yet create any serious uneasiness. 1t
is believed to be substantially a de-
vice of 'Boss" Kelley to let hims elf
down easy, and there is no apprehen-
sion that enough responsible Demo-
Gratis will join in the movement to
make it dangerous. Most of those
/ have talked with here doubt the
wisdom of such a movement. Gen
eral Hancock himself, it is said, re-
fuses to be president, if he could,
upon technicality. So, all things
considered, 1 think we may regard
all these points settled, and begin to
turn our attention to the coming
session of Congress and other SUBJ
jects pertaining to public affairs.
A New York paper recently con-
tanned sensational editorial calling
for a Congressional investigation
and asserting "on high authority"
that before the presidential election
was held and while all the impor-
tant members Of the cabinet were
absent from Washington, the rec
ords of the various executive depart
ments of the government were over
hauled by unofficial persons who ap-
peared in several departments bear
ing the authority of the chiefs of
those departments respectively
The editorial says that the archives
of the government cover four Repub-
lican administrations as we'll as the
administration of President Hayes,
and that the accounts of the nation
have never been examined by experts
or officials not affiliated with the
party in power sipce the year $780,
1t argues that the purpose of the al
legged overhauling of records was to
suppress any that would be damag-
ing in case the Democrats came into
power. l have not been able to YER
ify this story, and guess it's author
would have hard work to divest it of
the 'ancient and iishlike smell" that
attaches thereto.
Gen. Walker, the Superintendent
OF the Census, is preparing set of
tables, which he will submit to Con-
gress at as early date as possible,
giving the necessary information up
on which to base a reapportionment
of the Congressional representation.
The table will show the number Of
Representatives to which each State
would be entitled on the assumption
OF both an increase and a decrease
OF the total number, so that when
Congress shall have decided the total
number of members which it is de-
slrable to have, reference may be
made to the corresponding table and
the apportionment readily found
The Joint Committee on the Census,
of which Hon. s. S. Cox is chair
man, will consider the matter of the
increase or decrease of the number
of Representatives. There is one of
two things to be done, either the
present basis of population will have
to be enlarged, or the number of
Representatives increased. While
many complain that the House is al
ready too unwieldy, Others hold that
the basis of representation is too
large, and should be decreased rath-
er than increased.
Three colored men lie in our Jail
under sentence of death for one of
the most cold-blooded murders on re-
NOlus 1HOy WClO COHNlCltu ScftIdl
months ago and have been twice re-
prieved by the President, who has
had the case, and some reported new
evidence bearing upon it, under con-
sideration. This week he has COM
muted the sentence of one, mere
boy, to imprisonment for life, and
the other two will be hung on the
10Th inst.
The first bronze statue for the
National Lincoln Monument was
cast few days ago at the bronze
foundry of Clark Mills, the sculptor.
1t is of Secretary Chase, and Mr..
Mills has models of Secretaries Stan.
ton and Seward, Bishop Simpson,