The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-07-15
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, July 9, 1886.

WASHINGTON, July 9, 1885.
The President has vetoed twenty |
more bogus pension bills-making SO
in all. This shows what he was doing
on Monday evening when he declined
to remain on the South portico of the
White House and look at the fireworks
in honor of the Fourth. The Presi-
dent is enhancing his reputation for
business and honesty every time he
vetoes one of these bills to promote
mendicancy, and every honest soldier
will approve his course and think bet
ter of him. Veterans do not relish
Senator Sawyer's way of classifying
them with imposters and frauds.
This Senator from Wisconsin prac-
ticalIy has chorge of the pension bus
mess in the Senate, and he is remark
able from the fact that of all the pri-
yate pension schemes that have been
rushed through his hands, during the
present session, he has never reported
adversely upon single one. In his
boundless sympathy? (shall 1 call it?)
with the old soldiers, their sisters and
their cousins and their aunts, he has
been eager to undertake all the pen.
sion claims that came in his way. And
il is in the following manner that pen
sion bills are passed in the Senate.
That body refers them to the Com.
mittee on pensions, the committee re-
fers them to Mr.. Sawyer, and Mr..
Sawyer distributes them among1csr-
tain assistants, whom he pays out of
his own pocket, to investigate and re-
port. Mr.. Sawyer is especially proud
of one of his assistants. He relates
that this highly qualified substitute
used to be a medical gentleman of
promise out West and came into prom
iaence as an expert in the case of
Guiteau.
This is how pension bills are scruti-
nized in the Senate. In the majority
of cases they are not Investigated by
even one Senator. On the adjudica-
ton of this Guiteau expert, they are
favorably reported to the Senate. and
then rushed through without debate,
at the rate of three to five per minute,
as for instance, when nearly 500 were
passed in two or three hours on April
2lst. And this is the Sawyer Pension
Machine at Washington of which you
often read.
But you may ask How do so many
pension schemes get through the
House of Representatives? Well, it
is in this wise. A night session will
be set aside for the consideration of
such measures, and it will be attended
by not over twenty or thirty members
No man attends these meetings unless
he has in charge q cart load of bills of
this kind. 1t 10 regular log-rolling
process, each man voting for the other
mems bills in order to have the favor
returned, and the measures pass
through a combination of twenty. five
or thirty members.
The bill recently introduced by Sem
ator Edmunns extending the power of
the President In the matter of appoint
ments, 30 that many of his appoint
ments would not be subject to con.
firmation by the Senate, naturally
caused some surprise at the first
thought. But while freeing the Pres
ident from Senatorial checks in the
appointment of large body of public
servants, 1t takes from him the power
of removal or suspension, The ap-
pointees would stay in Office four years
or until impeached for misconduct be-
fore a judicial tribunal. In other
words. while throwing a sop to the
President, Mr.. Edmunds would at the
same time curtail his prerogatives.
His proposed Legislation will not fail
to receive close scrutiny, however. and
be treated according to its merits.
the Democrats have ample reason to
look with suspicion upon any measure
from the Vermont Senator, no matter
how plausible its face may seem to be.
President Cleveland's matrimonial
relations have in no way lessened his
industry. He continues to work until
midnight unless something unusual
prevents. The only changes noticed
In his habits since the wedding are
that he starts to drive an hour earlier
in the afternoon than formerly, that
Mrs. Cleveland is his companion in.
stead of his faithful Secretary, and
that he goes in the direction of his
country home almost invariably.
The President continues his tri.
weekly hand-shakings, and Mrs
Cleveland holds bi-weekly card re-
ceptions. Any one presenting card
however, is received. The latter ale
the only social events going on in the
city. The new lady is very gracious
and affable, and her beauty and natur.
al girIish ways call forth many pleas
ant comments. AS the heat and late.
ness of the season would absolve hel
from holding these receptions, 1 re.
marked to her that 1 thought her very
ami ,ble to submit to the ordeal so pa.
fieptly, and asked if the handshaking
was not becoming mOnotonOus. She
replied with much earnestness that
there was no submission about it
there was not the least mOnotony
in the handshaking. and considering
that the weather was so warm and
that it was a midday reception to
which the people turned out, she
thought the obligation was all on her
part. -..,.....