Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1884-12-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The First Week--The New York
SenatOrship--T The Monument
Nearly Completed.

l
posed and it is difficult to find enough
proceedings to base an obituary on. An
immense number Of bills have been in
troduced and boundless lot Of talk in
dulged il, hut when that is said, there
is not much to tell. The committees,
however, are hard at;rork, and some Of
promise to e. it some bills be-
tore the holidays.
The House committee on post Offices
and post roads have a number of i'm
portant bills on their list, to which they
intend to ask the early attention of Con-
gress. Among these are the postal
telegraph bill; another which regulates
the mail contract system more carefully,
third which changes the basis Of com.
pensation to railroads for carrying the
mails, and fourth which deals with
the letter rate Of postage. All these
are matters of importance and should
get a hearing. 1t is to be doubted,
however, if the committee is wise in
putting the postal telegraph at the head
of their list, as this subject is one of
great difficulty and sure to excite pro-
tracted debate. They would do better
to follow the example of the shipping
and public lands on which there will be
little or no controversy.
The contest over the New York sen.
atorShip excites much interest here, and
the progress of tue fight is eagerly
watched. Hon. Frank IIiscock has left
his place in the House and gone to New
York in order te put himself in good
position for the Senatorial lightning to
strike him. l taw Hon. Stephen French
Of the Empire State, day or two ago
when he was in Washington with a
committee Of Republicans to confer
with President Arthur in regard to the
Senatorship. At first he refused to be
interviewed, but after moment he re-
considered and said "I don t mind say
ing that the President is willing to ac-
cept the Senatorship if it shall come to
him in the right way-as the practically
unanimous offer of the Republicans.
But he will not enter into any scramble,
and as for any Of his friends steering
him in the race or making a contest, he
will not permit anything of that kind.
| will say further that 1 believe when
the Republicans-the members of the
legislature, l mean-come to consider
the matter, they will see that the right
thing, the proper thing to do is to elect
President Arthur. | think any man
who studies the politics of New York al
present can see that. In my opinion,
it will become so apparent in the inter.
est OF the Republican party that the
President is the man for the place, that
his election will be practically unani.
nous. In that case he will accept.
You can say that"
Leaving Mr.. Arthur's personality out
the question, there are many considera-
tions Of public character that make
the election to the Senate of a man who
has served in Presidential Office desira-
BILE. No man acquires so extensive and
thorough knowledge of public affairs
as the President. He is brought in con.
tact with representative men from every
part of the country, and is made to un-
derstand the merits Of every matter oI
public concern. Through his Cabinet
he acquaints himself with the essential
principles and incidents OF our foreign
and domestic policy. and by personal
and confidential intercourse with diplo'
matists, politicians, and business mer
of every type he acquires fund of in
formation and familiarity with the de
tail of government which preeminently
qualify him for Legislative functions
1t has been proposed, on this account,
to admit eur ex Presidents to a seat ir
Congress. Such step might, perhaps
be a tho radical departure from the
principles Of the government, but it i:
a pity 10 lose the services of men Sc
1 peculiarly fitted for share in the coun
ellis Of the nation, and on that accoun
it is matter for congratulation when cir
cumstances permit their retention il
public life.