The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1882-07-04
South Kentuckian
ADVERTISING RATE.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, D. G., July !, 1882.

uSnHStOH, ~. W, JuIy i, 1co>.
Congress seems to have great diff
Guilty in agreeing upon m, thod Of
counting the electoral votes for Prcsi-
dent aud Vice-P President. These who
have tbonght of the matter realize tho
importance Of such measure, as
since the repeal OF the 22d joint rule
there is at any time danger Of serious
disageenents and results aniler tho
existing provisions. To most people
a satisfactory plan would seem easy of
attainment, but somehow it does not
pleseut itself to the minds OF Con-
gressmen and Senators. Political
cbecker-playiDy is, however, the real
difficulty. 1t an honest purpose ex-
listed to divise aplan independent Of
any party considerations or advanta-
ges it would be simple enough. The
bill proposed by MIR. Upiegraff Of
the select special committee on that
subject was very properly defeated
this week. and is the last of the lu-
nerons schemes in that liue to go tho
way Of all tho earth. The part OF
this bill which aronsed the strongest
opposition was the provision thai The
defeated candidate might proceed by
quo warranto and go into the courts
to determine tie question OF title after
the votes had been counted and the
result declared. This contemplates
the possible ousting Of President
once seated, aud MIR. Hammond Vi
Georgia. aptly remarked that 1t onght
to be entitled, "a bull to raise neil in
the United States" Mr.. Hewitt op-
posed it and said he was satisfied that
no man installed in the office Of Presi-
dent could be onsted inside Of his
four years by any method short OF
revolution. The simplest aud only
practical plan is TO have all questions
pertaining to the choice Of electors set
tied by the State courts and make the
decision fnal and binding npon Con-
gress
The House Committee on Printing
have recently recommended that TO-
900 maps OF the United States bc
published for the uss Of Congress.
This at the rate Of about thirty maps
per member, which may seem an ex-
travagant allowance; but when tho
alarming ignorance Of congressman
ON the subject OF geography is consid-
cred it is not strange that all attempt
should be made to foice information
upon Lawmakers by the quantity.
Ono method OF teaching the alphabet
to weak minded children requires that
the letters, one at time, shall meet
thc eye wherever it roanis;a large
letter, "a" for instance, greets tho
eye from the head Of the bedstead.
the top Of tile washs' and. the 'ile Of
the plate, the desk Of the teacher, the
blackboard on the wall, the cover of
the book and even the fence Of tho
playground. II, in like manner,
maps Of tho United States are hung
in every corridor, committee and
cloak room in the Capitol, in the Con-
gressional restaurants, the various
bar rooms frequented by Congress
men. in every hotel dining room and
parlor, in drawing room cars, on all
trains that enter or leave Washington,
in livery stables, gambling hells anil
in tho Washington apartments and
permanent homes OF our lawmakers,
some Congressman would in timo
learn something Of the extent, proper
tions and distances Of our beloved
country. By frequently seeing maps
an occasional Representative or Sena-
tor might come to understand why
an outbreak at an Indian agency can
not be instantly suppressed by troops
that are two thousand miles away,
and why -four from Minneapolis to-
day cannot tomorrow be devoured by
starving Mescaleros in the Southwest.
They might also learn that creeks
and marshes cannot be made naviga-
BILE in the interest Of commerc even by
the expenditure Of tweLty or thirty
millions per year on them. Had Sem
ator Blair ever seen map OF the
United States he might not have
gravely proposed to make the Missis-
sippi River turn backward and dash
mp hill fof several thousand miles.
In view Of the possible increase Of
Congressional intelligence the public
perhaps will overlook that the number
and cost OF the proposed maps are
ridicu'ously in excess OF what they
should be.
Mr.. George William Curti', Pre-. i
dent OF the New York Civil Services
Reform Association. has sent circu-
lar to all the Government employees
here, warning them not to respond to
the forced leyy Of the Republican
Campaign Committee, under paiu ut
being proceeded against according To
the Revised Statues prohibiting such
contributions. 1t is understood that
| Mr. Curtis has or will send copy OF
this circular to custom house officers
and Government employees generally
throughout the country. There is M
question that a large majority Of them
would be very glad to get off paying
the assessment if their tenure Of
office is not thereby impaired. They
are placed in somewhat Of dilemma
i A female clerk in one OF the depart
ments insisted day or two since on
making comparatively large contri-
button to the campaign committee.
She placed her own action on the
score OF patriotism, but some OF he'
associate clerks said she did it with
tho nopo Of making herself 'solid" III
her Office. PHoNo.