Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-06-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, June IA, 1886.

il service law. 1t is evident that
the Democrats are anxious to do
away with it, as its faithful observ-
ance will effectually debar them from
Office. Still, it is conceded by all that
the strongest hold President Cleve-
land has upon the country comes
from his apparent observance of the
provisions ofthe law, aud if the Dem
ocrats succeed in repeating it they
will seal the doom of their party.
The President yesterday received
from the Committees on Enrolled
Bills of the Senate and House one
hundred and thirty four bills that
were passed by Congress while he
was away on his honeymoon, aud
must examine them all within the
next ten days. AS two Sundays in
tervene, and it must be assumed
that the President of the United
States observes the commandments,
he will have breathing spells, but
will have to do up at least thirteen
bills and four tenths per day in or
der to get through with them. Near
ly all are pension bills, but he is IN
the habit of examining these as
closely as any other, and will proba-
bly, veto several Of them, as they are
open to the same objection that he
has raised to others. Among the
measures now in his hand are bills
granting pensions to the widows Of
the late General Godfrey Weitzel,
and Colonel Farquhar, of the En-
gineer Corps. Mrs. Farquhar is the
daughter of the late General
Alpheus Williams, at one time a
member Of Congress from Detroit.
This promises to be an eventful
week in Congress Each branch of
the national Legislature will be call
ed upon to decide a momentous
questionable Senate whether it
really means to forfeit some of
the more valuable land grants, and
the House whether the tariff shall
be debated. The proceedings in the
House will attract most attention.
Personal and political debates, as
lively as those which characterized
the proceedings of the House last
week, an incidental effect of which
will he to secure increased attend
ance of members. The roll call of
Saturday revealed the absence of
140 members, but strong efforts are
making to secure full House when
Mr.. Morrison moves to take up the
tariff bill.
In the Senate the Northern Pacific
forfeiture bill is the unfinished bus.
mess and is to be taken up to-day.
When it is disposed of, the bill to
repeal the timber culture and desert
land acts will be taken up. Follow
ing that it is expected that a subsidy
debate will take place upon the re-
port of the disagreement of confer
ees upon the postoffice appropriation
bill. The committee on appropri.
ations except to report the pension
and military academy bills early in
the week, but may not press them
to consideration at once.
Five OF the annual appropriation
bills, namely, the District of Colum-
bia, postoffice, consular and diplo-
matte, agriculture, and army have
passed both houses, and await the
action Of the conference committees
three, the pensions, military acad-
envy, and river harbor, are in the
hands of the Senate committee and
five, the legislative, naval, sundry
civil, Notifications, and general de-
ficiency have not yet been passed
by the House. Only one, the In.
dian bill, has reached the Presi-
dent.
AS matter of great interest to
many, my attention has been called
to q movement likely to be made to
create a bureau for the purchase of
supplies ola general character which
are alike needed by all the depart.
ments and bureaus of the Govern
ment. At present these supplies
are, purchased as needed by the sew
eral bureaus or departments for
theii own use, and are largely fur
nished by District bidders. The adj
vocates of the change in the present
method say that if all the supplies
such as coal, wood, ice, stationery,
carperts, furniture, and the hundreds
of other articles required by the
Government-werc purchased by
one bureau of supplies, they could
be purchased more cheaply because
OF the large quantities aggregated
in one bid. They also say that in
case all supplies were purchased by
one bureau, bids would be more
largely made by producers and man.
ufacturers, and that the cost would
be less, because the profit of the
middlemen would be chopped off.
There is special committee of
Democrats of the House to arrange
a programme of business, and also