Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-03-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
TrOu ourresuiar Correspondent.
WASHINGTON. March a. 1,

i'm with more parade, enthuslasnl, anu
good feeling than any administration for
wears. The Cabinet. Of which opinions
have been already freely expressed, is
generally regarded as polite and by no
means weak in its composition. Much
has been written in the daily press about
the dissatisfaction Of Senators Conkllng
and Cameron. but this, as nearly rs can
ascertain. is mostly sensational. y care
ful ANALYSIS of the Cabinet does not re-
veal a preponderance of any of the ele-
ments that are said to be more or less
antagonistic. 1t is not Blaine Cabinet.
but il is a Garfield Cabinet. In fact 1t
appears, from a disinterested standpoint.
that the President has so nicely balanced
the different interests that all the fac
tions must be satisfied of his intention to
deal fairly with them. while holding HIM
self in a position to play them off against
each other and provide for his own re-
nomination in 1884. The Cabinet is thus
the work of an experienced and acute
politician, and is well received by the
country. How these various clements
will work together is another question.
The friction does not come so much over
these appointments as over those winch
must be made later on. One thing alone
stands out prominently IN the makeup
of the Administration, and that is that
Westward the Star of empire takes its
wav." Mr.. Conkling may have wished
TO name Secretary of the Treasury from
New York, but he cannot complain when
he has a friend for Postmaster General
instead, MIR. Cameron doubtless wanted
TO have some voice in fixing Pennsylva-
MAS representation also, but he cannot
reasonably complain that his own broth
erin law is Wayne McVeagh.
At the very outset the President and
his advisers are called upon to grapple
with the important questions. The SIT
uation between the Treasury Department
and the national banks, growing out OF
the action of the latter pending consider
alton of the funding bill in Congress, and
the question whether an extra session is
advisable, are matters that have occupied
the serious attention of the Cabinet. The
bulldozing tactics of the banks in surren-
dering legal-tenders and withdrawing
their circulation, worked we'll enough
while Congress was in the way, but now
that thew want to take it all back there
is some doubt whether it is just the thing
to let them do so. Concerning an extra
session of Congress there are many con-
siderations favorable to it. Senators Ed
munds and Conkling and Secretary Win
dom are of the opinion that one should
be called, as are also many other of the
party leaders, but Secretary Blaine and
the President have not yet committed
themselves. think, however, 1t may be
regarded as tolerably certain that ses'
sion will be convened about the 18th OF
Nav. The importance of passing re-
funding measure that will save the
81 900. 900 per month difference in inter
est, together with the settlement of ques
tions relating to apportionment and the
desire to promptly organize the two
houses in the interests OF the party, are
the principal considerations operating In
favor of called session.
The Senate confirmed promptly the ap
pointments sent in so far, and has spent
the rest of the time in cancussing ovel
reorganization. So long as the Republi-
can vacancies remained untitled the
Democrats have had control, but will
the seats all filled there is an element o.
uncertainty in the situation. Judg'
Davis, it is now understood, will vot'
with the Democrats, and has been award
ed the Craftsmanship Of the Judiciary
Committee in the new makeup of the
committees. But if Senator Mahon
comes down from the fence and lands OF
the Republican side there will be tie
and Vice President Arthur will throw tn
organization into the hands of his party
Several well Unknown faces are missed iron
the Senate chamber since March 4, ant
among them some of the ablest and mos
respected members of that body. Thi
is especially true of the Democratic side
The fortunes of war have taken the best
Chief among them is Senator Thurman
Friend and foe agree that the countr
has produced few larger or better me
than he. He is great lawyer. and ha
been an honest, useful legislator-alwsy
cOnsistant Democrat. He spoke tn
truth the other evening when he sal
that he was brought up in a school tina
, really believed what he said. Howeve
people may differ as to the soundness c
Mr.. Thurman's political views. it mus
, be admitted that he has always been a
honest and hard hitter in their behal
' His efforts on questions of Legislation
especially those involving the relatic s {
the Government with great corporation
> have been of inestimatable value. How
| ever efficient and worthy his successt
may be, the country parts with regr
J with Senator Thurman-a strong. vlgo
s ous, honest, kindly man, whose weakne
have, like the weakness of other gre
u men, been the result of his ambition fl
= the Presidency. He is now an old ma
and not likely to return to any very acti'
Z post in public life. -
= Senator Eaton is another who will
missed. There is a good deal of affectit
u felt for this old diamond. Honest mt
d love an honest opponent and ha
fighter, who stands up squarely and ma
fully and never resorts to artltice
treachery. Eaton is such man, and Il
strong men on the Republican side ii
. him. Like Thurman, he has always be-
" on the honest side of legislation. N
e e Donald is also missed by both parties, b
IS 70 he is young enough to come back son
u day, perhaps. Wallace is another of t
y leaders whose loss will be serious one
4 his party. Herman, too, makes a bre
in the ranks, and his face has probab
-. been seen for the last time in public po
y ton. The Republican loss has be
d among the minor lights, whose plac
s. > have been filled mostly by better NE
II and in this last turn of the wheel the a
II II vantages have largely fallen on that 81
IL of the chamber.
Ohio Fish Law.