The Washington critic., 1886-01-14


might be called an unusual aptitude for
assimilation with his subject, quality
Of such potency and uniqucncss rs to
fit him for The leadership of a great
cause, without his ever being suspected
of the grosscr arts that characterize
the ordinary dcmogoguc.
HELP FOR THE pooR.
There is much more suffering among
the poor of the city than is generally
supposed, and the available resources
Of the Police Department arc well nigh
exhausted Many are the hungry and
cold and poorly clad for whom 1t will
he impossible to make provision unless
the charitable citizens of the District
come promptly and generously to the
front and extend to the department II
helping hand
There should be no delay about IT,
When women and children are without
fire or food, il is no time for red tape.
The best way to organize the needed
charity now is through individual con
tributions. These can be sent to Major
Dye direct, and his force, who have
better opportunities of knowing how
much dcstiution there is and where
help is most needed will see to its
proper distribution.
The late inclcmcnt weather has de
vclopcd numerous cases of suffering
that are pitiablc in the extreme. The
three or four hundred dollars per
month, which the Police Department
has at its disposal, is not enough to
20 round. Assistance must be had
from the outside-money clothing,
fuel, anything that can be utilized for
the relief of distress. We know that.
this appeal will not be made in vain.
EN.GovERNoR CURTIN did not on the
floor of the House yesterday announce
lis reasons for declining TO serve rs
chairman of the Banking and Currency
Committee but he has since authorized
the publication of statement outlining
the feelings which actuated him in
taking the course which he pursued.
The place was not to his TASTE and his
experiences in public life were not
such rs fitted him to serve on the com.
mittcc to which he had been assigned,
with satisfaction to himself OF with
usefulness 10 the House. Mr. Curtin
makes some criticisms of the Speaker
and Secretary Bayard. He says that
the usual custom has been TO continue
the same chairmen of important com
mittecs when the same political organ
ization again controlled the House and
reelected the same Speaker. The ex-
ception to this custom rs made in his
case, involves, he says, a principle of
great Importance in the relations of the
departments of the Government to each
other. Mr.. Curtin protests against
what he calls the interference of the
head of an Executive Department in
the organization of the committees of
Congress, and regrets that such an in
reference had been successful in his
case. Such an interference he regards
as an unwarranted infringement of the
rights of Congress and violation of
the proprieties of the public service
Entertaining these views, Mr.. Curtin,
as a self-respecting man, could scarcely
| have done otherwise than he has done
As THE Ohio Legislature has decided
10 investigate the charges of bribery
which have been made in connection
with the election of Senator Payne, the
| Junior Senator from that State will be
obliged TO treat those charges with
something besides indifference. This
is as il should be. As long rs the
charges consisted Of open letters from
apolilical enemy without any official
position, Mr.. Payne may have been
right in refusing to pay any attention
TO them But now that committee
of the Legislature of his State ha.
taken cogni2ance of them Mr.. Payne
must do the same. As he has by his
course at least emphatically denied the
charges, ii is to be presumed that hC
and his friends are glad of the oppor
tunity to prove that they are false.
MONSIEUR DE LEssEPs is making ar
rangcments for n big deadhead eXcur
sion to Panama the latter part of this
month. The old gentleman appears tC
have struck 1t at last, There is n goot
deal of magic in free pass. But thi!
remark of course does not apply tC
members of the American Congress
and least of all to members of tn,
American press. To both, however,
he will probably "cxtend the usua
courtesies."
Mr.. DoRMAN b. EATON is said to bt
engaged in the preparation of reply
TO Gail Hamilton's Civil-Servic Reform
screed. This is the sort of weather
that most inspires Mr.. Eaton and warns
him up to his work as it We're 1t goes
without saying that his reply will be il