The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-06-21
Washington Letter.
Icorrcspondence of the Democratic Advocate J

WASHINGTON, D. c., June, 10Th, 1884.
IfCongress should adjourn on the last day
of this month, as the House of Representatives
has signiied desire to do, only eight more
working days would remain of the present
session. But the record of the last week
does not indicate an early adjournment In
view of the immense amount of business that
remains to be transacted, the thought of an
early departure is out of the question. I'm
portant measures were advanced very little in
either House. The Senate cannot get along
with the Mexican pension bill. After spend.
ing three days debate upon it in open session,
and two days in secret session, the Republican
side of the chamber making campaign speech
es on amendments which they proposed, they
then went into caucus, and tried to get plank
or two of the Chicago platform into it. Of
course their aim is to defeat the bill, but they
would have it appear that they are so very
friendly to the soldiers of the late war that
they cannot support it unless it is so amended
as TO include all ex-union soldiers in its bene-
fcent provisions. Senator Salisbury does
not approve of the measure as whole, but
from far different standpoint. One objec-
ton urged by him was that itproposes to pen
sion men who are holding seats in the two
Houses of Congress with the money wrung
from the poor toiler. as taxes. The Senator
from Delaware does not speak often, but he
talks very plainly when once melted. He in
formed his associates that they hattered them
selves that they were great men, Senators of
the United States who made laws for the peo-
pie ; but behind them was another power
greater than themselves that controlled their
action if not their Judgment. He alluded to
the pension agents who sit around the Capitol
and issue their circulars and DEGREES and
send up petitions for pensions. The great and
mighty statesmen bowed to these behests for
fear of losing political status at home. He
thought if Senators were not human beings,
controlled by motives of self interest," and if
the soldiers had no votes, there would be no
such bills pending before the National Legis-
lature. He respected as much as any man
the claims of the war marked veteran, but
did not approve of squandering money, which
people who were suffering for the necessares
of life paid into the public Treasury, to pen
sion able bodied men. He said he knew the
man who ventures opposition to any bill that
proposes to pension anybody, takes the risk
of being censured and denounced for it. He
was willing to take each mans censure and
reserve his judgment. He wanted a consis-
tent record and would vote for the reduction
of taxation whenever he could, but would moi
vote to increase the expenses of the Govern
ment and thereby keep up taxes.
The Senate added $500, to the House
Consular and Diplomatic bill, thus protrac-
ting the session with another dead lock con-
test 1t has also debated Claim of Georgia for
money expended by that State for the com,
mon defense of 1777, but the Republican
Senators are not willing to do justice of any
kind to Southern State. Senator Morgan
in advocating the claim, said they ought to be
able to consider this question aside from all
"reminiscences of the war, and as lawyers, as
construers and expounders ofthe Constitution,
say that this debt is, or is not legal. "Can
| the Senate of the United States,' asked he,
twenty years after the war, permit itself to
be influenced by acrimonious feeling so as to
blind its judgment upon pure, dry question
of law ?''
The necessity for dislodging from power a
party which, according to no less an authority
than the late Chairman of the Republican
National Committee, has long outlived and
abused its mission, is imperative. And the
Democratic party seems to be in the face Of
an opportunity, which it cannot be doubted il
will use wisely.
Now that Mr. Tilden's noble document of
declination has simplifed the situation by
removing all doubts as to his position, greater
activity will be shown in pushing the various
candidates and in scrutinizing the merits
of possible ones.
1t is not generally known that money was
freely used at the recent Chicago convention.
nor that Blaine was in constant communities
ton, by means of cypher kilograms, with his
managing friends there. When he left Wash
ington on Tuesday morning before the nomi-
nation, he only decided at the railway station
to turn Northward, when cypher telegram
from Chicago was placed in his hands telling
him to go.