The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-10-28
POLITICAL P0LEMICS.
DISCUSSED BY OUR ABLE SCRIBE.

The SpOiIs system ms Applied 20
Partics-rhe Prospects In the Sem
ntc-What WINS Done To-day-Af-
fairs ut the Capitol Generally Ably
Discussed by the Wise Men of
"Tlie Critic.
The Senate remained In session ycstcr-
day for several hours after THE CRITIC
report closed, Administering over the ap.
pointment Of Strathnm for postmaster ut
Lynchburg Va. 1t would appear from the
arguments of the Republicans that IL is
absolutely necessary in order to pcrpetuatc
the Republican party in power, thereby in
surfing the existence of the Government,
that Mr. Stmtham be confirmed.
On the other hand, the Democrats would
have 1t appear that his confirmation will
precipitate reputation, bankruptcy, ruin
and disgrace upon the Old Dominion.
Now, If either or both of these two great
parties are right, and there is any prob
ability of either of the events coming to
pass, IL would appear that the best thing to
do in order that the Government at Wash
ington may go on, and the credit of Vir-
gina be preserved would be to abolish the
post-oflice at Lynchburg. This will settle
the matter. All that is necessary to be
done in order to abolish the office, is for
some one to suggest to Postmaster General
Thomas l.. James or Gibson tina. there Is
some Star-router interested In the office.
and he will see Gibson, who will cause the
order abolishing the Office to be issued.
But the Democrats say they have discov-
cred a bargain in the appointment of
Stratham, and n corrupt bargain. They
say that Judge Reeves, United States Cir
cult judge in Virginia, Stalwart Repub-
lican, has written letter to President Ar
thur asking the appointment of Mr..
Stmtham, and as n reason for asking for
the said appointment, Judge Reeves says
that if IL is made, 1t will insure Repub-
lican successor to the United States Senate to
succeed Senator Johnston. The Democrats
claim to have in their possession this letter,
and that it is full Of treason to the grand
old Democratic "partee." If this is true,
it Is terrible indeed.
1t is very evident to one who has watched
events at the Capitol for the last few years,
that unless mighty change comes over the
spirits Of some of our able statesmen it will
be very hard to tell
, who IL which and Which Is who
ere another decade shall have rolled around.
1t would take very powerful microscope
to enable one to sec wherein the two parties
differ upon any great public question if the
! question of spoils is left out, and the case
of Stratham is case in point.
r The Proceedings To-day.
Yesterday Senator Morrill, introduced a
resolution instructing the Committee on
Public Buildings and Grounds to inquire
into the expediency and pr0priety of some
measure for the immediate removal of the
railroad depot and track on SiYth street of
the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad, and
also for the removal of the depot of
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. On
an objection by Senator ingalls,,
it went over. When the Senate assembled
to-day Mr.. Morrill, called 1t UP and asked
its immediate consideration. He said that
since yesterday he had understood that the
matter had last session been in charge of
the District Committee. and would modify
his resolution so rs TO instruct that commit
tee to follow the matter up instead of the
first committee named.
, Continuing, he said that there had been
obstinate procrastination on the part of
The Baltimore a. Potomac Railroad
} Company doing anything toward removing
the depot. They had violated all privi-
leges heretofore given them, mainly in
obstructing Sixth street with railroad
+ tracks.
They were to have built an elevated
iron bridge at q cost of $4,000 to enable
parties to safely visit the parks contiguous
to the depot. In the matter of removing
the depot the Government had agreed ia
, give them an amount of land equal to that
. now occupied, nearer the river in South
0 Washington, and was willing to
. buy their building But now. they
r were going on, erecting additional ont.
, buildings about the depot showing Their
! determination to stick and ho tly
7 desired to call attention to the matter. He
understood that the Baltimore & Ohio Com
! pany was prepared to move at any time t.
the land selected for them, north Of Massa
+ chusetts avenue. At all events both Of
:. these depots, as at present located, were
nusances Of very large magnitude
:. Senator ingalls, informed Senator Morril
I that the District Committee. and District
t Commissioners had taken large amount o
testimony concerning the removal of thcs'
: depots, and had also received plans with {
s view to the erection of q union depot fO
:. both. lie thought that the union dcpo
would be best for both roads.
There was no doubt as to the ndvisabilit,
of removing the present depots, but he de
J. sired to explain that the buildings nov
J. being erected by the Baltimore & Potoma
J, Company, were only temporary structure
|. to meet the demand of the travelling pub
: lc They were built Of old material brough
down from Philadelphia The resolution
h was adopted without objection.
/. Senator Anthony, from the Committee OIL
Z Printing, in reply to II resolution adopted
Y several days ago, reported that a part Of tn
Z agricultural reports for 1870 had beer
Z printed and were ready for delivery, blu
: the reports for 1880 were not ready, becaus
. the Commissioner of Agriculture had no
z furnished all his copy to the Publ
Z Printer.
The latter reported that it was the cleo
4 ton of the Commissioner Of Agriculture t,
% keep his report back until a late period.
4 Senator Davis (W. Va.) "Then l sugges
q to the Senate that we stir the Commits
Z sioner of Agriculture up instead of the Pub
z lie Printer. These reports are mainly in
q tended for the use of farmers, but they d
z not care for stale news"
Z The Committee ON Printing was author
x lied to sit during the recess of the Senate
a.. ~ IA.l-