Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-02-11
WASHINGTON.
Joe Blackburn as the Presiding oficer Of
the House.


Joe Blackburn rs the Presiding Orncer OF
the House.
Special q tie Register.
WASHINGTON, February l0.-Joe Black,
burn, as Speaker of the House during the
illness of Carlisle, displayed yesterday some
of the best and some of the worst character
istics Of presiding officer. He is superior
to Carlisle in readiness and force, but he is
inferior in frmness and confidence inspired
in political opponents. Republicans do not
hesitate to charge that Blackburn's counts
are conspicuously unique, and always favor
the side of a question in which he is en-
trusted.
Yesterday afternoon j. b. White, the Re
publican crank from Kentucky, rose to ques-
ton of personal privilege. He was anxious to
consume the time of the House, and there
was general feeling that he ought to be
gotten nd Of ifpossible. Blackburn did not
mince matters as Carlisle would have done.
He at once ruled that the matter alluded to
by White was not a question of privilege,
and when the member from Kentucky still
persisted, the Speaker called on the Ser
geantat-Arms to do his duty and preserve
order. Deputy Sergeantat-Arms ike
Hill proceeded down the aisle, and crowdlng
his way through several members who were
standing up, and whom he ought, under all
precedent 10 have ordered to be seated,
singled out White and undertook to put
him into his seat. The latter re.
sented the attempt, and Hill
subsidized as a matter of course. The rules
of the House distinctly state that when the
Sergeantat-Arms, or any of his deputies,
undertake to interfere with member on the
floor, he must do so with the mace, which is
the badge of his official authority, in his
hand. ike" did not have his mace with
him, and as matter of fact, occupied the
station of a private citizen. and nothing
more. Many of the Republicans character
ize these proceedings as an outrage, though
they all freely admit that Mr. White Is
nuisance in the transaction of Congressional
business.
A Democratic member Of long standing
said 10 me to-day, Blackburn is an elegant
chairman. II Carlisle had been acting as
Speaker White would have been enabled to
waste two or three hours Of most valuable
time, which would have been public disas.
ter at this stage of the proceedings. | tell
you this recalled 10 my mind the old times
when the Republicans were IN control OF
the House. A Democrat had no rights
that Republican Speaker was bound to
respect Even Colfsx, mild hammered as
he seemed, or James G. Blaine would have
done the same thing that Blacburn did,
with such a member as Mr.. White. Jim
Blaine was daisy. He was
lust like Blackburn, quick as
fash of creased lightning, bold as a lion
and fair only when it suited his own side to
have him so. And all the while he would
be like Blackburn the very picture Of ami
ability and always prince Of good fellows.
1t is needless to say that the estimate is
somewhat tinged by partisan feeling, but on
the whole it is a good one. Blaine was
fair but not too fair and would always give
the preference to that ruling which was
surest to expedite public business.
The decision of the House to take up the
general appropriation bills and drop the
River and Harbor bill, is very significant
one. 1t means that the vast majority of
the members of the House are opposed to
an extra session. They know that the
country will hold them to a strict accounta-
bility for any action or inact%on that is
calculated to bring such e.I unmiti-
gated curse on the business inter
ests of the United States. Randall
is said to have !eNpressed
the opinion that an extra session: would be
the very worst thing that could c&cur at the
beginning of Mr. Cleyeland's administra-
ton, and most of the Democrats are inclined
to agree with him. The Republican minority
could not afford to assume the re rtSponsibility
for such an emergency, and led rs it IS by
sensible men, is not likely to take any course
that can lead to such q session.
The postal appropriation bill which was
first considered, is one of the Diost impor-
tant measures ever up for the &C nsideration
Of the present Congress. 1t reduces the
rate on newspapers to one cens per ounce,
reduces therate on drop letters 10 one cent
and makes provision for the special facii-
ty" stamp to ensure rapid delivery. 1t also
changes in many particulars the rules un-
der which compensation is paid to railway
companies for carrying the mails.
The Objectionable features Of the special
facility stamp WAS touched upon in some
my dispatches early in the session. 1t
forms an invidious line of distinction in the
handling of mail matter, and would un.
doubtedly tend to even greater Lag than at
present in the delivery of the most of let
ters handled by each postoffce Richeheu
Robinson is opposed to this pr vision, and
is expected to speak against it sheu he gets
a chance.
James 0. Watson aad E. W. 5. Moore, of
West Virginia, are at the National Hotel