The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-11-18
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Nov, l3, 1885.

WASHINGTON, Nov. Is, 1855.
Every day now Senators and Repre-
are coming in from their
recent battle fields. A few members
elect of the Fiftieth Congress are here
too, and have visited the House just to
see how it looks. A lively time is eX
pected from now until the first Mon
day in December, when Congress
meets. Members who are not re- elect
ed will be trying to get their best work
in shape, great deal of wire pulling
will be going on, and the session is ex-
pected to open up actively whether
much business will be accomplished
or not.
Democratic Senators express them
selves as thoroughly satisfied with the
outcome of the elections, and consider
the party in good shape for 1883. They
agree that the Democrats did not go to
the polls as they might have done, but
where the Democratic vote came out,
the Democratic party more than held
its own. They retain IA good working
majority IN the House, aud in States
where the Legislatures have TO elect
new Senators the effect of the elections
will reduce, if not reverse, the Repub-
lican majority in the United States
Senate.
Should it prove true that the Demo
Gratis have captured the legislatures of
New Jersey, Indiana, and California,
as is now believed, the Republicans in
the Senate of the next Congress will
hold the majority only by the danger
ously narrow margin of two. These
will be Senator Riddleberger CT Vir-
ginia, and probably Van Wyek of Ne
braska, neither of whom is in harmony
with theR Republicans, and both of
whom are uncertainties when it comes
to voting.
But however this may be, there is
no disappointment among Democratic
politicians with the campaign. They
expected nothing better in All of year
and the few Democratic losses are in
no wise prophetic of defeat in 1883
On the contrary, it is thought, they
will serve good purpose in showing
the necessity of organization and har
mOnious action in the next President
ial battle.
The Republican press, in its deter
mination to condemn everything un
der the new Administration, has ut
tered great deal of abuse about til,
manner in which Commissions
Sparks has managed the affairs of tn,
Land Office. They have expatiates
on the outrageous hardships he hs'
imposed upon the :. honest settler
upon the public domain, and the vas
injury he has done to the present Ad
ADMINISTRATION by his policy. A mos
significant answer to these charges
came through last weeks elections. Ii
the very States and Territories wher,
the effects of Mr.. Sparks decisionl
and rulings are particularly and i'm
mediately felt, there were remarkabl.
and unexpected Democratic gains, ,ant
the voting was done by these sam,
much injured honest settlers"
Another excellent record of re
trenchment comes from a Governm IN
Bureau since it went into Democrat,
hands. 1t is that of Engraving ant
Printing, where all the paper money
all the posrage stamps, and all tn,
stamps of every kind used by the Gov
ernmeut are made. The total ex pense
OF this Bureau are more than 10000
less this year than last, and less thar
any year since 1878. The same wOrl
is accomplished with greatly reduce,
force of employees, 32s persons havin,
been discharged since March, 1885
The amount saved from their salarie
aud for labor and other expenses
makes an aggregate saving of $lS2, 1856
which will be returned to the Treasur,
unused.
The President is at work on hi
message now, and will decline to re
ceive any more prOmiscuous privat
callers until Congress meets. Whel
he alluded, at Boston, to the silly
mean, and cowardly lies that are founC
every day in the columns of certain
newspapers, which violate every in
stinct of American manliness, he ha,
reference to the barbarous gossil
which deluges the occupants of tn
White House. The allegation of tn
Tribune that " what CALLED him wa
the public criticism of his official acts
was quite unfair aud untruthful. Mr.
Cleveland has never objected to an,
sort of criticism of his official acts
whether decent or otherwise. Wha
has disgusted him is the determine
ton of what he carefully calls Ger
tain newspapers" that he shall no
have any private and domestic life O
his own that the walls of his hous
shall be of glass, and that all tina
transpires behind them shall be re-
ported i'm some form, if not correctly
then invented. His utterance will
probably not do any good, for the Ger
tain newspapers to which he allude
live OH fictitious sensations, and woul,
cease to exist if they were to abstain
An Important Decision.
WARREN, O., Nov. I2 Judge III
b. Woodbury. of the circuit court il
session here, decided this Afternoon
one of the most impOrtant uuestion,