The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1886-07-31
LAKE CHARLES CALCSEU PARISH LOUISIANA SATURDAY
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.


tion for some time probably than the
Presidents latest order admonishing
all Federal office-holders to take no
active part in politics during the com
ing campaign. The principle which
he desires to impress upon the heads
of Departments and their subordinates
is that political action should be kept
free from official coertion. He does
not ask them to abstain from politics,
but he draws nice lines Of distinction.
They are not to misuse their offices
for partisan ends.
The order created quite surprise
at the Capitol on Thursday, but our
lawmakers were so busily engaged 10
the pressing duties of legislation that
there was not much discussion of the
subject. There are but few Demo.
Gratis who do not sustain the Presi-
dents ideas, if public expressions be
a criterion. They say it is in accord
ance with Mr.. Cleveland's previous po-
sition and demonstrates his consistency.
Many of the Republican Senators
even give the President credit for sin
cerity, but they express faithlessness
in the power of the order 10 change
the situation. They say it will be
subjected to very liberal construction
during the campaign, and that it can
not be enforced because it will fail to
get the support of high government
officials. This, of course, remains to
be seen.
The Morrison resolution for dispos-
ing of the surplus in the Treasury
passed the House by the overwhelming
vote of 2OT to 81, party lines not be- |
ing strictly drawn. The resolution
reads as follows: "Whenever the sur
plus in the Treasury, including the
,Rmount held for redemption of United
States notes, shall exceed the sum of
$lO0,OoO,000, it shall be the duty of
the Secretary of tho treasury to apply |
such excess, in sums not less than ten
millions per month, during the exist
ence of any such surplus or excess, to
the payment of the interest bearing
Indebtedness of the United States, pay
able at the option of the Government"
In the debate on the surplus Repre-
sentative Mckinley of Ohio, was dis
posed to mingle some fun. Said he,
"there is not a single thing upon which
this Democratic party agrees and is in
positive accord except getting offices;
not one" Mr.. Morrison interposed,
"and we are getting along only mid
ding at that" "Yes you are getting
them very slowly" said Mr., Mckinley,
and the Democrats laughed with the
Republicans,
Many are wondering what will be
the fate of the River and Harbor bill
which has nearly reached o vote ON
the Senate, and with which the Sena-
tors have been sitting up late into the
night hoping to got through with it
and thereby hasten the final adjourn
ment. And then they are wondering
what will become of it when it goes
back for conference to the House
committee, and again when it comes
from conference into the House. Con
gressman Hatch, of Missouri, oleomsr-
garine's implaeable foe, will not vote
for it when it comes back. He said
he strained his conscience to vote for
it the first time, but his moral courage
will stand by him when it comes
around again,
Senator Vest made a long speech in
which he said he had had grave and
reverend Senators buttonhole him and
say that if they did not get this or
that appropriation put in the bill they
would be beaten in the next election.
II was case of " Help me, Cassius. or
| sink" Senators had come into the
Chamber and had their amendments
put into the bill, and they had then
stood up within three feet of Mr..
Vest, and denounced the whole scheme
as piece of unconstitutional corrup-
tion, Combinations had been made
on the very floor of the Senate in re-
lation to this bill. The plan was to
help me put in my appropriation and
! will help you put in yours, lie had
Senators como to him and say, "Vest,
You were right in your argument about
the Kentucky river, but ! was in the
gang and could net leave the process |
sion. | had my part and ! had to let
somebody else have his part, And it
would be so to the end of time.
Commissioner Sparks continues his
vigorous fight against the land thieves ,
and never stops his good work to re- !
ute tho calumnies that are heapod
lpon him. The attention Of the land /
grabbers should be called to ono fact 4
however. The General has issued more
and patents since his ineumbency than {
my previous commissioner ever passed I
n the same length of time, and his
nave the merit of being honest.
While Republican papers ave saying
hat this administration is pre-emi
lently the enemy Of the soldier, they
should make note Of the fact that
Black has issued over
one hundred and ten thousand oertif
Gates to pensioners since he assumed
the duties of his Office, which is ten |
per cent, more than any of his prede- |
cessers ever issued in the same length |
of time, The amount paid for pen
sions during the fiscal year just ended !
exceeded that Of the previous year BY |
ss, 6OO,000 and President CLEVELAND
has signed six pension bills where he
has vetoed one.