The Press., 1886-03-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.

EV6fy day some senator 1QAh6S h COnbAAUu- tion to the fight. Senators Oullom of H. linois and Dolph of Oregon are among the latest republican senators who have spoken this week, while Senator Wilson of Mary Iaud, and Brown, the old war governor of Georgia, have presented the democratic point of view.
 The most interesting episode of the de- bate so far was the caust1c exchange be- tween Senators Edmunds of Vermont and Beck of Kentucky, in which the latter was called to order for talking senate secrets m open session. Both senators became much excited, and Senator Beck, who is blunt and unpublished, rent the air with hls arms and pitched his voice to dizzy height. Senator Edmunds never forgets his dign1- ty, but his face paled mores than usual, and it was evident that he was determined to maintain composure while he told the senator from Kentucky what he thought of senator's violation of his ''oath" and his ''honor" by betraying the senate's ln- junction of secrecy.
 The president has been much yexed over the storm of indignation raised by his nomination of James Matthews, colored lawyer of New York, for recorder of deeds of the District of Columbia. He thought, as he had given the marshallship of the district to district man when he might have selected stranger for that position, there would be no objection to his paying of political debt by giving the office of recorder to a democrat of Albany, es- pecially since Frederick Douglass, the present incumbent, is a colored man.
 The district democracy still clamor that the office is purely local one, and should be filled by Q local man. They say if the president wanted to select negro he could have found number of colored residents of the district competent to fill the place. No petitions or protests have been filed against Matthews confirmation, but elti- zens of the district have visited the com mittee which will formally dispose of his nomination, and have assured 1t that the people of the district, without regard to politics, object to any stranger as their re- corder of deeds. Since the committee Is disposed to act in accordance with the wishes of the people here, as it now stands, the chances are that 1t will report Mr. Matthews adversely.
 The forty ninth congress has at last passed one wise and bAnefcient measure, the good results of which will be felt in many humble homes. It was the bill in- creasing widows pensions from S6 to $l2 month, winch passed the senate just as It came from the house, and will soon be made law by the signature of the presi- dent Four dollars month-forty-eight dollars a year-ls small sum to 8 rich man. It would hardly pay for the cham pague at au evening entertainment. But to poor widow 1t means bread for a whole year, and bridges the chasm between pinching want aud comfort.
 Spfaking of penslons reminds me that Gen. Black, the commissioner of pensions under the new administration, was unpre- pared to substantiate his allegations with regard to the official acts of his predeces- sor. When the senate committed investI- gating these charges called upon him to produce names and numbers of any claims that had been allowed or rejected by ex- Commissioner Dudley on account of the politics of the claimant, he could not, and asked for time to prepare his papers.
 By special act of congress Commissioner Black himself IS the recipient of the un- usual pension of $100 month, it having been granted on the representation that he was mental and physical wreck D He also draws from the U. s. treasury the sum of $5, 900 per year as commissioner of pensions
 Much complaint is being made against him that as commissioner he is constantly revoking pensions granted to disabled union soldiers on the ground that the disa- 
 bility under which their pensions were granted has ceased to exist. And 1t is claimed that if Gen. Black is the ''mental and physical wreck" upon which his pen sion was granted, he is unfit for the duties of bis present position.
 It is suggested that congress be called upon 10 order an examination on the mental and physical condition of Commissioner Black, and that it be made by the surgeon general of the army and the surgeon gen. eral of the navy with the surgeon in charge of the government insane asylum. If it be ascertained that he is still the mental and physical wreck alleged, he is unfit to act and draw pay as commissioner of pensions. And if it be found that he is in mental and physical condition to per- form his duties of this office adequately, then his unusual pension of s100 per month should be repealed.