Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-02-05
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.



WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. 2, 1890
At the capitol matters are quiet. The
Senate devoted day to eulogies OF the
late Senator Chandler, and another day
to Senator Bayard, who delivered his
long expected speech on the financial
question. No one questions its ability,
for no Senator is Mr.. Bayard's superior in
intellectual and legal ability. But many
Democrats are opposed to his conclu
sions, and others who agree with him,
deprecate springing the presentation of
them upon the country at the present,
hence his great effort has not had that
weight here which ordinarily would be
given. Mr.. Bayard's speeches, like
those of Mr.. Thurman, take high rank
in our political literature for soundness
of views and judgment. The House oc-
cupies itself daily with discussion of the
new rules, and until they are disposed
of little attention will be given to gen.
eral legislation, save by the Committees
which are working hard perfecting bills.
The Commissioner of Pensions was
given hearing of several hours length
last week by the Senate Committee on
Pensions, upon his Infamous Sixty Sur.
geon Pension bill. Though the oppo-
sition to this swindling scheme, which
proposes to place the whole pension
system in the hands of sixty surgeons,
TO be appointed by Hayes, whereby a
political machine is to be created, is as.
suming immense strength, yet 1t is un.
necessary, for Mr.. Bentley's weak, i'm.
potent, rambling argument alone suf-
fees 10 show the utter want of merit in
it. Last Congress, the pure and immac-
late Ingalls,, Of Kansas, stoutly urged
its passage, and but for the able opposi.
tion of Senator Vorhees and General
Shields it would have passed the Senate.
All our papers, Democratic and Repub-
lican, unite in its condemnation. and in
asking the removal of Bentley and ap-
pointment of a competent Commission
er, one capable of discharging the du.
ties of that responsible position. Were
it not for Carl Schurz's pig. headedness,
Bentley would not remain day in Office,
but would receive as summary dismis-
sal as has Indian Commissioner Hayt.
The proposed enlargement of the
Supreme Court TO % Judges, and organ.
ization Of subordinate courts, meets
with great favor among the practition-
ers before that Court, excepting such
lawyers as are retained by railroad mo.
nopolies, whose greatest strength in
legal contests lies in securing delays.
The Radicals are bowling for the res.
toration of suffrage 10 the army Of col.
ored shoulder.hitters and plug uglies
that swarm in our slums and tenement
houses, and to the starving crew Of OF.
fice.holders that have survived the
change from the old to the present form
of government. Their organ, the daily
Republican, devotes whole columns to
showing the blessings which will follow
the opening of the ballot box again to
these classes, but the 10th Congress is
unalterably set against the fraud. Gen.
Buckner well said that he would never
consent to saddle upon the taxpayers OF
the District, without their consent, such
an infamous plague as that which afflict.
ed them prior 10 1873, in the shape OF
their so called government of the people. |
The colored exodus from North Caro- |
lima, which has caused so much conster. |
nation and excitement among certain |
politicians and newspapers, and which |
led to Senator Voorhees, investigation /
committee, now exhibits a strange de- |
velopment. So far from having a DO
litical bearing, the evidence taken by
the Senator shows the matter to be the |
result OF an unprincipled scheme t.
benefit a railroad, the agent Of which
testified that he went into North Caro-
lima for no other purpose than to in.
duce the colored people 10 travel over
his road to Indiana, and further, that
he intended hereafter TO 60 to this State
and persuade them to return to their
old homes, thus getting double fare. II