South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-12-07
Lo,Je- from Washington.
From, Our Reguir- Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, ID. c.. Dec. 3.
1t is too late in the day 10 waste
many moro words on tia, contest for
Speaker. but we have had such warm
time over it during the last week that
there is difficulty in turning ones
thoughts IN any other direction, espe-
cialiy when there is little else going
on. Before this letter reaches u ma
jority of its readers, II will be known
throughout the country whether the
forty or fifty majority of Democrats
IN the house stood up squarely for
Democratic principles and elected IL
Democratic Speaker, or whether they
have been frightened by the ghost OF
somebody or something into naming
Que who is TO all intents and purposes
a Republican. 1t will in the end be
found to be a Question ONO little i'm
portance to the Democratic party.
The most ridiculous feature OF the
contest has been the candidacy OF
Springer, the 'springing Springer Of
Illinois, who had no more chance OF
election than our own Col. Pinchover,
and whose fitness for the position JUS,
about corresponds with his chances
Ills motives are pretty we'll under
stood here 10 be, first, trade in his
own interest and, second, jealous en-
nifty Of his colleague Col. VIM. 4. Nor
rison, infinitely his superior in brains
and influence, and one of the ablest
Democrats i'll Congress, who WAS the
manager of Mr.. Kerr's canvass for
Speaker of the 44th Congress and sub
sequenti, chairman Of the Ways and
Means Committee.
1t is announced that both Malone
and Riddleberger will go into the Re-
publican senatorial caucus, aud COM
plete change of all the officers OF that
body will be made unless hitch of
some sort occurs over the candidacy
Of certain asplrants. Mahone'a can :
dldate for secretary, Gorham, will not
be very cordially supported by num-
Der Of Senators, and there is some
doubt whether two or three may re-
fuse TO vote for him caucus or no cat
Gus. Still there is strong desire to
put all the democratic officers out
This rascalls the fact that when the
Democrats had majority of nine
in the Senate they appointed only 81
new employees OF them own political
faith, and kept thirty three OF those
appointed previously by the Repu BIZ
Gang, and that, with the exception of
the Secretary OF the Senate aud Chief
Clerk, the United salaries of the Re-
publican employees retained amounted
10 $4,000 more pr annum than those
OF the newly appointed Democrats.
Payson, of illinois, who has made
a good deal Of point for himself tig hit
ing the railroad companies claims 20
forfeited land grants, made tour of
inspection throughout the West this
summer. He made some interesting
discoveries about the relations be-
tween the Central and Southern Pa
cific Railroads. He says that the
management OF the two roads is prac-
tically identical. The directors oftha
Central Pacific have contracted 10
pay themselves as directors OF the
Southern Pacific Il rental largely In
excess OF tue receipts from the new
road. This taking money from one
pocket TO put into auothe, has one
advantage. 1t lessons the amount of
money the Central Pacific will be
called upon to pay under the Thur.
man act. He also found that the
directors Of the. Southern Pacific had
organized bridge companies along the
line and were charging themselves
such high rentals that the poor stock,
holders have pretty dim chance for
any dividends, 50 long as the present
condition OF things continues.
Between the work required to be
done by The rail: Dad, telegraph and
electric companies and the land grab
bers, tho lobby this winter must of
necessity be q most formidable one.
Thcle are scvera! measures OF vast
public concern which the people are
demanding that Congress shall legis.
late upon, aud they are measures that
conflict with the mouied interests of
the organized monopolies vino will
not only be ably bit humcrously re-
presented III the lobby. We will sec
IN the outcome whether the public i'm
these matters has got TO tie thrOttled
and kept throttled until it tires of
seeking redress at the hands OF Con-
gross
One Of the grossest stupiditics OF
all the Legislation on our postal affairs
is that which requires the post Office
IN which a letter is deposited with in.
sufficient postage, 70 open co!respon-
dence with the person to whom such
letter is addressed, informing him that
a letter awaits lis attention, ON which
there IS due postage TO the amount
generally OF Ole cent The Govern
nent forwards this missile TO the same
destination tba. the letter with in