Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-12-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.
trrom Our Regular oOrrcsponden,.l

wAsHfNaToN, Dec. 10, 1888.
The opening OF Congress this year
brought to Washington an unusually large
crowd. AT the Capitol on Monday, when
the two Houses assembled there was rush
az is only seen on rare occasions. All the
galleries and available spaces In and |
around the House aide were filled TO over.
flowing with an eager, pushing, scramb-
ling mass Of humanity. Upon the floor
below was an animated scene. The new
npholptering of the desks OF Members, the
bright colors OF the carpetng OF the cham
ber, and the baskets OF flowers which were
distributed here and there throughout the
hall, served to enliven the scene, while on
the other floor, political feelings being laid
aside for the time, friendly greetings and
merry conversation were the order of the
day. Now and then prediction might be
heard AZ to the result OF the battle In 1884,
aud few speculstions were INDUCED in as
o the probable chnirmanships ofthe more
important committees of the House, but
aside from this the conversations were of
a social and non political character. Flo
|
ladie. -ent to the Speakers desk for Mr..
Carlisle an original and unique design in
flowers aud painted satin, which attracted
much attention. II ia u gavel in the shape
OF n George Washington hatchet which
rests upon the mossy stump OF u tree in
suchwise as to leave both si es of blade
and handle entirely exposed. One side is
of exquisite flowers aud the other OF satin,
finely painted in oils by an artist of talent,
who originated the design for the decura-
tion, the inscription being composed by
one OF the donors Through the center of
the blade appears in illuminated letters, in
old English text, on white satik-
MAY eye be keen as blade of ha,ohct,
When worthy Members rise to catch 1t,
And rulings true ne steel to match 1t,
All lawful business to dispatch It,"
There are varying views as TO The auspi-
ces under which the Democrats return te
the control OF the lower House and as to
the practical result of the stand taken by
them in the selection of Carlisle for Speak.
er, but the preponderance of opinion seems
to be that they have started we'll. 1t il a
: new departure and the announcement of a
positive policy and the effects of ii upon
the prospects OF the party can only be told
after trial. All the utterances of the new
Speaker are reassnring. He enters upon
the discharge OF his duties absolutely un
Q trammeled with pledges of any sort and
will have no personal favors or grudges to
pay off in the organization of the commit
tees. Mr.. Randall no doubt will take his
9 old place u: the head of appropriations
e But speculation rs to the makeup would
e be Idle, Among the things said about
3 town now l hear that Don Cameron is no,
! to return to his seat IN the Senate, and or
: the other hand, that he Is lying low and
j. playing a shrewd game for reelection
: You can take your choice Also, tha,
e Blaine is not yet ont of politics; that Gran
= will shortly loom up again for President
u that Sabin. OF Minnesota, is the handsom
It est OF the new Senators, and Cullom, of Ii
4. linois, the homeliest that the table II
!, Willards is superior to anything ever seel
= in Washington that Sam Randall is 20
!. ing to have boom tor the Democrats
>. nomination for President, and that MI
h Hsuon will shortly leave the PostofIic
f department.
! The Minnesota pine land frannds ar
ss again attracting attention. Commissions
at Mcfarland has been making efforts t
o ferret ont these frauds and have them stor
i ped, and for nearly two years ex-Goyerno
of Marshall, of that State, has been acting q
c. special agent under the direction of Il,
N Com missioner, and his official report m = ke
D. rather interesting reading. Some time ag,
, when the exposures first began, the Ian
r. office at Duluth was cleaned ont and ne
i agents appointed, but now the old ring
making desperate efforts to get in apai
by having Il. c. Mitchell appointed r,
ceiver. In his official report 10 the Lam
Othce, Governor Marshall says: "The lac
l. Of permanent civil service based on mer
to left these offices open as the reward of ne
- son ] services to the man who happened
he Member of Congress. A person W,
&C. nominated and appointed Receiver of Il
to Dnln'h land office as the reward of par
es and personal services who. as the editor
,v leading newspaper had been the org
- and apologist of the men engaged in lar
nd frauds, and who had constantly beliul,
cd and Encouraged all efforts of the Cover,
ment to reform these abuses I had ey
N, uence That he was engaged in and proiiI
~ by these frauds, both recently and remot
in ly. The evidence of his connection vii
Ike others in yet nnaccomplished schemes
or defraud the Government of all the valuab
., timber in one township, estimated to
ai worth ST5,0OO. was so convincing both
!" the United States district attorney a,
W, myself that we caused his arrest with ot
Nv els. His associates were indicted, but lar
-. personal and political influence, with sn
other means as are too often suecessf,
~ enabled him to escape the penalties of law
Va This report is from one of the most resp,
y; ted of the public men of Minnesota, and
- man who has saved the Government n
~ less than half million dollars by his G
of posure of the frauds prevailing in the Sta
But the ways of politicians are pecu /.
The appointment Of Mitchell was m,
early in July last his connection with I
m. land frands, suspected for long time, "
discovered few weeks after his appoil
RAJ ment; his arrest followed and his comm
tn sion was withheld. His escape from I
ex- clutches OF the law is described in Govern
ant Marshalls report, but still the comm ssi
is only held in abeyance. not Cancelled, a
~ Congressman Nelson says that lie inter
Ter to put the appointment through. If
was does the Republican party in Minnes,
M, will have AN additional load to carry, a
the Democratic party will have anoil
ia al, sI,ai.