Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-12-24
COLUMBUS.
COSBY LETTER FROM OUR REGULAR
CORRESPONDENT.
The Speakership Fight---Hodges Ahead
The Postmastership---Civi Ser
vice Reform---That Defal-
cation.
BUCKEYE PUMPKINS ON KElFER.

bers of the Ohio Legislature who were here
in the early part of this week have all gone
home to spend Christmas with their re-
spective families and to receive further in
structions from their constituents. They
have been on the ground to watch the
progress of the fight for the offices. The
candidates for the Speakership of the
House have been busy getting in their
work, as well as the candidates for the
other positions. Everything will be quiet
in the city from now until next week, when
the fight will be
On in Earnest.
II Hodges combination with Pugsley for
the pro tem Speakership, and Guy
for the Chief Clerkship, amounts
to anything, he may be elected
Speaker; but Scott and Jones are after
him, and can defeat him if they can con-
solldate their supporters. Powerful inhu
cnces are at work for Hodge and some of
the shrewdeSt managers i'll the dominant
party in the State are his champions. At
present he seems to be ahead in the race.
There is talk of making
Charley VaIIandigham
the Democratic nominee for Speaker. He
is Just entering upon his second term and
is bright, capable young man, inheriting
some of the qualities of his illuStrlouS
father. The Democratic minority is Just
one-third of the House. In view of this
fact nobody seeks any OF the nominations.
The Democrats in the Senate form precise
ly the same proportion as that of the House
being just one-third of the body.
The POsfmastership.
Capt l.. ID. Myers, the editor OF the Co
lumbus ErCG6q Dipatch is booked for
Postmaster of this city. learn from high
authority that his name will be sent to the
Senate by the President for that position
immediately after Congress reConvenes in
January. He is very strongly indorSed by
Ohio StalwartS as we'll as by the other fac
tion of his party. Senator Sherman is his
particular friend, and has been for long
time. He is a capable, honest, conscien-
tious man, and will make first class pub
lie officer. He deserves the place, and his
appointment will be a popular one. The
commission of the present postmaster, MIR.
Rodgers, expired in November He is an
excellent officer; but the President thought
he could not afford to give him second
term. Henry {. Taylor, a rising young
lawyer and Republican politician OF promi-
nencc, was Capt. Myers principal compe-
titOr.
civil Service Reform.
have talked, quite recently, with lead
ing Democrats from different parts of the
State, and find that Pcndleton'S Civil Ser
vice Reform Bill is meeting with much
favor in the party, as well as outside of it.
People are beginning to realize that the un-
Seemly scramble for office at the incoming
of an administration, State or National, is
becoming more and more alarming, and
that something has got to he done to put 4
stop to it. There is great desire through
eGdm 9q hf 81 Sf2e Is Il bens fG PPfhnated 1t is
that great deal OF good will come OF 1t.
That DefaIcatiOn.
Fred. w. Newburgh. Assistant SeCrc tary
Of the Board of Public Works OF Ohio, was
arrested. yesterday, OH the charge OF for
gerry. He is yOungman, about twenty
eight wears of age, and has wife and one
child. His habits, for some time paSthave
been such that those who knew him, and
especially those who knew the amount oi
his salary, 800 year, wondered where he
got the money he was spending so layishly
1t was said that he had been successful at
the gambling table, and it was also stated
that he had received a legacy from the es-
tate of a deceased relative. Public officers
and others familiar with the laws rcguIat-
inc the collections and disbursements OF
the canal revenues could think OF no meth
od whereby he could have got any Ot the
public money except his salary. But the
Board decided to make thorough investi
cation, and have been thus engaged for two
days. This investigation disclosed the fact
that several OF the DIVISION
Supcrintendents handed 10 Fred.
WNeYburgh their vouchers fOrmOnCy, al
ter getting him to make them out, and
after they were properly certified and in
dorsed. and requested him to take them to
the other end OF the State House, where
the Auditor OF the State and the State
Treasurer have their offices, and get them
cashcd: and that he did so, after raising
them to enable him to draw much larger
amounts than they first called for, or that
said SUperintendents were entitled to draw
he retaining, i'll each case, so much OF the
money as was illegally drawn. lie admits
having got
Four thousand Dollars
in this way. But up to last night addi-
tional discoveries had been made, which
brought the aggregate ,crooEedness up 10
nearly eight thousand dollars. The young
man was taken to the city prison, where
newspaper reporters called on him, and
found him lying on a cot, when he looked
up and recognized them. and Immediately
turned his face to the wall and commenced
crying bitterly. They left him in that CON
dition. He requested that Colonel J. I.
Holmet. attorney, he sent To him.
4. l.. Ncwburgh the father OF young
Newburgh. is the Secretary OF the Board ol
Public Works. and has been for many years.
He is a faithful and efficient public officer,
and is highly esteemed.
Keifer'S committees are pretty roughly
criticised here. by some OF the leading Re
pablicans. allyn
JHAT SPECIE.