Daily Republican., 1883-12-24
WashlngtOn Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, dec. 2aud, lsss.-Eariy this
week when the Senate proceeded To the cleo
ttOn Of officers, namely: Secretary. chie
CLERK, executive clerk, chaplain and Ser
geant.at-Ar Democratic Sena torial breasts
were suddenly fired with seal for civil ser
ternittent, or else, last week, whom some 0l
the elective Offices OF the House were tax on
from efficient, faithful Republican incum.
bents and given " untried Democrats, Sena-
tors Pendlet0n, heck and Salisbury would
have wrestled with their brethern Of the
House In tears, In fasting and IN prayer to
have induced retention Of the old officials.
named, Senator Pendleton, Of civil service
reform fame, moved An amendment striking
out the name and inserting that Of the pres
ont incumbent, which was not agreed to.
Mr.. Pendieton proceeded similarly through
the list Of nominees, simply, he said, as an
expression OF dissent to change and Of conf
denoe In the ofiicers elected two years ago.
elected. Senator Salisbury. Of Delaware, twit-
tod the Republicans on their disregard of the
civil service act, which they once thought 70
highly Of and voted for. while now they were
taking all the salarted Offices, even to the
chaplaincy. The election Of a new Sergeant
alarms brought Senator Beck, of kentucky,
to his feet, saying It was clear the civil ser
vloO luO0 Whn OOubll6IVu = AuWDuk Wy tuO
Republicans when 1t interfered with them. A
resolution having been adopted In caucus to
retain the wounded soldiers on the rolls Of
tho Senate In their positions, the Senate
next went into executive session to consider
the new rules.
There was spirited debate in the House
Thursday on the enfranchisement Of women,
direction OF the Committee on Rules to ap
point committee on woman suffrage. Mr..
Reagan, Of Texas, warmly opposed the bill,
setting forth the oft repeated horrors of wives,
mothers and sisters Orsaking their firesides
Mnd domestic interests for the voting pre-
cinct Messrs. Keifer and Belford, Of Color
ado, supported the resolution, which was
finally voted down.
Mr.. Hoar Of Mich, caused Rome amuse.
ment In his opposition to . division Of the
work Of the Commerce Committee by the es
tablishment Of a committee on Rivors and
HarbOrs. He said 1t would have been better
to have divided the Overworked commAstee
on Ways and Means into two-one on Ways
and enc on Means. There could then be CIV
On to ono committee all bills which tend tc
tear 1t down, and thereby, both wings Of the
Five members Of the present Congress have
died since their election, but Hon. Dudley
Haskell Of the second Kansas district, who
died last Sunday, was the first member taker
from his post Of duty. He was the leading
representative from his own State, and had
served three successive terms In the House
In politics he was an ardent Republican
Profectionist, and while the Tariff bill was
pending, devoted his whole time t. It. aftel
having conferences at late hours Of the night
to which overwOrk is attributed the ill-healtf
that ended his life. Confined to his bed wheI
Congress was organized, and deslrous Of In
Producing measures in behalf Of his c0nstitu
onts, through members from his State, hi
request was refused, because he had not beer
sworn in. He then asked the Speaker t.
come to his room and administer the oath o
office. There Ia no record of the oath having
been administered elsewhere than in the
hal of the House. Mr.. Haskell's request wal
the first OF the kind ever known to have beer
made, and Speaker Carlisle intended las
Monday to have laid this new question II
parliamentary law before the House or de
cisiOn, both for the accommodation Of the in
valid and the establishment of a precedent
Mr.. Haskell was man OF fine physique
over six feet tall. broad shouldered, dee.
chested, Of marked ability and great ambi
ton. At tho news Of his death. the flag on
the House Of Representatives was set at hall
mast, and Speaker Carlisle appointed o0m
mlttee Of Congress, to accolnp any his re
mains to KLnsas.