Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-01-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON, JAN, 10, 1881.

LOENs 0~R~N
The office hunters and the cabinet
makers are alike considerably OF
their bearing of late and do not hes
itate to manifest their impatienct
for what they term his procrastina-
tioA. Mr.. Sargent was to have been
snugly located in the Interior De.
partment, they thought, long ere
this, but he is still on the outside
while Mr.. Kirkwood quietly toasts
his shins before the Secretary's
glowing CRATE. The town is still
full of rumors and counter-rumors
about the remaining Cabinet posi-
tions, but no me seems to know for
certain what is going to be done.
One day it is positively stated that
Mr.. Sargent will be appointed Feb
luary |, and the next day somebody
on just as good terms with the
White House asserts that he will
net be appointed at all. | think
both Secretaries Hunt and Kirk
wood will eventually give place to
successors of President Arthur's
own choosing. 1t is not charged
that the President is playing fast
and loose after the manner of the
late Mr.. Hayes, but the impression
is that he makes haste slowly.
Though a month has elapsed since
the Committees of the House OF
Representatives were appointed the
dissatisfaction among members was
SC great that it has not yet passed
away, and the attention of that body
is still largely taken up with plans
and schemes for setting matters
right. The plan reported by Mr..
Robson from the Committee on
Rules, to increase the members of
nearly all the important Committees
does not meet with much favor. 1t
is understood to be really the Speak
ers scheme, devised to help him out
by making new places for members
sighted in the first instance. But
they all say he must stand by his
work. Both Mr.. Orth and Mr..
Springer have advanced plans for Sc
lectlng Committees in the future.
and contemplate taking the power
out of the Speakers hands. The
votes so far taken in the prelimin a.
ry consideration of this subject indi-
cate that all the better class of con-
gressmen think the Speaker has big
power as things go. He can suffi-
GENTLY control the legislation of the
country by recognizing or refusing
to recognize members on the floor,
without also having in his hands the
power OF making all the committees.
No monarch yields a mightier des-
potism. One thing worthy of note is
that the disorder in the House this
session is very great, and interiors
seriously with the transaction of bu-
siuess. Mr.. Kiefer hardly has the
body in hand as well rs either Mr..
Randall of Mr.. Blaine.
A torrent of bills continue to in
undate both houses, nearly l 800 hav-
ing been introduced in the last two
weeks. In the House the number
to date reaches a grand total of $3.50
with nearly 200 joint resolutions. In
the Senate the number is relatively
greater having come to within a few
of 800. The grave and reverend Sen
ators are talking about voting them
selves each a clerk at $1,000 per year.
A Senator's correspondence is GER
tainly very large, and there is proba-
bly, not one who could unaided an
swer all his letters and attend to
all his other duties. They are oblig-
ed to employ more or less assistance,
and this they think should be paid
for by the public, as the salary of
$4,000 a year is barely enough for the
proper support of a Senator who has
no other income.
There are many strange people in
Washington. One Of them is broth
or to a distinguished General in the
army. He is not very old but his
L.. = kite o~l L. x,Iscl~
ers are like snow. He has rooms in
the Corcoran building, and is said
to be very rich. He drives a hand
some pair of horses and his rooms
are furnished in the quaintest fash
ion. He has been a great traveller
and has picked up very queer odds
and ends for his rooms. He has the
oldest furniture that can be procur-
ed and he has a penchant for the