New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1884-01-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. G.. Jan. 4, 1884

WASHINGTON, D. g. Jan. 4, 1884.
As Speaker Carlisle did not an
nounce the House committees until
the day Congress adjourned for the
holiday vacation, an interchange Of
opinions concerning them by mem
bers was, at the time, prevented.
Comment and criticisms have been
lengthily drawn out during the
week, however, and the arrange.
ment of the lists has heen the chief
topic Of conversation in political
circles during Christmas festivities.
Il was a difficult duty to distribute
three hundred and twenty two
members among fifty two commit
tees; to place every man to the best
advantage, and for the most eff.
Gent work; to satisfy the demands
of great interests and great princ,.
pies; to eliminate from the mind all
desire of rewarding friends or pun
ishing enimies; in short to shape the
current of legislation is most i'm
portant questions. What is the
result? The south predominates in
the committees. The south dom.
mates the Democratic party, and
Democratic ascendancy, means
southern dictatlon. Mr.. Carlisle
has obeyed Democratic traditions.
The ma ority in the House think it
Was very fair deal, of course, and
that the Republicans ought to be
happy that they were not ignored
all together. The sole sentiment of
the party seems to be that rebels
are righteous, and ought to be
sympathized with, and rewarded for
their troubles. They point to the
fact that Mr.. Carlisle generously
refrained from appointing to the
Craftsmanship Of the committee on
Invalid Pensions, any one except
an ex.union soldier. Also to the
fact that there were several eligible
southern members who would have
been willing to act as chairman,
and yet Mr.. Carlisle sacrificed these
friends in order to appoint northern
men to the places. So, do not for
get that the north and the union
soldier were recognized without
protest from ex-confedrates in Con-
gress. I presume we have much to
be grateful for. Whether Mr.. Car.
Isle has done much or little that is
we'll in the formation Of the COM
mittees, the Democratic party is
only waiting an opportunity to
make known to the country its
thorough incapacity for good works.
1t will succeed in this before the
close of the first session of the forty
eighth Congress. Its lack of prin.
c'ple will be brought to light again
next week when the Ways, and
Means committee is called upon to
assume the responsibilities of tariff
legislation Though the Presiden.
tial aspirants Of this committee have
assumed to believe in Free Trade,
neither Mr.. Morrison or Mr.. Hewitt
will imperil his chances for nomi-
nation or election by opposing the
business interests of the country.
When Congress re:convenes next
week the real worn Of the session
will begin. An immense accumu.
lation of work awaits both Hous s.,
aud every body is anxious to see
what will be done with the tariff
with the currency, with the Navy,
with the railroads, with the rivers,
and harbors, with education, and 80
on down to ventilation and acoustics
or the Hall, where the necessity OF
reform impresses itself most torcl.
bly, upon the sovereign people in the
galleries. It must not be forgot
ten however, that President max
ing will have serious attention, even
if the important interests are neg
lected.
Christmas Charity has been a
prominent feature Of the week at
the Capital. In the various Or.
phan Asylums, the Old Soldiers
Home, St. EI,zabeth's Asylum for
the Insane, the Industrial schools,
and similar institutions, rich
Christmas DINNERS were served.
Every quarter Of the city was the
scene of aD enterprise for gladden..
ing the hearts of les miserab les.
Through the Christmas Club, two
thousand poor children were filled
with turkey, cakes, and candies,
and made happy with Kris Kringles
from beautiful Christmas trees, the
like Of which their bewildered eyes
had never before seen. Ragged
urchins, to whom the merry season
has been known heretofore only &c
emphasize their sepse Of restitution,
have gone to their squalid little
homes laden with toys. The un-
,lertaking was in every way sue.
cessful, and the experience was
scarcely less edifyipg to those who
gave than to those who received.