New-York tribune., 1883-03-18

no ond Mr. Nerrick and Colonel Bliss would be en-
cocel in a real DEBATE Even then the tenor OF his
rcr,ol., 81 ould he what Of it," the design being 10
show that the prosecution were entirely too sus'
picous Of tho routine transactions of the P0st-Oince
Denartment. His examination mas illustrator tne
technical difficulty of the prose utiono case whlch
has been apparent from tie hrst-that oil cealIhs
with an executive officer for acts III when inc i""
gave HIM discretion. Colonel Bliss could hardy
ask him to explain anv action that Brady could n"I
tu1n 10 the papers and show that some Congressman
had asked him to do It; or if Inc did more than some
Congressman had asked, " was probably no more
than some other Congressman had asked lie ie'
the impression that there was feeling oi warm
friendship toward Congressman in the Department.
ana that all good fellows including CONTRACTORS
were treated literally. If it WAS shown thlt IN DIS
allowances to contractors he had exceeded the
recommendations of postmasters and all the oiilci
Information which should have guided aim, why he
couldn't remember anything about It, great
many papers were brought to him by the clerks
which he signed pro formG. No doubt there was a
GOOD reason but lie had forgotten 1t, etc.. etc but
this will not avail If tine jury decide that tue evil
dsnce Of corruption in those orders as gwen by
RerdelI is sufficiently strong. Dorsey has no DacK-
ground of official discretion TO fall back npoD'
and his position Is rather critical one 20 I"ht as
both he and Brady stayed OIL the stana thcy sup
ported each other ia that course. Now however
Brady has recognized the increased gravity oil the
situation rs compared with the last tral by gong
on the stand and Tor Dorsey 10 remain oil Will DC
mnch more conspicuous omission than it was before.
Mr. Davidge, one of Dorsey's counsel. when asked
the OF her day II Dorsey would testify simply made
the diplomatic answer, 81 cannot say Dorsey Is
worse oil than Brady in having to confront a good
many ugly questions rs TO Rerdell, charges against
him of numerous forgeries, etc, and also hs To his
requests shown by his own letters while Senator TO
postinasters to swear falsely.
Senator Mitchell is being attacked in good many
newspapers and lIkenel TO Speaker kelfer because
lie changed the clerk and assistant clerk oil his
committee Just before adjournment. and appointed
his young sou messenger. The cases arc by no
means parallel. They might have been more nearly
50 if Senator Mitcheirs term was Just expiring aud
the committee clerkshlps were not always regarded
as personal appointments But he has four years
still to serve, during ali of which time probably he
will be the chairman of the Committee on Pensions
At the request of Secretary Teller who had been
chairman up 20 the time he left the Senate, Mr..
Mitchell retained Mr.. Tcller's clerk suntil the
close of the session, Senator Plat, who
acted as chairman for time having done
the same. The committee clerk acts as the
private secretary of the chairman, and Is ap-
pointed with that view. as the chairman has TO
carry on the correspondence and do much OF the
work of the committee These appointments are
almost alw avs personal appointments and naturally
so Inder the circumstances the Senator MAS there
fore unusually deliberate in IL matter. III his APP
puiatmcnt OF his son as messenger Is open 10 crtl-
cism, II is less than many senators have done III
making their sons aud nephcws clerks Of their COM
mittces This more common among the Demo
Gratis when they had the organization than it has
been o. late years among the Republicans. seven
committee chairmen in tho senate hal their sons as
CLERKS dunn the past session. these senators are
Voorhees, Malone. Harris COng'r, Johnston. Saun-
dcrs and Lapham In the House CongGessmen
Joyce. Orfh. Van Vooshis and llouk bad near
relatives III committee c!cFk-hips Tho clerks
whom Senator Mitchell has appointed arc
said not TO he related To him. Even If they
had been. their appointment seeing that
they will probably bold their places for four
years TO come. would have been very different
from tie act OF Tho Speaker in using the last mo-
ments of his Official lie IN thrust,ag relative into
a place for which pu-,!y personal appointments
w.re unknown before General Keller bocamo
Speaker.
one Of tho o :h.n-s happened at tho National
Theatr. the h.r nigh; y cl nps- newspapers are
=
20 10 about. 1t during IN last act 81 Mother
ami son, and Janau,chek, VITA ons other person.
was holding in, stage. 1t was a situation Of some
suspense anl the house WAS perfectly still.
There was pause, to-. IN the dialogue,
Sd that on the sage a.so there happened 20 he
complete IT lncss JUS at that moment man III
the paquctte blew hs nose u was not violent,
savage blast. but u lOnE sOnprJls luxurious row.
.uch a., the horns tia; marched around jericho
A.g'it have given on the seventh round, IN tie
,cIca. confidence that the walls would come Iowa
promptly. lhs effect was iIres ,tiuly luulcrOus.
The au Iclcc, Ia th IT respect Tor tho actors and
their interest III the play, struggled bTayry T. pr'-
serve a good dcmcan0g, bat IL was OF no use wave
OF fhllf-,upprc-sed laughter ran over the house and
many vino succeeded in keeping silence
fairly shook. On the sage the situation
was sull worse Even Janau,rleNs
tragic gravity was disturbed. Hex face t.tchcd
again and again IA the cGort control herself and
she was Glad 10 use the handkerchief she Iucoi.y
had III her hand 10 cover her confusion. Fora
moment ii lrokcd rs IL an emotional scene would b.
dissolved in a broad lau2h. but the ACTORS struggled
on with the dialosu, ani after lew inmates the
play ic.um,d is hold on the audience. For the
man. or rather the hos. lt was successful debut.
There .s said to be project foot 10 build
new theatre here. Wa.hiu ton IS not C'usidcrod
Tor some reason Il very prottabl. town foI heat
ric.l companies to VISIT probably for thr reason
that daring the session There ~ much ooing or IN
soric;y and 81 cwhrrc 10 draw people off That the
a. res do not capture a fair share ot the visitors,
willie during the recess the hotl,a'e comparatively
empty, and one or t.go are even shut. Perhaps one
reason IL also that both the existing theatres are 50
anat.ractiyc IN their appointments. Perhaps the
project Will take the form of long opera season.
The wealthy and cultivated people, SO many Of
whom are coming to Washington every year now
as winter home say that all that ls needed 70 make
1t perfect is moro attractive theatrical and
opcratIc entertainments, and there has been
talk of inducing Mr., Mapleson TO
lengthcn his season next year to two weeks at least
The Boston Ideal Troupe stayed that time AID drew
packed houses every night. Some sangune per-
sons INDULGE in the dream that at some day not