The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-02-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.


WARRINGTON, Feb. 18th, lss6.-Ar-
engagements for the great telephone
suit are still in progress. Ex-senator
Thurman arrived in the city TODAY tn
assist in preparing the papers. There
is something ike poetic Justice in Mr.
Thurman's retention by the govern
ment in the telephone suit. His friends
ailege that he has been kept i'm retire.
ment because he fought corporations-
and now he returns to public life To do
more fighting of the kind.
YO remember about two week since q
congressional committee was emnowar-
ed to investigate the Pan-Electric end
Bell Telephone affairs. The rennhI;
can members of the committee n,It on
their war paint and threatened to make
some startling discoveries. Their FIRST
step was to ask the secretary of tbe in
terror and the attorney general what
money has been expended by their de-
partnents in the telephone suit. Mr.
Lamar replied, after careful inquiry.
that thirty five dollars for PRINTING
&c, was the only money expended in
his department, while Garland saws no
money has yet been expended in his.
Counsel has been retained for the gov
eminent suit, but no money has vet
Oe61 paul the counsel.
In executive session of the senate
yesterday, Mr., Edmunds presented a
protest signed by citizens of Vermont
against the confirmation of \ collector
of customs in that state. The objection
to him was that re had appointed a
deputy whose reputation il was al
legged was not the best, Senators RecIx
aud Butler thought that wasa fiimsv
pretext and said if every republican Of
fetal had been held responsible for all
his deputies, there would have. been re-
| jections,
Senator sherman made an attack in
open session upon the presidents atti-
tude with regard to giving ssreasonS. -
for removals and Senator Ed
munds expects to do the same next
week. Senator Hoar and others who
are candidates for the presidency in
1888 are only waiting for the semblaRce
of an excuse to score the ajministra-
| ton in public. They feel IL is hioh
time to arouse the republicans to the
fact that they are actually losing the
post offices. It is true this is not a
| great issue, but there is nothing great
er on hand just now.
kither willfully or ignOrantly the re-
al issue in the pending controversy be-
tween the senate and the executive has
been misststed by.certain senators and
certain partisan papers. The attem pt
has been made to place the administra-
ton In position which it has never ia
ken. 1t has been assumed that tha
president is DESTROYS of conceaIinu his
reasons for removals; that he desires
to make distinction between nrlvata
and public papers and between az
ecutive and legislative papers. From
his official replies to the senate through
the members of the cabinet, the clear
inference to be drawn is this: AS the
chief executive OF the nation he has in
his possession certain papers which
| public interest demands him to with
hold.
Expression of opinion on the subject
of the relations between thespresident
and senate are drawn now on very
strict party lines among senators and
representatives. Both sides appear TO
recognize the fact that the battle can he
indefinitely prolonged.
There is growing opinion that it is
time To consider presidential nomina-
lions in open ses ion. Some say a great
step towards true civil service reform
would be taken in this way. Monte
nees can be assailed in secret session
] WibhONG hnOWluH the nameR of
their accusers. while on the other hand
unworthy nominations can be con-
tirmed without making any one an
swerable for the offense. They claim
open sessions will remedy both grew
ances by compelling the best appoint
ments, and by assuring them of fair
hearing before the senate.
! And indeed it is open secret most un-
worthy nominations have been con-
firmed in the past on personal consider
alton and by foul bargains. There is
an unwritten law of So-called courtesy
allowing senator to decide the fitness
of any nominees from his state who
had already been dictated by his de-
SIRE In this way crowd of periurers'
forgers, ballot-box suffers, thieves,
and all manner of infamous Characters
received high offices under Hayes, as
rewards for the great fraud of 1875,
and ia the public service under Grant,
and his republican successors many
others, equally corrupt, were conspicu-
Gus