The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-02-13
From Washington,


The proceedings oI tIIe Nech ar wa
or IS have been partly oyershauoweu IN
interest by the fight which the Kepuoii'
cans of the Senate have forced with TIE
Admin stratlon. Our law makers have mol
been idle, however, although there has
been but little legislation to speak for their
industry Both ends of the Capitol gave
one day 20 obituary eloquence. II was
given by the Senate in memory OF wee
President Hendricks; 10y the House In
memory of the late Representative Eli
wood, OF Illinois
Then Dakota has consumed large share
of the Senates time and debate on this
question promises 10 be long. Interest In
Dsko,as affairs and demands has been en-
HANGED during the discussion by the pres
epcn on the floor of the Senate of her two
aspiran,s for senatorial honors, MessrS'
Mo dy and Edgerton, They are similar In
appearance, both being large, portly men,
with short grey boards They listen to
every word that is said about their terri
tory, and occasionally furnish a speaker
with some data or some explanation that Is
needed
The Republicans of the Senate DO not
rest easy with majority Of eight They
are trying to get additional strength in Da-
kcta, and are planning to capture Washing
ton and Montana Territories Ia the near
future, with Idaho In the distance They
have not forgotten that but for Colorado
coming in 1876 the Hayes fraud would
never have been consumated.
During the week the House Of Repre-
sentative5 has talked great deal on unim.
portant subjects, has quarrelled good deal
10 no purpose, and has passed fifty little
pension bills. | have alluded before TO
the many new pension schemes that have
been introduced into the present Congress,
besides all OF the old ones Of the last Con.
gress that have come up fresh again. Con
gressmen seem 10 vie with each other in
proposing absurd plans for increasing pen
sions. II they were all carried into effect
they would bankrupt the Treasury of the
United States And the worst feature OF
every new pension proposal is the dema-
gogis spirit it inevitably awakens in both
parties in Congress. Many Of them are
not even seriously intended, their real OBJ
ject being to ensnare and capture what is
known as the soldier vote
The Presidents refusal Of the Senate's
latest demand for papers has been the to
pic of discussion here for the past three
days The papers called for were those
bearing upon the official character of dis
trint attorney Of Southern Alabama. They
were in the custody of the Law Depart
ment, and referred exclusively to the sus-
pension Of the late incumbent The Sen
ate, in secret session. was notified by Attor,
ney General Garland chat il was not con.
sidered promotye of public interests to
comply with its request for the transmits
sion of the documents mentioned.
Some Of the Republican Senators who
do not believe in trying to eXtort reasons
from the President, and who have been
forced into this attitude by the caucus, are
disposed to be recalcitrant liumOr has ii
that there are three who are SO opposed to
the stand taken by their brethren that the
majority are extremely anxious about
them. Mr.. Edmunds has been accused by
these disaiTected Senators of waging hos.
tiiities against the Administration in the
hope of improving his chances for re-elec.
ton to the Senate. If the President had
been beaten he wonld have obtained the
credit OF having made a good party fight
The Democratic Senators caucused again
aud were all in favor of supporting the
President, believing him to be right in
maintaining his constitutional prerogatlye
Senators OF both parties seem to think the
issue is pretty we'll made up now, and that
for some time, at least, there will be no &C.
ton upon the nomination of persons to
succeed suspended or removed Republi-
cans The fact that the President has not
hitherto been called upon for any exposure
of his reasons for making official changes
Is evidence that the Republican Senators
were only seeking partisan advantage.
Reversing the usual order, the President
made the people his guests of honor at the
first Of his evening receptions The leyee
to the Diplomats, Congressman. and the
Army and Navy will come later Quite a,
elaborate preparations were made at the
White House for receiving the people a:
have been made in times past for the en-
tertainment of officials. The parlcrs were
banked with palm trees and HOwers, the
conservatory was open and lighted, and the
Marine band played throughout the even
ing. The reception was crush as usual
but the President was very cordial and
smiling, and the crowd was good natured
and patient.
WASHINGTON, Feb. \, 1886.
Tue President and Attorney General
have read and discussed privately and with