Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-29
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
RETURNING CoNGREssHEv,


Aliekcd Ncpotsm.
From our Regular corresponden,.1
WASHINGTON, December 2S. Some
OF the congressman who went to their
homes when Congress adjourned for the
holidays have returned already. and.
with those who did not GO awav tbev
make up goodly number of Demo-
Gratis now in the city. A good deal Of
Oheasiness is manifested about commit.
tee assignments because members have
been unable, except in rare instances
10 OBTAIN from the Speaker any init
nation Of what he intends 70
do with them. lie has been
proVokingly secretive, they say. and
VIII give no sign of his intentions he.
You'd sa9 ing that he will do the best he
can for them.
RUSH FOR PLACES.
There is rush for places upon the
committees to which appropriation
bills have been assigned, because Of
The impression that those committees
VIII have great power and give promi
hence to members who compose them.
The new arrangement will at least
give the Speaker chance to
award choice places to forty
OF more congressman who would
otherwise have been obliged to take
baok-seatS, and it opens the way for
deserved promotions to chalrmanships
OF minor committees for a number of
members who have been actiye'members
OF Congress for several years, and use
iui to the party, without having received
ohairmsnships. But it is plain that
there will be many disappointed men
for, aside from the riyalries for chair
manships and choice places, not few
estimate their own qualifications
and deserts beyond the consideration
that they are likely to receive, even if
circumstances were more favorable.
The ambitious ones manage to let the
Speaker know, through his most init
mate friends, just what places they think
they would fit. Besides the chairman.
SHIPS, the assignments most desired are
places on the Appropriation Commit
tees. Ways and Means, Rivers and Har-
borS. Judiciary, and Public Lands.
RIVERS AND HARBORS.
The River and Harbor Committee is
regarded as specially desirable by men
who have in their districts WATERWAYS
that need opening up or improvement,
because The man who gets a place on
that committee seldom fails to get a
liberal allowance for his State. or. at any
rate, for his district.
Michigan people here say the Demo-
cratic party in that State ha, the dis
couragIDg prospect Of going to pieces on
account Of the dissenSiOnS growing out
Of appointments made by the President
upon the advice Of Don Dickinson, the
Michigan member OF The Democratic
National Committee. He has dictated,
they alice, every appointment made
~ that state under the presen. Adj
ninistrai0n, in defiance Of the
Michigan Democratic congres men, and
open war Is raging. The delegation is
attacking The character Of the Dlcken-
son appointeeS, and they vow tney will
defeat DickenSOD's aspirations to be
United States senator. They say there
Is good chance TO elect a Democratic
Legislature next time, but that they
would prefer to let the Republicans re-
tain control of the State rather than
permit Dickinson TO 60 to the Senate,
GROWING.
On all sides me hears among Demo-
cats growing about the course of the
Administration in respect TO civil SER
VICE and silver questions and appoint
ments. The retention Of Republicans
who are known to be bitter partisans
and active party men is most frequently
assigned as the cause Of discomfort.
More conservative politicians admit that
things are not going on as they should
OF as they had a right to expect under
a democratic Administration, bat they
predict that everything viii be lovely
after while.
Republican senator's are certainly
exercising much influence upon appoint
ments. Two instances occur to me at
this moment. When the term Of
Joseph I. Mason, of Virginia, as consul
ut Dresden expired, Senator Don
Cameron had him reappointed. Sena-
tor Morrill,, Of Vermont, had :. f.
Chamberlain restored to the public SER
vice as an Inspector of customs after he
had been removed from position as q
special agent Of the Treasury. Ii Is
said tina. this last appointment. how
ever. was very unsatisfactory to Senator
Malone. who tried to get him out OF
Office at one time because he did not
bend TO his dictation. Chamberlain at
one time resided at Culpeper.
NEPOTIsM.
Members of the House bitterly de-
nounce the nepotiSm pFacticed by the
senator's who have influence with the
Administration. and the facts certainly
afford ground ijr complaint. More is
likely to be heard about this abuse be-
fore this Congress ends.
II is no new thing for senators be-
longing to the party IN opposition 10
The Administration TO receive favor IN
tie way OF appointments. Appoint
rbents made al the solicitation OF Demo-
cratic senators were frequent under Re
publican administrations since Grants
time. and usually the appointees were
relatives OF family connections Of sena-
tors.
Eepre.entative Ran. Tucker il, one OF
the PARTY Of congressman united to at
tend a dinner to be given by the Mer-
chants Association Of Boston, Mass
next Wednesday.