Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-11-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.
wAsH1NeToN, Nov. q, 1881.

The is not much to review in TAX
ing retrospect of the late session of
the Senate. 1t was not expected or
intended to be an important session
beyond the fact that it was called to
fill the gap between the single life of
President Arthur and utter vacancy
Of the office. Yet withall, the SEES
sion furnished a considerable amount
of interest, short as it was. The de-
cision of the Democrats to elect the
President pro tenn while they had a
temporary majority, was in itself the
means of exciting considerable po-
litical interest, and it provoked a
retaliatory feeling among the Re
publicans, that resulted in the cleo
tion of David Davis. Now that it is
all past and results only are looked
at it is generally admitted, on both
sides, that some sort of compromise
by which one candidate had been
agreed upon would have been better
for both parties and generated bet
ter feeling both in and out of the
body. But so long as the active
principle of our politics is the spoils
of Office, this sort of political wis
dom may not be looked for. Mere
temporary successful get, and if
possible, to hold, without much re-
gard to means-is the rule of action.
Touching the appointments made
and confirmed during the session it
may be said that for the most part
President Arthur has been simply
administering upon the estate of his
predecessor. The most important
nominations were those of Judge
Folger, to be Secretary of the Treas
ury, Gen. James to succeed himself,
as Postmaster General, and Mr..
Hatton to succeed Mr.. Tyner, as
First Assistant Postmaster General.
Nearly if not quite all the other
nominations were appointments of
the late President.
1t is now very generally believed
that Judge Davis will in the future
act with the Republicans. There is
no doubt had the Democrats elected
him President pro tenn, they would
have secured him beyond peradven-
ture. But this in the past, and the
Democrats may as well face the fact
that in all their calculations for the
future the big Senator from Illinois
must be counted as against them.
Several of the Democratic Senators
said on Saturday last, that they
would sooner have straight-out
Republican in the chair than Judge
Davis, and if the Republicans sent
in motion in December to elect one
their own number they would
make no opposition. But with the
vote Of Judge Davis secured, the
Republicans have no incentive to
attempt change, and they have
very plainly indicated this view.
So far as the officers of the Senate
are conscerned the Democratic in-
cumbents have some reason to feel
easy, for Judge Davis has repeated
ly expressed himself as opposed to
turning men out of office unless for
cause. lie dined with.the President
just before he left for home. When
he comes back he viii make the APP
pointment of keeper Of the Senate
cook-shOp, for which nearly all the
observation-disclosures in town have
been running after him,
The session of the Woman's Ma
tional Temperance Union just con-
cluded here, was an interesting one
and fruitful of pleasant incidents.
The most prominent and widest
known figure in it was Miss Susan
b. Anthony, who is to-day scarcely
a year older than she was twenty
years ago. Her hair is slightly ting
ed with grey, but time seems to
work changes slowly upon her calm,
intelligent face. She appeared on
the platform dressed in black and
wearing gold spectacles which have
become so familiar in caricature.
Next to her, Miss Frances f. Will.
lard the President of the Union, is
perhaps the best known over the
country. She is also next in point
OF ability, and probably first in wom-