Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-07-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
lFrom our Regular Correspondent.l


q WASHINGTON, ID. c.. July l, 1882.
Congress seems to have great difficulty In sgree-
ing upon a method Of counting the electoral votes
for President and vice-Presidsnt. Those who have
thought OF the matter realize the importance Of such
measure, rs since the repeal Of the I'D joint rule
there is at any time danger Of serious dsagreements
and results under the existing provisions. To most
people satisfactory plan would seem easy OF at
tainment, but somehowt does not present itself to
the minds of Congressman and Senators. Political
checker-playing is however, the real dimcuty. II an
honest purpose existed to devise plan independent
Of anyp party considerations or advantages It would
be simple enough. The bill proposed by Mr.. Upde-
graft Of the select special committee on that subject
was very properly defeated this week. and is the last
Of the numerous schemes in that line to 60 the way
Of all the earth. The part of this bill which aroused
the strongest opposition the provision that the
defeated candidate might proceed by quo warranto
and 70 into the courts to determine the question OF
title after the votes had been counted and the re-
suit declared This contemplates the ousting OF
President once seated, and Mr.. Hammond, OF Geor-
eis aptly remarked that 1t ought to be entitled ga
bill to raise hell in the United states." Mr. Hewitt
opposed It and said he was satisfied that man In
stalled in the ofhce Of President could be ousted in
side Of his four years by any method shctt Of revo-
luton. The simplest and only practical plan is to
have ali questions pertaining to the choceof cleo
tors settled by the State courts and make the decision
fnal and binding upon Congress.
The House Committee ON Printing have recently
recommended that TO- 900 maps of the United States
be pnblished forthe Of Congress. This Is ct the
rate of about thirty maps per member, which may
seem an extravagant allowance: but when the
alarming ignorance Of Congressman on the subject
OF geography is considered 1t IL not strange that an
attempt should be made to force information upon
lav-rnakers by the quantity. One method OF teach
ing the alphabet to weak-minded children requires
that the letters, ut time, shall meet the eye
wherever 1t roams; large letter "A," for instance,
grees the eye from the head Of the bedsead the top
of the washstand the side Of the plate the desk Of
the teacher the blackboard on the WALL the cover of
tine book and even the fence Of the playground II,
in like manner, maps ofthe United States are hung
In every corridor, committee and cloak room In the
Capitol, the Congressional restaurants the various
bar-rooms frequented BY Congressman, In every
hotel dining room and parior, in drawing room cars
livery stables gambling hels and In the Warrington
apartments and permanent homes OF our lawmakers
some Congressmeu would in time learn something
Of the extent, proportions and distances q our Pc
loved country. BY frequently seeing maps an oc-
casional Representative or Senator might come to
Understand why an outbreak at an Indian agency
cannot be instantly suppressed Dy troops tnat are
two thousand miles away, and why flour at Minneap-
oils to-day cannot tomorrow be devoured by starv
ING Mescaeros in the Southwest. They might also
learn that creeks and marshes cannot be made nav
igabe in the interest Of commerce even by the ex-
penditure Of twenty thirty millions per year on
them. Had Senator Blair ever seen map of the
United States he might not have gravey proposed to
make the Afssissippi River turn backward aud dash
up hill for several thousand miles. In view Of the
possible increase In Congressional intelligence the
public perhaps will overlook that the number and
cost Of the proposed maps are ridiculous in excess Of
what they should be.
Mr. George william Curtis, President Of the New
York Civil Service Reform Association, has sent .
circular to all the Government employees here, warn
ing them not to respond to the forced levy of the Re-
publican Campaign Committee, under pain Of being
proceeded against according to the Revised Statutes
prohibiting such contributions. 1t is understood
that Mr. Curtis has will send copy of this circu-
lar to custom house officers and Government EN-
ployes generally throughout the country. There is
no question that large majority OF them would be
glad to get of paying the assessment If their tenure
Of Office is not thereby impaired. They are placed
In somewhat Of dilemma A female clerk in one Of
the departments insisted day or two since on MAX
ing comparatively large contribution to the cam
paign committee. She placed her own action on the
score Of patriotism but OF her associate clerks
said she did it with the hope OF making herself
ssolidnin her office. PHoNo.