The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-17
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent


lation which was thought to exist
week ago has given place to doubt if
not complete Encouragement. But a
few legislative days remain of the
present session, and there is little
prospect that any bill on the subject
will be agreed upon. From mere
party standpoint the wisest Republic
cans are beginning to see that the
failure of the present bill will result
in advantage-or at least to disadvan-
tage of the Democrats. 1t is believed
by some that the only thing neces-
sary to completely demoralize and
disorganize the bourbons and destroy
all their hopes of future success is to
call an extra session of the new Con-
gress and set them at work tinkering
the tariff. Certain it is that there is
no unanimity among them on the
question and that they are torn and
hopelessly demoralized by compli-
eating purposes and interests. One
cause of the bad figure cut by them
in the pending contest is the apathy
of those Democratic members who
have not been reelected. 1t was pro-
posed several days ago that the course
of the party in the tariff debate could
be determined by conference, in or
dor fbof fbaro y,,;nbf ho oOpoortod apd
intelligent action, but the conflicting
interests of candidates for the Office
of speaker, and the lack of interest on
the part of members not reelected.
are said to have prevented the hold
ing of such a meeting. The Repub-
licans in the house, who have thus
far been under effective discipline,
have greatly enjoyed the demorali-
zation of their opponents, and some
of them have been by no means dis.
satisfied with the delay caused by
Democratic action. Very prominent
Republicans express the opinion in
private conversation that a failure TO
revise the tariff will be political adj
vantage to the Republican party.
The resolution of inquiry into the
practices of certain pension and claim
agents is one of the most thoroughly
commendable moves that has been
made this season, and is of greater
importance than may generally be
supposed. There are in Washington
number of so-called pension attor-
neys who have made enormous for
tunes by swindling ex-soldiers over
the country. Upon one pretext or
another they have extorted hundreds
of thousands of dollars for which no
returns, in service or in any other
way, has ever been made, and in
many cases large sums for bounty,
etc., have been collected and the lions
share of it retained. Some of the
largest and best advertised firms in
this line are the worst. Said an old
lawyer to your correspondent yester-
day: 1.-THE town is full of sharpers,
who prey off of people who have
claims of some description against the
government, and 1 would like to see
Congress open fire all along the line.
The practices of certain disreputable
claim agents are bad enough, hut
there are other promising fields for
Investigation. For instance, inquiry
might be instituted in the interests
of poor inventors who have long
claimed that many of the patent law
yers of Washington are the paid
attorneys of corporations and big
sharps. who employ them to harass
inventors who apply for patents
which might clash with their inter-
ests. These lawyers, it is claimed.
keep their most profitable patrons
posted, and whenever an unlucky in
ventor puts his case in their hands
they prepare to systematically wear
him out by delays until, in sheer
desperation, he abandons his case, or
sells for song what may be worth a
fortune If he had fallen into honest
hands. Itisan easy thing for shrewd
lawyer who knows the ropes to hold
an application for a patent In 'hock'
for year or two, especially if he is
in possession of inside facts" No
body questions the honesty and eff
cheney of the patent Office. The abuses
complained of are on the outside. 1t
is undoubtedly true that there are
| hoaest and dishonest attorneys in
both the branches of practice, and
people throughout the country should
know to whom they entrust business.
Several new lady lobbyists have
made their appearance about the
capitol this winter, and, although the
old veterans complain of dull times
and dry pickings, the raw recruits APP
pear to do a thrifty business. The
female adventuresses who haunt the
galleries, Hobbies, and waiting rooms
day after day are a queer lot.
"Strange as it may seem," said a