Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-04-01


with singular ability and fidelity
Why is he now called upon to step
down and out? He is thoroughly in
line with his party, of which he was
one of the notable founders and ear
Hest leaders. Though allied to no
faction, he is pre- minently ''Stal-
wart" in its broader political sense.
He possesses in a peculiar degree the
qualities of a sound statesman and
safe adviser. What should induce
the President to part company with
by far the ablest man in bis Cabinet
as it now stands? The public, which
assumes the right of knowledge as
well as the privilege of opinion, is
curious to know. The great State
of Iowa, with its enormous majority
for the ruling party, ought hardly to
be expected to give way to the
youngest and one of the smallest
commonwealth without some rea-
son. Mr. Teller will make a good
Secretary, no doubt, but nobody will
claim for him qualifications superior
to those of honest old Samuel. A
speech on the silver question which
Senator Teller was to have made
this week in the Senate, taking
ground opposed to the present policy
of the Administration, was folded
up and put away upon an intimation
from the President that it had bet
ter not be delivered.
There seems to be no ground for
the hope, in which some persons in
dulge, that Congress will adjourn
early iG June. There are indications
that the season will continue until
the middle of July. Mr.. Hiscock
and his committee have the general
appropriation bills we'll in hard, and
supply them faster than they can be
passed, but there are many other i'm.
pOrtant bills which must consume
time. The House will soon take up
the Tariff Commission bill, and it is
said that 100 speeches will be deliver
ed before a vote is reached, if full
discussion is allowed. Much of the
Houses time is consumed each week
by the ass gnments for the introduc
ton of bills, the presentation of re-
ports, and action upon private bills.
There are only three days in each
week in which real progress can be
made with any important bill. The
Commission bill may demand the at
tention of the House for a month
If it is passed, some reduction OF in
ternal taxation will be demanded
The recent decision of the Supreme
Court will cause efforts to be made
to revise the sugar tariff at this SIS
sion. If the Commission bill be de
feated, the House will be brought
face to face with the question of
tariff revision and a long discussion
cannot be avoided. There is also
the bill to begin the construction of
IA new navy, the Geneva Awrad bill
the bills for postal savings banks
aud steamship mail subsidies, the
Interstate Commerce bill, the bin
tor extending the existence of Ma
tional Banks, the bill to send all pri
Vatt claims to the Court OF Claims.
and others which will come before
the House and will consume much
time. congressman who desire re-
election, will earnestly support bills
for the benefit of their constituents
at this session. On the other hand,
the reapportiOnment Of districts in
several States may lead some Con-
gressmen 10 seek an early adjourn
mpnt in order that they may become
acquainted with the new distribu-
ton. 1t does not seem probable,
however, that they can get away be.
fore July ] at the earliest.
Guiteau has not during the last
few weeks been making much of
stir in the world, but he is, never
theless, one of the lions of Wash
ington to all the curiosity-loving
strangers who visit this city. He is
dong thrifty business in photo
graphs and autographs, and must be
making more money than he ever
made IN any of the various avoca-
tions in which he engaged outside
of Jail bounds. A specul .tor recentiv
offered $3.50 for the old suit of clothes
III which Gult6au shot the President
aud Mr.. ScOville advised him to ac-
cept it but the advice was declined
with torrent of abuse and oaths.
The contrast between the treatment
of this miserable scoundrel and that
of poor Mason is enough to make
ones blood boil The latter suffer
ed almost brutal treatment from the
day he was confined in military
prison too filthy and mean for a dog
kennel, while Gulteau has lived on
the fat of the land aud enjoyed un-
usual privileges. The only consola-
ton for this Injustice is that it will