Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-02-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WaohINbiuH LEttkn.
WAsHINGfoN, Feb s., 1856. Con-
gress has been captious recently !.
There have been some lively .tiits
upon questions about which opinions
differed. ISLANDERS = and refec-
lions have been resented by irri-
lated members, aud proceedings
have been exciting. Fortunately
there have been no serious episodes;
none at least, that resulted in vio-
lence. When members brought
against one another the grave charge
OF faIsehood, the accused always re-
torted substantially, that the man
who made the charge told one him.
sell. The first said he didn't, and
the other said he did. The first
said emphatically he did not, and
the other said most unquesti0nably
he did, and the Chair raped order.
The antagonists glared ominously at
each other, sat down, and the BUSH
ness of the nation was allowed to
proceed few minutes, until stopped
by another personal affair.
Representative Horr, Of Michigan,
bewailed the fact that the rulers of
the House permit one or two men to
block the entire business of that
body, aud prevent the majority Of
the peoples representatives from
securing any legislation. Still, he
said he did not think the Democrats
wanted any remedy. He thought
Congress was doing as much as GER
tain party leaders desired to have
done, just as much as they intended
and determined should be done. He
acknowledged he was not the man
to put on airs about this matter,
for he had blocked the way himself
whenever a measure had come up
that did not suit him. And after
all he thought it was just as well.
Many of the bills passed at this ses-
sion were Of such character that he
did not care to have any more pass
ed.
President elect Cieveland's New
York receptions during the past week
have revived the Cabinet talk, and
the subject may now be said to be
at its height among Congressman.
1t is not known that there has been
the direct offer of "a Cabinet position
to any one except to Senator Bayard.
|. is understood that he can have
the State portfolio if he wants it,
but he is not sure that he does. He
is trying to decide. Some of the
latest gossip was raised by Senator
Lamar's long conference with Mr..
Cleveland, but the Mississippi Sena-
tor has proclaimed his want of adapt
ibillty to a Cabinet place, and has
said he would rather be United
States Senator than any thing else
i'll the world.
Silver is again up in the Senate.
In discussing the proposed suspen-
sion of its coinage, Senator Bowen,
Of Colorado, said it should be an
nounced that the production of sill.
yer was one of the industries of the
United States, that the nation was
planted on that platform, and would
not get off it. There should not be
a single dollar issued protesting to
be payable in coin or bullion unless
the coin or bullion were in the Treas
ury with which to redeem it on sight.
Otherwise money was made dis
honest. He argued that confidence
was the hidden rock on which more
business lives were wrecked than
on all the other financial shoals in
Christendom. No financial policy
which depends solely on confidence
is anything beyond a delusion and a
snare. Senator Bayard, in opposi
ton, claimed that Congress could
not create values. 1t has failed to
keep it's notes at par. BY suspend.
ing silver coinage, the common PEG.
pie would. be benefited more than
the rich. In times of doubt the rich
made contracts payable in gold and
so promoted themselves, while the
poor men had to suffer with every
fiuctuation of the value of currency.
The most inviting social events Of
the week were foregone by many
prominent society people for the
dramatic attractions. Irving, Miss
Terry and Miss Davenport. Presi-
dent Arthur likes a good play and is
often seen at the theatre. During
the week he went to see Henry Irv-
ing in the /" Merchant of Venice y
and IN Much Ado About Nothing
He came to the latter performance
without a reserved seat, and as the
house was crowded, stood up in the
rear OF the orchestra circle until pro-
vided with seat in one of the boxes.
Mr.. Blaine was also there in box
with Representative William Walter
Phelps. After the performance, Mr..
Phelps entertained Mr.. Irving, Mr..
Blaine, and a number Of others at
supper. Congressman Dorsheimer,
OF New York, and Senator Bayard
were also conspicuous in rendering
social honors to the English pair.
On one evening after the theatre
closed, the probable Secretary of
State, under the new dispensation,
gave a supper to Miss Terry at
Chamberlain's. He has penchant
for English actresses. l remember
to have seen him escort Langtry
about the Capitol during her first
engagement in Washington. She
had appeared in one of the private
galleries of the Senate Chamber, and
when Mr.. Bayard saw her, he left
the floor and joined her.
Mr.. George 3. Lemon, a pension
attorney, was before the House Com
mittee on the Payment Of Pensions,
Bounty and Back pay last week, and
in answer To rho innuir;as. nY .....-