Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-01-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Dec. 2S, 1885.


in many of the churches, dinners for
the poor, Christmas trees that grew
up in night, strengthening the
belief of sceptical youth in Santa
Claus, and profusion of those in
dispensable Accomplishments of the
season, turkey, cranberry sauce,
plum pudding, and fruit cake
Pennsylvania avenue and the busl-
ness streets of the city, which have
presented the scene of gigantic
procession of purchasers for the past
two weeks, we're quiet and half de-
serted. The machinery of the Gov
eminent stopped for the.da the
Departments were closed, and the
clerks had holiday.
Congress will take the world easy
until the fifth of January, when it
reconvenes. Senators and Repre-
sentatives scattered far and wide
for the holidays. Some went to
their homes, others ran down to New
Orleans for few days, and many
remained here. Some were kept by
anxiety to know where they would
be assigned BY Speaker Carlisle -on
the House Committees which he is
busy arranging.
AS to holiday politics, | may, say
Senator Beck's attack upon the
financial policy of the Administra-
ton just before the Christmas recess
has been more discussed than any
other subject. The Democratic
friends of the standard silver dollar
we're unwilling to wait until after
the holidays without taking issue
with the President ON this question.
i Senator Beck fred the first gun,
significant of an impending battle
that is likely to have a powerful in
fluence over the fortunes of the
Administration and the future of
parties. The Democratic party is
badly divided on the silver question,
and there is no telling what the out.
come may be. Representative
Reagan, of Texas, a Democrat OF
long sevlce in the House, says he
fears his party will go to pieces,
Congress is expected to become in.
: volved in this contest soon after ii
reassembles.
The Democrats are badly in need
of leader in the Senate. Senator
f Beck was supposed to be the man
but his last performance has hewild
cred his political brethren. Senator
voorhees, is said to be sulking be-
cause he has not been given all the
patronage he wants. Senator Har
ris, of Tennessee, cannot speak toI
the President on the silver question
because he comes from that part Of
the country favorable to silver. In
their dilemma Senator Vest has come
to the front as che man best fitte(
to be the mouthpiece of the Aminis
tration. He has been considered
something of an orator by the Dem
ocrats, and he is, perhaps, the best
impromptu talker on their side O
the Chamber. He has little to show
however, against such an array o.
, talent as may be found on the Re
, publican side of the aisle, where are
such men as Logan, Edmunds, Sher
man, Hoar, ingalls,, Frye, Evarts
Teller, Hawley, Dawes, Allison, Nor
rill and others.
It is a significant fact that Demo
cratic Senators are fighting their
President, when Congress is yet
only two weeks old. Senator Eustis
Of Louisiana declared against him
long ago, as will be remembered,
and others are waiting to oppose
some of his nominations in secret
session.
Speaking of the Presidents nomi.
nations that have to go before the
Senate for confirmation, a Republi-
can Senator remarked that the five
committees charged with reporting
on these appointments had an I'M
usually hard task before them in the
way of work, a task that will keep
them busy for weeks. About 5000
appointees have to be considered.
No general policy has been adopted
to govern committees IN their action
upon these nominations, bat they
are overwhelmed with petitions,
protests, charges, and defenses that
would have to be investigated if
there was no partisan consideration
in the case. The charges against
new appointees include almost every
imaginable offense. Charges in re-
gard to personal fitness and integ-
rity have been filed in hundreds of
cases, and Membe of the Senate
Committees are besieged at their
houses by delegations accusing or
defending new appointees.
A ridiculous blundeT was recently
made by the appointment to an
Office ID the Treasury Department
| e u