The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-05-20
Washington Letter.
WAsHINGTON, May IA, 1SS


Although the present session of
Congress is called dull one, it is not
without occasional sensations. The
President created one when he sent to
Commissioner Black for papers to en-
tighten him upon the several hundred
private pension bills which Congress
hurriedly passed and sent to the White
House for his signature. No President
has ever before taken the time or
trouble to examine private bills. Mr..
Cleveland vetoed only two of them,
signed eighty of the number, and al
lowed the others to become laws with
out his signature after satisfying him-
self that their records were clear. Bu;
he directed the attention of our iegis-
latOrs on Capitol Hill to his deternin-
alton to know the contents of every
bill they send to him for approval.
1t is just possible that Mr.. Cleveland
will ignore altogether another Presi-
dental custom, namely that of going
to the Capitol just before the adjourn
msnt of Congress, and while the two
bodies are rushing through all the bills
that can be passed in that late and ILL
| regulated stage, and of signing every
| thing that is thrust under his hand.
On Wednesday the army appropria
ton bill had been passed by the House
of Representatives., and the bill pro.
viding for the support of our Diplo.
mats and Consuls had been taken up.
Members felt that they had already
done good days work, and were glad
that an opportunity for amusement
should present itself. Presently al
item of the bill was reached, which
led to a request from Represen tativt
Hewitt that the appropriation for
steam launch for the use of the Legation
at Constatinople be increased from
81, 600 to 81 800.
This led to a funny story about som,
competition with the Eaete Mon
archies" Of Europe. Mr.. Cannon o
ILL.,, criticised the Democrats for pro
lposing to increse the appropriation
and another member suggested tha
the late Republican Minister to Tur
key managed to get along with the oil
launch. MI. Hewitt replied that th'
late Republican Minister did not ge
along with it. went with him ol
the launch" continued he, land tn
British launch came out and went b,
us, and the italian launch came ou
and left us, and the French launcl
came out and passed US, and as th
only American flag that floats in thos
waters is the flag on this steam launc
we had to submit to the humiliation
of seeing 1t run away FROM"
"Why didn't you fire up?" wa
3 asked by Republican.
"We did," replied Mr.. Hewitt. sou
American blood began to boil. and tn
! boiler began to boil. and the result wa
that when we got half way to Constar
o tinople, suddenly. the whole thin
I collapsed and we were left i'm the ope
. Bosphorus. Ifa Republican could nc
d get along with thousand dollars
E and am a witness that can prove ths
: hedid not-I don't see how any Den
t ocrat can get along with it." 9Th
y last minister did not ask for more,
: said Mr.. Morrison. "Oh, yes he did,
e replied Mr.. Hewitt, land he appeale
t to me as an American citizen to com
a in here and make statement of til
e humiliation We both felt on that occ,
!, sion and have not recovered frol
q that humiliation yet and if you as
: Gen. Lew Wallace he will tell you til;
Ii he was never so humiliated as when
that broken down launch. This SS(
0 will save the honor of the America
s flag"
eI A few evenings since Represent
n tive Hill discussed Civil Service Il
If form before the Ohio Democratic ASS
citation of this city, and talked abol
the political situation in the Buckey
State. He said while he believed Il
election of a Democratic Presidel
o should have been followed by con
4 plete transfer of the offices to Dem
- Gratis, still the Democrats of Ohio a
not going to fail in their support
;, the party because they did not get e
erything they wanted. He mentiont
- however, that 10000 offices have a
ready fallen into the hands of Dem
% crat5 under the new Administrative
including all the most lucrative on
in the gift of the Government.
Of am ready" said he " at any time
e vote for the repeal of the Civil Servi
l. act. 1t is opposed to the genus of OF
le institutions, but while it remains {
n the statute book, it is the duty of Il
s. President to enforce it. "Ohio Dem
l. crats," he said, are not actuated
s- thirst for apoils. If the AdmiDistr
t. ton helps them, all right; if not tn,
le will stand by the old party all Il
y same. If Mr.. Cleveland had start,
at in all at once to remove and appoi
n without waiting to consider the meri
and qualifications of the men he wou
have justified the accusation that Il
"a Republicans, in every campaign, ha
q been making against us.
leI Will Not Accept.