The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-12-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D.. c.,
Dec. 25. 1891

usual, after cutting some fancy /
over the subject. Never were
Congressman more anxious TO appear
virtuous than. at present, but the
great majority of them would be en-
tirely satisfied with the appearance
merely-the shadow without the SUBJ
stance. So in order to make an i'm
preston upon the dear people they
voted to deny themselves the holiday
recess, and during q two hours dis
cussion of the question the great'and
good Robson talked as solemnlg as
an owl about the grave Responsible
ties of the present Congress, and
then offered a resolution imposing .
fine of $50 upon members each and
every time they were absent from
roll call. OF course this passed
Nothing is easier than to pass rirtu-
Gus resolutions through Congress
now. But fully one-half of the very
fellows WHO voted for it INTENDED all
the time to take an early train either
for home or some other place in pur-
suit of business or pleasure. The
scene in the House on the day after
this resolution was passed would
have made a corpse laugh. Very
soon after the Chaplain had said his
prayer the fun began. Members rose
up one after another all over the
House and filed ieqqeetS f9Yeare of
some upon another. Some had sick
families, some were sick themselves,
and some had important business
the estates of deceased relatives to.
settle and the like. The cutest of
all vas a Pennsylvania member who
stated that unless he was permitted
to go home and make a lease of a
coal mine before January l a large
number of laborers would be thrown
out Of employment. Finally that
which was expected occurred: The
House reversed its action of the day
before and voted to take q ten days
recess. lam not writing this TO rail
at Congressman. They are only men,
as other men are, and their frailties
are the frailties of human nature
The mistake is that we should ex-
pect the chosen representatives of a
great people to be above small weak
nesses, or at least above insineerity
and cheap bunkum.
There have been from time to time
a great many scandals growing out
of the administration of the affairs of
this city and District, and it would
seem that the combined efforts of
Congress and the executive might
finally bring them to an end. To
Congress belongs the responsibility
of making suitable laws for our local
Government, and to the President
the appointment of proper men for
executing them. The troubles and
scandals have been chiefly due to the
character of the men assigned to this
latter duty. And now President Ar
thur has just made one of those
strange mistakes which SO often oc.
cur in such affairs-appointed an un'
fit man to the Office of District Com
missioner. 1t is almost unaccount
able how such an appointment coult
be made with all the lights before
the President, and with so man,
good men willing to take the office
OF course some curious personal con
sideration or unseen politicaiinfh
ence accomplished it MI. Olmstead
the appointee, possesses business
qualifications, but he was mixed uI
with the famous real estate poo
transaction, of which "Boss" Shop
herd and Hallet Kilbourn were tEl
head, and is backed by a street rail
way company indebted to the citytt
the amount of hundreds ofthousandi
of dollars for taxes, which its man
ayers refuse to pay, and which neye,
will be paid if he. is confirmed. 81
is said, too, that if he becomes Com
missioner we shall not get rid Of GU;
corrupt and rascally detective force
which has in connection with othel
thieves plundered and robbed on
citizens for years. A movement il
on foot led by respectable citizenstt
prevent Olmstead's confirmation By
the Senate, but I doubt if it succeeds
The people of Washington have NJ
vote, and hence no influence will
Congressman. Their views and wish
es touching even matters in which
they alone are vitality interested ar,
too little needed by the politicians
who rule the country.
The English MISSIONS being talk
ed about considerably now, andi,
great many ambitious men are shak
ing in their shoes for fear it will B,
offered them, for If latter years thu
office of the English mission has beer
equivalent to taking the Chiltern
Hundreds in the English Parlia
ment. 1t has been offered to botf
Secretary Lincoln ard Secretary Fol
ger by the press, and has damaged
Secretary Lincoln a little, but moth
ing could damage Secretary Folge,
any more. It was for years the dream
of Mr.. Robeson's existence. One o
the interesting studies of the pres
ent is the tripartite agreement be
tween Blaine, Logan, and Chandler
and Mr.. Robeson's desperate endeav
efs to make it a -quadruple alliance
There was never a man whose poHt
ical fortunes were so broken as Robe
sons. He is a mar used to carry
things with a high hand, but every
body in Washington sees him cring
ing to Blaine and Chandler, but it i
10 no purpose. In the House he ha
had but little to say since the open
ing day, knowing perhaps that re
form is not much in his way. An,
MI. Richelieu Robinson has net hac
a ghost of a chance to choke. tn,
British lion yet. Mr.. Robinson ha
added ferocity to the eagle bird b,
changing its sex. He alludes to she
beak," "her claws" cher talons."
PHoNo.
The farcical trial of the Star Rout,
thieves is beautifully exhibited in tn,
fOllOwinu from tho Naru vo,l- c.,