The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-12-29
Washington Letter.
From cur Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D. G.,
Dec. %, 1881.

WASHINGTON, u. C.,
Dec. %, 1881.
We have had the usual programme
for the beginning of Congress faith
fully carried out-a three weeks wait
for the Committees followed by two
weeks holiday adjournment. After
the recess the real business of the ses.
sion may be expected to begin. There
has been, too, the customary dissatis'
faction among members over their as
signments On the Committees ; but the
world moves Oh, Congress will move on,
and the members will eventually move
on, just as they have done heretofore.
The guileless Robson had as much to
say about the makeup Of the Com
mittees as anybody, not even except
ing the Speaker himself. If Robson
had had any rods to pickle it will be
found that they are safety iu soak.
The protectionists, too, are pretty we'll
satisfied, or ought to be, with the
Ways and Means Committee, with
Pig Iron Kelly at the head and ex-
Speaker Randall bringing up the
Democratic end. That MIR. Kasson
was not given leading Chairman
ship, but disposed of as second on
Ways and Means, can not be readily
understood by those not acquainted
with all the why's and Wherefores. 1t
was known that Robson did not want
a Craftsmanship. He was satisfied to
control the general arrangement of
affairs and take a low seat himself. 1t
is comiug to be generally understood
that he is about the ablest man on the
Republican side of the House. Taken
as whole, and without going into
details, it may be said that, barring
two or three singular assignments,
Speaker Kiefer has done about as we'll
as be could with the material at bis
command.
The President has dragged Mr..
Timothy O. Howe, of Wisconsin, from
the political obscurity into which be
was rapidly sinking and has placed
him at the head of the Post
Office Department. The appoint
nent, so far as can be perceived, has
not even the slender apology of politi-
cal expediency in its favor. 1t would
certainly have been possible to make
worse selection from the names men
toned in connection with the position; 4;
but, however difaclt it may be to Sc
cure a man possessing the eminent
fitness of Mr.. James, would have been
easy to find a Postmaster General
more obviously qualified to deal With
the delicate and difficult duties of the
position than Mr.. Howe, who after
eighteen years service in the Senate
without achieving the slightest dis
tinction, was retired by the election of
Matt Carpenter. Since that event he
has been mentioned for almost every
Office in the gift of the Executive,
but for obvious reasons never appoint
ed to any of them until Mr.. Arthur
came along. Ore reason why other
people ought to object to his appoint
nent is that the star route ring ale so
we'll pleased with it. His son-in-law
is chief counsel for Brady as his Sec.
ond Assistant.
The decisions of the Interior De-
partment in matters affecting the in
terests of railroad corporations, and
especially in cases oflapsed grants and
cases of contests between the corpora
tions aud settlers on lands excepted
from grants by provisions in favor Of
claimants and occupants, are beginning
to attract considerable attention. The
present Secretary and bis immediate
predecessor, and number of their
subordinates, are much criticized for
rulings in cases affecting the interests
of land grant corporations. The fact
that a large number of officers and
clerks in the Interior Department and
several Assistant Attorney Generals
whose duties related to the interests
oflsnd grant corporations, have, on re-
thing from Office, been we'll provided
for by the corporations that have been