The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-04-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
[Brom our Regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, ID. T., AplIl III, 1884
The debate in the Senate the other day
upon the bill to increase the salaries Of
the Federal Judge in the district courts 20
$4,000, evoked some very entertaining
statements from Senators who opposed
the bill. touching the nepotism that had
characterized the management Of these
courts, both North and South during the
last twenty years. MIR. Coke, of Texas,
declared that for a score of years there
had not been judge of the United States
court in his State, whose nepotism in Sc
curing the appointment of relatives to
places in and about the courts had not
become matter of public scandal And
what Mr.. Coke says of Texas is cqualled
if not surpassed in many other States
conspicuous among which is that immac
ulate old Commonwealth of Massachus-
etts, where the memory of man runneth
not back to the time when Peleg Sprague
was not judge of the United States district
court, and his brother clerk of the same
court for don't know how many years
There was Blodgett, of Chicago, who
came within an ace of being impeached a
few years ago, who had more relatives
than Enoch hat who Contriyed to find
places for about all of them at the Gov
eminent feeG-trough Going back furth
er, we discover that old Judge Nelson,
afterwards on the Supreme Bench of the
United States, had his son for clerk in
his court in the Northern District of New
York, and that son, by the way, is the
judge of the United States district court
for Minnesota, and one of the best Judges
on the Federal bench. And there was
Judge Hanna, of Indiana, who managed
to take care of his son and brother, and |
don't know how many other relatives, but
| do know that the instances were rare
when the name of Hanna was not attach
ed to about every document emanating
from the court, whether as Judge, clerk,
commissioner, or otherwise. And so it
has gone on all through the gamut of
States and Territories from time immem-
orial until now Congress has set its foot
down upon it with an emphasis that will
ing the appointment of any relative near
er than first cousin, high crime and mis-
edemeanOr, for which the Judge is subject
to impeachment.
The Blair educational bill, which is a
sort of stepping stone to the paternalistic
form of government that we are drifting
to, will pass the Senate in its original
shape, all important amendments having
been voted down. The aggregate amonnt
provided for distribution to the States
under the bill is $105 100000, the appor-
tionment being made pro rata as the last
census shows the illiteracy in the several
States Thus while Iowa will get but a
small dose of the governmental prescrip-
tion-she and Kansas showing only a
little more than two per cent of popula-
ton who can neither read or write-Geor-
gia and North Carolina will get an an
tidote for their sixty eight per cent of
illiteracy which, with the gigantic per
centage in other of the Southern and
southwestern States will swallow up at
least sixty per cent of the whole amount
Yet the table upon which this legislation
is predicated is far from being correct
because the per centage of illiteracy is
calculated upon those above and below
school age, taking no account of those
who have emerged from school age since
the census was taken. After all the fuss in
the Senate over the bill, however, it is by
no means likely that the House will con
cur IN it without putting load of amend
ments to it that the Seuate will not ap
prove.
In the prodigious growth Of snobbery
here at the capital, We are prepared to
believe most anything that is simply
ridiculous from society standpoint, but
there are some solid facts about some of
our public men, who are trying to ape
some of the phases of royalty, and all of
the follies of foreign aristocracy, that
the people of this democratic government
should know about. The Attorney Gen
era! Of the United States who likewise
parts his name in the middle, has recently
affixed his coat of arms upon his official
portfolio at the department over which he
presldes, so that all who have any bust
ness with him are Instantly reminded of
the importance that attaches to this great
man and his office. 1t was bad enough in
all conscience to see the old fellow riding
around in his carriage with his coat Of
arms upon the door panel, but this carry
ing his disgusting insignia of would-bt
royalty into his official intercourse will
the people of Republic like ours, is JUS
such proceeding as would warrant tht
President in a demand for his resignation
1t is carrying snobbery and todyism alto
gether too far. And besides Mr. B. Har
ris Brewster, we have another official, s
Senator, vino is trying to get a grip upor
royalty by claiming to be scion of the
Plantagenets, and who is ransacking the
records of all creation to establish hi:
claim. And this is the grandson of old
Tippecanoe, tool What are we coming
to? Dom PEDRO.