New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-02-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Washington, Jan. %, 1886.
Among prominent happenings of the
week at the Capital may be mentioned
discussions in Congress on pensions,
silver money, and electoral count bill
the interesting controversy between the
President and Republican Senators. and
three different conventions. One OF
these was in behalf of improving the
Mississippi river and other Western
waterways, another was by the Ma
tional Board of Trade, and the third
was held by silver men from different
parts of the country.
| Senator Sherman, President of the
Senate, made notable speech to the
effect that after nearly hundred years
it still remains an unsolved problem as
to how the electoral vote shall be count
ed. He argued that where the two
houses cannot agree on any question
affecting the count, they shall meet and
vote in joint convention. His plan was
endorsed by Senator Evarts, and contro-
| verified by Senators Edmunds and Hoar.
The latter gentlemen both held that
Mr.. Sherman's plan was for settling
constitutional disputes on the basis of
the biggest bias. The debate was I'M
usually interesting, and was made more
SO from the fact that the speakers were
all possible Presidential candidates.
Each was on his mettle and at his best.
The Senate was full and attentive. 1t
was a critical courtof able, subtitle law
yers, and large audience in the gal
leries also stimulated effort.
Some extraordinary pension schemes
have been introduced into the present
Congress. One has just been brought
forward in the House that exceeds in
extravaganza anything yet proposed.
1t grants pensions to every soldier and
sailor of the Mexican war, and to everv
soldier and sailor of the war of the re-
bellion who served even fourteen days
in the army or navy. It gives pensions
also to the widows of such soldiers or
sailors. provided they have not married
again. Then it raises certain pensions
to the maximum of 1924 per month, pre-
scribes that every So pension now paid
! to widows and minors shall be raised to
$12, and, finally, it dates all the civil
war pensions back to the death or dis.
charge.
The attitude of the President and
Senate to each other has not changed
in the past few days. A political de-
bate is expected in the Senate soon,
however, over u resolution that Sena-
tor Edmunds expects to offer in open
session, calling on the President to fur
nish information and give his reasons
for the removal of certain officials.
Both Democratic and Republican Sena-
tors are making ready for this pros pec-
tive fray.
There are some Democratic Senators
who hope that the President will refuse
to submit to the Senate papers on file
respecting his nominations. The ankle
ty arises more from personal embar.
rassment, which the publication of such
/
from desire to maintain Executive
dignity. Such papers would disclose
the fact that some Senators have, while
protesting an active interest in behalf
OF one applicant, diligently pressed an
other for the place sought. So long as
these papers remain buried in the files
Of departments, office seekers will re-.
main in ignorance of the deception
practiced upon them.
Most of the Democrats concede that
the Senate has right to ask for infor-
nation relating to appointments. but
they hold that any papers containing
charges against incumbents who have
been removed cannot properly be call
ed for. Yet all through the campaign
they said, turn on the lights and turn
the rascals out The Republicans
hold that if dismissed officials had
charges brought against them, their
personal and party friends have right
to know what they were, for the IRE.
form Administration said, no one
should be removed Except for cause"
Senators refuse to abandon their Sc
cret sessions. Gen. Logan tested this
question fully a few days since He
proposed that all executive business be
considered with open doors, hereafter,
introducing a resolution to that effect.
He held that the people had as good a
RICH: to know what was said and done
in the Senate in regard to legislation,
that they were. equally interested in