The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-04-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Inextricable Dead-Iock-
Riddieberger of Virginia.
Branches Of Public Service :st u
Standsiiil-About Nati0naIiz-
ing the New York Custom
House Service.

AShA WI AsSsbAuA SOlANSpOhNSib.J
WASHINGTON, D. C., Apr. IL, 1881.
In the early daysof this week there
were signs Of a break in the Senate
deadlock but now, at the close Of the
week, the lock is, to all appearances,
as much Gordian Knot as ever.
The great riddle TO be solved is Rid.
dleberger of Virginia, Democrats
will have none of him, and Repub.
licans cannot get rid of him. The
necessity of executive sessions for
the confirmation of the Presidents
appointees is acknowledged by Re.
publican senators. Various public
interests are suffering from the dead
lock. The Office of United States
Marshal in the District of Columbia
has been vacant for more than
month by the expiration Of the term
of Fred Douglass. This District, be-
ing separate judicial district the
Supreme Court has not power to gil
vacancies, as it has under statute in
other United States districts. The
consequence is that important bust
ness in the Criminal Court is at
stand-still. Mr.. Hays, the assistant
Secretary of State under the late adj
ministration, is obliged to remain
in Office until his successor, Mr.. Hit,
has been confirmed. There are
many other nominations which
should have long since been acted
upon; and there are many other
nominations that are held back un-
til there shall be a prospect of their
prompt consideration by the Senate.
The argument that has been SO often
urged that the Republicans are con-
tending for principle and must not
recede from their position is losing
much of its pertineEco, from The e..
that, b9ing ia ;le majority, the Sen.
ate cannot adjourn without their
consent, and there is no apparent
reasonable excuse for delaying the
/
confirmation of appoiutecs to whom
no objection is suggested.
There was a good deal Of gossip
yesterday about the proposition to
Nationalize the collectorship Of the
port of New York. 1t has been stat
ed that the people of the entire coun-
try are interested in the Office, and
that, therefore, the collector need not
necessarily belong to New York.
Since the matter has been spoken Of
there have been all kinds ofspeoula-
tons regarding the policy of man
outside Of New York to fill the place,
and as to the man who would be
most likely to get it, should the
President decide to carry out the sug,
gestion. David Davis is spoken of
in this connection. IfDavid Davis
could be taken out of the Senate, it
would be one less vote on the Demo
cratic side. This is where the poll
cy ofthis Matchmaking process would
come in. The Republicans would
then have a majority without the
vote of Vice President Arthur. The
names of Charles Foster and others
have also been mentioned in the
same connection. But these specu.
lations are premature. 1t is gcuer-
ally believed that the President will
not withdraw Mr.. Robertson's name
nor that Mr.. Robertson has the re-
hottest idea of requesting the Presi.
dent TO do such II thing, Conkling
has not yet brought his case to u
point where such contingency is
necessary. c. a. 5.