The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-11-19
Our Washington Letter


washington, Nov. 10, 1885.
The Congressional population of Wash.
ington is incre asing daily, and up at the
Capitol there are many indications that the
opening of the session is an event in the
near future. A few Of the Committee rooms
have opened for business already, and here
certain Senatorial chairnen, among them
Senators Edmunds and Morrill, of Vermont
spend some hours daily. Chairman Ran
dali, that staunch protectionist who pre-
sides o, er the House Appropriation Com
mittee, is also busy at his Committee room
desk. He is determined to have bill
ready by the time Congress meets, provid-
ed he can get quorum of his men together
long enough for that purpose. Because of
the precedence that is allowed all money
bill, he may drop his bill upon any meas
ure of reform that may venture to lift its
head.
1t is wonder that Mr.. Randall, with
his Appropriation extinguisher watching
for somebody trying to reduce the tariff
has not served for cartoon. In nation
of politicians who divide themselves under
the banners of Democracy and Republican,
ism, Mr.. Randall enjoys the unique dis
tinction of being classed as Republican
by many Democrats, and as Democrat by
most Republican. He has claimed to ex-
ercise in this committee room more power
than the Chief Magistrate in the Execu-
tive Mansion, and to have made Presi.
dents, even if he himself occupied the
White House.
Mr.. RandalPs Washington residence is
on Capitol Hill, only few squares from
the Capitol. This he occupies during the
sessions of Congress, but when they close
he goes with his large family to his coun-
try home near Paoli, about seventeen miles
from Philadelphia, where he leads quiet,
domestic life.
The President is in close retirement now.
He sees no unimportant callers and is busy
at his work on his message to Congress.
Each of the Cabinet officers has laid before
him the advance sheets of their annual re-
ports, and Col. Lamont has been assisting
him in arranging the matter. But now the
President is doing double dnty, for his
faithful secretary was summoned on Satur-
day to the bedside of his father, who was
seriously i'll.
The ups and downs of life find many il
Illustrations in the Government Department
here. In the past few days grandson of
President Tyler entered on duty as a
watchman at the Interior Department. He
is forty-six years old, was educated at the
Virginia. Military Institute, and served in
the Confederate Army as an officer in Gen.
Jackson's Corps. The reverses that come to
the fortunes of men are facts Of every day
experience, of cou rise, and it is not surpris
ing to find men who have held high posi-
tions under the State and National govern
ment discharging in their old age the rath-
er humble duties of watchmen here. But
it is rather remarkable thing when a
number of such cases may be selected from
the personnel of the watch TO rec of the De-
partment, as is the case.
The question of absorbing Interest just
now to the Republican Senators who are
here, is whether Mr.. Van Wyck is TO be
reelected. If he is to hold the balance OF
power jointly with Mr.. Riddleberger, the
erratic Senator from Virginia, they admit
that it will beextremely uncomfortable The
Senate is now composed of thirty seven
straight Republicans, and these two above
mentioned Senator's who vote with either
party as it suits them. Consequently the
issue in Nebraska will be watched with
great interest. There are now as many
Senators as Representatives in the city a.
though there is bit seventy six members in
full upper House, while the lower consists
of three hundred End twenty five.
ARE YOU MADE miserable by Indi =