The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-04-12
Especial Correspondence.
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, April 3.

had intentions of making prolonged
southern tour, the representative of
the STATESMAN called at the white
house late Monday evening, and
stated to Private Secretary Philips
that he would like to know if the
president made up his mind to
take in Texas. Philips has the repu-
tation among the newspaper men of
being supercilious, uncommunica-
tive "kind of cuss," to use plain
backwoods expression, and he did full
justice to himself on this occasion.
Said the scribe: 81 represent the Aus
tin STATESMAN, one of the leading
dailies in the state of Texas and in
the southwest, and | have called to see
if Mr.. Arthur has any intention
of going to the Lone Star State while
he is away from the city. You are
in position to know all of his move
ments. Nov, really, you will have to
excuse me; l know that his excel
lency has the intention of making an
extended southern tour, but whether
he
WILL REACH TEXAS
| am not prepared to say for a GER
tainty." THAT may be-" said the
reporter, "but do you think he will go
to Texas-is there any probability of
his going there?" You are too much
for me; l have heard Mr.. Arthur talk
a great deal about his trip, which he
seemed to anticipate with much pleas
ure, but would not like to say what
places he is going to,
for L may misrepresent his in
tentions." "But, Mr.. Philips, |
simply want definite answer, you
gave it out that he was going to
Florida and mentioned several other
points that he intended to visit, did
you not? And yet you say that you
don't know whether or not he is
going to Texas. Did you not hear
the president say something about
Texas 2" young man." answered
the fancy-looking secretary, 81 would
| not like to say anything about the
visit of the president down south, he
might not like it. You just make up
anything and send it to Texas" See
ing there was little to be gained by
fooling with evaSive Philips the scibe
left, after blessing him for his unac-
commOdating disposition. From other
| trustworthy sources it was aScer-
tanned that Mr.. Arthur had some in
tentions of visiting Texas. He in
| quired after the condition of the no.
| tells in Austin and other cities, and
being informed that they were first
class in every respect, said that he
| would like nothing better than to
visit the state, and that he would, if
| possible, go there before returning
northward. There is no question but
/ what q presidential visit to Texas
would be productive of great good.
1t would open the eyes of the entire
country about the vast material and
political Importance of Texas in
the galaxy of states; the leading
part she is soon to play
in the governmental affairs Of
of the great republic. Wherever the
president goes he will be attended by
a corps of some of the best journalists
at the north, and the treatment he re-
ceives and the country through which
he passes will be infinitely described.
PENSION CASES.
Commissioner Dudley may feel
very sanguine as to the number of
pension cases he will be able to dis
pose of by the close of the present fis-
cal year, but the present outlook is
not very encouraging. A large class
of cases are in the hands of the adju-
tant generals division of the war of
flee. These cases are those which re-
quire evidence to show the actual
discharge of the soldier from
the service, or time, place
and the cause of his death,
should he have been killed or died
from disease in the service. The
records of the adjutant generals
office, relating to such matters, are
very complete and the desired infor-
nation is generally furnished the
commissioner of pensions promptly,
but recently there has been consider
able delay, caused partly by clerical
errors in the pension Office whence
the first call on the adjutant generals
office for data emanateS, and also
from the pressure brought to bear by
congressman and others urgent for
that speedy settlement. Cases that
were expected to have been acted
upon by the late congress were thus
postponed and lately it is stated
the cause becoming more APP
parent, orders to the end that
the work shall be more carefully
prepared and examined, have been
circulated in all the departments in
which the pension work is being con-
Quoted. There are now on hand in
the adjutant generals office a vast
number of cases marked special. -
These cases are of the class known as
cases to be rushed through at the in
dividual request of certain congress-
men. Ordinarily it requires about
two days to put such a case through
and return it to congress to be acted
upon, but toward the close of the last
session the rush was so great that it
was impossible to respond promptly
to every request. The work of the
mammoth pension Office seems to in
crease daily, and next years estimates
for the annual appropriation promise
to be enormous.
| HOW TOM WINS.
The famous Tom Ochiltree salary
case that has caused SO much
talk in the country has at last been
decided by Lawrence, first comp
trOller of the treasury, after hearing a
full argument. The United States
holds judg ment against Ochiltree
for $500. In November, 1882, he
was elected representative in congress
from Texas. On the 4th of April
there will be due to him one months
salary, $417. The question to be de-
cided was whether the salary should
be held to apply on the judgment. In
view of the explicit provision of the
constitution, and the reasons on
which it rests, it must be held that
the salary must be actually paid to a
representative, because the language
of the constitution is imperative, "he
shall receive a compensation for"
his services as fixed by
be not paid to him, and it is with
held, it cannot be said that he receives
pay. There are other provisions in
the constitution making it still more
| plain that congressman must be
paid, so that after all the fuss made
by the treasury officials it is evident
that there was no other course to pur-
sue but to give Tom his money and
ignore the Judgment held against him
by the government.
| PRESIDENTIAL CALAMITY.
| Upon the invitation of PreSi-
dent Arthur, Madame Chris
tine Nilsson, the celebrated singer,
now in Washington, accompanied by
several other ladies, visited the white
house and dined with the president
and his sister Mrs. Ainsworth. After
dinner she was eScosted by Chester
through the various rooms (nineteen)
of the executive mansion and intro
| duced to the cabinet. The visitors
| then retired to the green parlOr