The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-12-20
WASHINGTON r T
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, d. c., !
Dec, II. 1888.

n usual delay IN Gettlng DOWN 10
to solid work in Congress seems in
evitable, and as soon as tlie complete
organization of both Houses is per-
fecied we shall probably have the
usual holiday recess, ending not much
before the second week in January.
1t cannot be said that these delays and
| adjonrnments are needless. The waste
| of time is only apparent, for it is alb
~solutely necessary in the organization
of a new Congress that the members
should have time 10 become acquaint-
ed with each other and with the duties
before them, and that the Speaker
should have ample time for delibera-
ton in the formation ofhiscommittees.
In a body of the mangitude and i'm
portance of the National House of
Representatives haste would be worse
than waste. 1t would cause disaster.
1t may perhaps, be contrary to the
spirit ofour institutions that Congress
is growing more and more into the
control of committees, but such is the
tendency. Originally, the committees
were intended TO facilitate and eXpe-
dite the business of the House. AS
matters have drifted, they monopo'ize
that business, from the date of its in
ception 10 completion. There is far
less freedom ofdebate, less expression
of popular opinion, i'll the House of
in the British House of Commons.
Debate on important measures is not
decisive, but the real work of legisla-
ton is performed in the secrecy of the
committee-room and the report of u
committee is generally conclusive
Without discussing the question
whether this condition of things
should be, there can be no g%ainsaying
the fact that it is, and there is no won
DIR that the election of q Speaker be-
comes n matter OF national concern.
and that when chosen he should con-
slider his gravest responsibility the
selection of the committees.
In addition TO the other business of
the House when it gets into fair work
ing order, it is pretty well understood
that two or three Interesting invesliya-
tions will be undertaken. The Attor-
ney-Gencral's office is quite certain TO
DC called upon to explain certain mat
tiers, including the methods relating
10 some political indictments in South
Carolina, and the settlement of the
Ottman case. Some very ''pecuiar"
instructions appear to have been given
10 special attorneys appointed To pros
ecuie the South Carolina cases, and
furthermore, the appointment, at Mr..
Arthur's request, of Hon. Richard
Crowley as such counsel was q viola
tion of law, he being q member of
Congress at the time and drawing
pay in both capaci' les. Then there is
the case of Mr.. George Bliss, who,
while acting as special counsel in the
Star-route case, at fabulous pay, gave
an opinion againstthe Government in
the Gilman case for which he received
from Ottman a fee of $1,000. 1t is
stated that Bliss requested 10 have the
case referred to him and then gave the
adverse opinion. The only expiana-
ton for alIowin this sort of thing is
that Bliss is an Old "chum" of "Chet"
Arthur. One subject of inquiry, | am
told, will be the charge that a certain
eminent lawyer was appointed 10 the
Supreme bench i'll pursuance offs bar
gain with certain capitalists and rail-
road magnates. II seems late in the
day to investigate this charge, but the
last Congress would not do it and a
member from the State most interest
ed says his people demand it. The
reputation of the Supreme Bench is at
stake SO long as the charge stands I'M
reiuted.
But one of the subjects of greatest
general importance likely to be dealt
with by this Congress is the lapsed
land grants of certain railway corpora
tons. There is some doubt about the
position of the Secretary ofthe Interi-
or on this question, and Congress
should certainly take the matter in
hand. 1t is not impossible that the
establishments of these companies
might be 100 much for the Secretary.
1t is even limited that they have cap
tured him already. and the circum-
stance that John j. ingalls, came to
his defense in the Senate the other
day, when Senator Hill, Of Colorado,
offered his resolution calling for GER
tain Information, did not help 10 allay
this suspicion. II Mr.. Teller intends
to do justice between the people and
those grasping corporations, he will
inspire greater confidence by keeping
out of the company of Ingalls,, whose
last election to the Senate was pur-
chased with Jay Gould's money. 1t
is no Impossible that the. companies
who want to gobble millions of acres
of land illegally may ever be able to
buy their way through Congress; but
whatever they may do in he Senate
doubt their ability TO capture the
Democratic House. 1t is a peoples
body this time, and means business.
Great contrariety of opinion is here
obtained in regard 10 the probable re-
suit ofthe approaching Senatorial con-
test in Ohio. Some seem to think
that the Civil Service bill has virtu-
ally killed its author, while others be-
licve that measure one of the elements
!, o: strength of Senator Pendleion. A
: prominent Ohio member, in answer
to your correspondents questions,
thus furcibly expressed himself:
Il believe not. The fight will not
, he Influenced by the House or"aniZa.
ton. and why the Civil Service bill
should i%njure Senator Pendieton |
cannot understand. That measure was
supported by n large majority of The
Democrats in The Forty-Scveuth Con.
gress. aud surely il contributed 10 lit.
tie to the success of the Democratic
, Legislative and State ticket last Octo.
Der. Had the filciiing and inqui>iloria
process of Hubbrll u Go. been served
on the Federal ofiice-holders, and had
a Dorsey put the money thus raised
t "where it would have done the mosl
good" in other words, had the Civil
Service law not prohibited such action
: it is not at all improbahle>that The Re,
puhlirans, and not the Democrats
would now be wran ling over lie seal
of PcndIctnn. L will go further, and
say had HubbeIli>m and Dorseyisn
, not been checked by some such law
the experiences in Inhi Ia in 1885,
would have been repeated until a o
J did, selfish. and INSCRIPTIONS pluto,
crazy had taken the place Of our Re.
publican form ofgovernment. Again
senator PpuIiptOu. having aCCeOiaDlS