New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-06
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
THE MAN WHO MAY LEAD THE sENATE-
SPRINGER AND THE STONE.


tFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSB.1
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-The President greatly
weakened his party IN the Senate when he made
Bayard Garland and Lamar members of his Cabinet
There Is not single Senator the Democratic side
left now who could cope with one of those men In
ability, experience intellect. Though it seems prob
able that Harris of Tennessee will receive the empty
honor of nomination for Presidency of the Senate at
the hands of his colleagues that fact will not make
HIM any the leader OF the minority Harris Ii
little, shriveile iup old gentleman, whose knowledge
OF the rules and par amentary precedents is exceeded
only by his fondness for laying down the law. He
does this whenever he can. With one hand In his
trousers pocket the other extended in the direction OF
the Chair he delivers himself OF his views in piping
voice which at once attracts attention Ii the decision
Is against him he sits down with air if he would
sayi So much the worse for you" He rarely takes
part in general debate There are few subjects appar
emily which interest him. Etiquette and precedent
his only hobby. A email In every way, should
say little fitted to lead a minority and especially Q
weak one.
The real leader will be Beck, of Kentucky. He Is
man full of but not ready debater; his
speeches gain when read in print In delivery Beck
Is sngulary awkward. His heavy, muscular body
sways to and fro. while his arms. from the elbow
down. keep up pump handle movement W hich makes
in an exercise to aid digestion rather than enforce
argr ment. Beck a we'll informed man his mind is
perfect stoIehouse of figures and facts If he cannot
always them to advantage in debate it is because
be is slow to perceive point and unable to recognize
in an instant the salient features Of opponents
argument. He must have time 70 prepare himself.
When he is primed however, he goes off at rate
which takes his friends breath away. Nothing will
stop him them
He Is quick-tempered, some what narrow minded but
not unjust The sinking fund used to be his bete
noir The management Of the Treasury under Repubi-
can Administrations remains, believe, mystery to
him TO the present day. On both subjects he has eA
pended an amount of labor truly astonishing, as tho
pages of the Congressional Record" can testify.
He Is a useful and hard working member of the
Appropriations Committee and like all members be-
longing to that committee, is intensely jealous Of its
prcrogatives.
Though born in Scotland, Beck has become q
thorough Kentuckian. Horses and whiskey-but III
confne myself to the former-he loves. When there
are races at Ivy City there is nothing that will keep
Beck in the Senate Chan Der. OF he trOts, fifteen
minutes before train time, sinking fund sinking
fund Not even the discussion of bottle of the real
and genuine mountain dew which Pendeton used to
keep in his committee-rOom to brace up weak and
thirsty Democratic brethren would induce Beck TO
tarry minute.
Mr. Brown. of Maine the chairman of the Demo-
cratic State Committee, has been here for time
actively canvassng the departments TO find places tor
his friends at home. He eminently successful IN
this-so successful in fact shat he aroused the Jealousy
OF less fortunate Democratic statesmen. He got more
fourth postmasters appointed than Congress-
man In the Treasury too, he put in some very good
work.
For n time all went well But few days ago it
discovered that he had been in the habit OF sending TO
the MN for whom he had secured places pretended
! h.,-n Il l4ft n
nav him for his services. here is a letter sent to
number of Democratic officials recently appointed:
WAsHfNGioN ID. c., - 1855.
DEAR SIR: have ired your appointment post
master at your place. lonr papers Will oe sent In
dav or two. Ii YOU feel like sending small sum to
help lc.ray the expenses of attending to our Maine
matters. You may do so. 80
! Ny mail comes to the above address. Respectfully
| yours, D. 8 BROWN.
The Office brokerage business carried By this
enterpring specimen of the Maine Democracy is likely
to come 10 an untimely end. Assistont Postmaster
General Stephenson has got on MI. Brown tracks.
and few of his letters have been handed TO the heads
of dCpl rtmcnts who will be more careful perhaps,
hereafter when they listen to the Establishments of Mr.
| Brown OF Maine.
Romeis the new member from the Toledo Ohio Dis
trct. i about ityhve years OF age. lie looks
unlike Speaker Keter though his cast OF teat-
Congress lie tells mat he will be the first German
born citizen elected TO Congress from Ohio. Kettle,
though OF German descent, born in this country.
Mr.. komeis Is native OF Bavaria aud came to tins
country ut the age OF eleven His family settled in
Buffalo, and he went from there 10 Toledo, ana mas
lived in that city whose Mayor he was Tor three terms,
these thirty years His victory Frank Hurd has
already given HIM something OF National reputation.
While nobody will blame Treasurer Jordan for
dcavorng protect the Government from the acts OF
dishonest employees il seems strange that he should
hit upon the plan least calculated to accomplish
this For time be has caused the Sub Treasures
in different parts OF the country to send as much OF the
coin Us he thought was proper TO the vaults here,
which under his direct care. The shipment OF
/ silver dollars from New-Oreans by men-o war last
summer was OF ly beginning Of this policy le
looked very much # Mr.. Jordan thought he was tho
only honest LETT TO take OF the Governments
money so anxious did he seem to stow all the silver
and gold he could lay his hands on IN W Washington
And vet all of the Assistant Ireasurers are under
heavy bonds in fact very much heavier than that MED
! bv Mr. JORDAN himself In Baltimore, the Assistant
Treasurer furnishes bond of $3.50 900: in Philadel-
| phia s2l0000: in ST. Louis. 100000; In Boston,
Cincinnati Chicago. $3.50, 900 each in New-Orleans,
s3OOO0O in York. 100000, and 10 San Fran
cisco, $500. 900. The bond required of Mr. Jordan,
who has the control or aud responsible for many
times tue amount total handled by all the Assistant
Trcasurcrs together, is only 100000:
am told of n ludcrous incident which occurred on
the ressiUna tram returning from Indianapolis the
other day While passing in the neigho0rhood Oh Dun
cannon, Penn stone was thrown at II by some un-
known hand, SCATTERING the window at which Coz
gresham Springer sitting. Springer tried hard to
look cool bit after making sure that there was no
real danger freely expressed the opinion that that
stone was intended for hiu He felt of it, in fact.
lie was for backing up the train at once and getting
the stone which had fallen on the track. The Illinois
statesman could scarcely believe, a. was suggested.
that the stone might have been intended by he wretch
who threw it for the President and that he ut.
Springer had been mistaken FOR Mr.. Cleveland ms
latter proposition the gallant Springer Is SAID 10 nave
considered a rather left handed conn Gment. lie did
not compose himself until his colleague, Iownshend,
passtd through the car looking as II he wonld nave
given thousand dollars to have sat at that window
When the hit it, instead OF his lucky friend
Springer.
THE NEW COMMANDER IN LNDI4.