The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-02-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
Feb. 4, 1884,

WASHINGTON, D. c.,
Feb. 4, 1884,
The action ofthe Senate in voting
each of its members a private secre-
tary will not be initiated by the
House, though many Members are
strongly in favor of it. 1t is a ques-
ton with two sides, like sill others,
and there are some reasons why many
of the prominent Congressman ought
to have this assistance, even at pub
lie expense, for it is the public, peo-
pie in every part of the country, who
impose the greatest burden upon
them, by writing letters to them oa
all sorts of subjects and making all
sorts of requests. Still there are
perhaps a majority of members OF
the lower house who have very little
to do, or, at least, who do very little.
The leading men who have so much
correspondence are usually rich
enough to hire their own clerks. l
think Ben Butler used to hire SIX
clerks when he was in Congress and
kept them all busy, but he could af
ford it. But in most cases the only
benefit of this would be to
make so many more places for sons
and nephews. The fellows who are
looking for reelection this year dare
not vote for it. A Southern mem
Der who has received only ten letters
from his constituents since the holt
days, except personal letters and
those concerning private business,
said Yesterday: "What would most
of these Congressman have to do if
they had clerks to answer their let
tiers? They would be ABSOLUTELY idle,
and 1 expect that idleness would
lead to immortality. It's better to
keep them busy running around after
seeds and census reports"
Some Of the demands made by let
ter upon Congressman are prepos-
ferrous, and some of them are funny.
Some men want all the seeds there
are to be given away, others want all
the books, and others want both
books and seeds. One member re-
Gently received a letter from a con
stituent, page after page of which
was filed with names of the different
} kinds of seeds that he wanted. Al
times the writer seemed at a loss to
know just how many varieties there
were of some particular vegetable
and then he added, "as many kinds
as you've got" He wanted pink
eyed potatoes, yams, melons
squashes, corn, wheat, flower seeds
everything. His order would have
filled a railroad freight car. His let
ter closed in this fashion: Snow
don't you do with me as you did will
, old man johnson. You only sen
, him five packages. 1 want 'em ALL
There is little that is new in Con
gress this week. The Springer in
5 vestigation is progressing slowly, ant
!, the Fitz John Porter bill will hav
. passed the House by the time thi
letter is in print. Concerning tn
latter, Porter's friends have produces
' at the last moment letters from Gen
Garfield and other notable evidence
s and it does not seem possible tina
either branch Of Congress a longe
refuse justice to q much-injure
man. Elk Senator Dorsey has com
on here of his own accord to testif
before Mr.. Springcr's committe
concerning the star route trial. NJ
Il Dorsey knows something about thi
:: trial. He was present all the TIM
e 1t is thought that he has some hop
s of getting even with the kttorne
4 General. But just why Dorsey shoul
: bear any enmity to the ~prosecutio
l. of this case it is dificult to under
c stand; for most people think he an
Brady owe their liberty to the fault
Y management of the case agains
n them. If these men don't apprecia'
1t the efforts of Bliss and others to Il
is them out of a bad scrape, they are
.e set of ungrateful cusses.
IS Chief Charles and a delegation
s Flat head Indians have been hel
J. several day in conference with tt
Secretary of the Interior %concernin
lie the proposition to remove the Fla
1t heads 10Y in the Bitter Root Vale
IS to the Jocko reservation in Montan
The Indians are the widest lookir
L. tribes of all the delegation seen lat
lie ly. Secretary Teller has sought
convince Charles that the propose
chsnge was for the best interests
the Indians, as they were at presel
G. brought into contact with white Sc
TX tiers, and suffered thereby. He to
70 Charles that the lands in the Joel
6, reservation intended for the use
his tribe would be sold unless the
y were occupied, and the Indian
a would find themselves homeless.
&c house on the reservation and an a
nuity of $500 were promised to hin
= and other tempting offers made, b.
= the old chief maintained a stubbol
vs. silence, and when the Secretary offe
ed him a paper, he refused it wit
to an angry gesture. He was advise
i, to think over the matter and to cs
. --.. ~ D.