Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1886-07-09
Official Paper of Griggs County
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. u. G.. Jnly ). 1856.

ASlIlNGTON. ID. G.. Jnly ). 1856.
This is the day celebrated the world
over 10y all true Americans as the anni-
versary Of the birth of political and reli-
Slous freedom. This is the day, for
which. many a small boy thinks, all
other days were made. 1t is a day for
rejolcing 1t will I've the worse for
human liberty. if the time ever comes
When the native born American looses
respect for the anniversary of American
Independence. Congress preteMds to
be in session. while everybody else is
taking things leisurely. The only
excuse for this is the bac!Swar,mess of
public business for Which Congress
alone is to blame.
Well, the President has signed. The l'itz
John Porter Bill, and it only remains
for the beneficiary to be made !, colonel
III the regular army and then placed on
the retired list and that will end this
veNatious matter for all time. The
sooner it is over, the better.
Senator Edmulls has astonishe(l
every one in and out of Congress by an
nouncing the preparation of Il bill which
if adopted by both houses and signed by
the President. will give the President
almost exclusive appointing power, and
relieve the Senate of the bother of con-
firming orrejecting appointments. The
main features of the bill are, that with
few exceptions, the President shall
make all appontmentstH federal offices;
that the term of office shall be fixed at
four years, and that no removals Shall
take place except for cause. and this
cause to be investigated in the nitetl
States Courts: the President shall have
unworthy to continue in office aud the
suspended officer shall be required to go
into court and show why his suspension
shall not terminate in a removal the
judge to decide. This law would pos
sess the advantage of giving a fixed ten
tule to office and relieve the Senators of
all the fuss and trouble about appoint
ments and throw the responsibility OH
the President altogether. No one seems
to understand why Mr.. Edm,lnds. who
has contended SO strongly hitherto, for
the right of the senate to confirm
or reject appointments should take this
track. His only explanation is that
such a law would be i'll the interest of
better civil service. 1t is not likely to
he adopted.
Tie elections in England, Scotland and
Ireland are attracting considerable at
tention from all friends of Home Rule
The contest is a very warm one. There
is one thing, and that is that, the ex-
pressed sympathy with Home Rule i'm
this country has been no advantage to
it's supporters in England: in tact, in
some cases it may be positive disad-
vantage.
The public debt statement, issued on
the lst inst, is quite interesting. The
bonded debt shows a reduction for the
year OF over S5OOOO,OoO. all of which
WaS III Illfee per cent. securities. The
reduction of the public debt proper for
the year was S96,0OO.OOO: The receipts
from customs for the year 1856. was i'm
round numbers over Sla20OOOOO: from
internal revenue, S177 COG 900. and from
miscellaneous sources over S26. .OOO. 600,
making a total of over 1896 600 900 a.
gainst 1923 100000 for the year before.
an increase of about S13.OOO.OoO. The
expenditures for the year were. for or
binary purposes. about $50, ,0OO, 900: for
pensions nearly 1909. 600, and for III
terest S50,00O.O00. an aggregate of S245.
100000. against S26O.0OO.OOO last wear a
decrease of sl5.00O.OOO. AS more
complete analysis OF the statement will
be published, nothing new is needed
here.
The death Of Judge Davis creates a
vacancy in the position OF leader of the
independents in politics. lie was the
most conspicuous representative Of i'll
dependence in politics this country has
ever seen. and. it may be added. the tru-
est and most faithful to the conviction
OF right.
1t is believed that Congress will ad.