Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-01-19
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, JNutary II, lSS


Mr.. Orth's raid on the Speaker Of
the House terminated tie otter day as
most persons thought it would end.
There is abundant reason for revo-
luton; but, in his present post ion,
with sore head prominently in view,
Mr. Orth is not the man to lead The re-
volt. If one of the gentlemen who
drew the big prize in the SpeaA er's
lOttery-Say the ch lirman of the con =
mittee ON ways aud means, or the head
of the committee on appropriations
would give the movement the influ-
ence of his voice and vote, perhaps 1t
might have better chance for success.
The very respectable vote in favor Of
Mr.. Orth's proposition shows that Il
good many men III as well as out or
Congress think that the Speaker has
too much power rs things go. llc can
sufficiently control the legislation OF the
country by recognizing or refusing to
recognize gentlemen on the floor, with
out having also in his hands the power
Of making AL the committees. No
monarch in Europe wields so despotlc
q sway.
Senator Brown has a resolution
pending in the Senate TO provide each
Senator, who is not the chairman of n
committee, with clerk at salary OF
5, 900 per year. Mr. Brown holds that
clerk is necessary TO Senator if the
latter properly discharge his duties to
his State aad people, and IN this opln'
ion every Senator agrees with HIM.
There is not probably a Senator in the
body who could unalded keep up with
his correspondence. But the question
is, shall the Senator or the people pay
salary Of $1,000 year, besides mileage,
and $i25 year for newspapers and
stationery. as compensation for the
time and labor required of him in his
public position. 1t is claimed that to
live wit this salary ard maintain
himself and family in keeping with a
Senator's position. requires the most
rigid economy. There are Senators
who have noncome beyond their Sala-
ry, and the question of paying n clerk
out of that is an importanton TO them
! com mittee clerk has come to be re-
garded, really, more as the private Sec
IttdiN vi llic ClldIl LDau III VIC NOhiiLlA
Zee than as an assistant for all the
membe rs thereof. That is why chair
men of committees are excluded from
the benefits of Mr.. Browns resolution.
If the Senators would vote as they feel
inclined this res olution would be adopt
ed. bnt dread of the disarproval of the
public will Influence votes enough to
defeat it.
The Committee on Ways and Means.
headed by its chair man, Representative
Kelley, OF Pennsylvania, to-day paid
visi to the President, Secretary Folger,
and Commissioner Rlum. There was
nothing special in these visits, they be
ing an established custom with all new
ways ard means committees. There
was general conversation between
members Of the committee aud the
officers visited.
The talk is now that Ex-senator
Sargent has tripped up on his expected
Cabinet appointment. His friends
Eowever, have lot abandoned effort on
lIs behalf.
Tie following amusing Incident oc-
CURED in the House yesterday:
Ohe of the officers of the Senate in
trusted page Of the House with his
laph book, instructing him to get
the autographs of new members.
Among others 10 whom the page hand
ed the book was the Hon. w. r.
Moore, Of Tennessee. Mr.. Moore,
thinking the book belonged to the boy,
wrote On it in bold, CONSPICUOUS cLarac-
ters: "be good 10y ahd you will grow
to be a COED man." Il is not definitely
known which Of the Senate officers the
book belonged to, but it Is believed to
be jim Christie, assistant doorkeep-r
The House Committee on the Judi
ciary, Representative Reed, of Name,
chairman, met yesterday morning and
agreed TO hear perSoGs interested in the
distribution of the remainder of the
Geneva Award Fund. On Tuesday,
Wednesday, and Thursday of next
week. from 10 to II a. na, each branch
of the question will be heard, includ-
ing depredations by cruisers, war pre-
miums, and the insurance companies.
Chairman Reed says he intends to give
each branch two hours hearing. 1t IS
the unanimous desire of members of
the committee that this subject shall
De disposed Of as early as possible.
A. w.