The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-07-10

WASHINGTON, July 2, 1886.

EDITOR KEYSTONE:
The scheme for permanent Ex-
position in Washington seems to
be making good progress and TAX
ing shape. One of the interesting
things which came up at the last
weekly meeting held in its behalf
was the statement that the project
of celebrating the 40Oth anniversa-
ry Of the discovery of America by
Columbus had been discussed in
Spain for the last two years, and
that she proposed to send a duph-
cate Of the original fleet which
brought the adventurous mariners
to these shores.
President Cleveland promised to
give his influence to the enterprise
by calling the attention of Con-
gress to the matter in his next an
nual address. The plan is being
forwarded by private contributions,
and it is thought that Congress
will appropriate the needed money
as soon as it is proven that there is
public demand for it, since mem
bcrs in both houses have spoken
favorably of the scheme. The
Governors Of States and Terrific
ries have been made ex-oflicio men,
bers of the committee having
charge of the proposed enterprise,
and they will all be invited to a
conference in this city about the
time of the reassembling of Con-
grcss.
When the history Of the present
administration is written Cleveland
will be called the champion vctoer
of the nineteenth century, or
something similar. All week long
Congress has been hearing from
different ones of those hundreds Of
private pension bills which were
passed with such reckless confu-
sion several weeks ago
Up to Mr.. Cleveland's time there
had been 100 veto messages sent to
Congress by the Presidents. Wash
ington sent two, Monroe and Lin
coin one each, Buchanan and Ar
thur four each, Tyler and Pierce
nine each, Madison six, Jackson
twelve, Polk three, Johnson seven
teen, Grant twenty-nine, Hayes
twelve. No bills were vetoed by
either of the Adamses, or Jei1cr-
son, or Van Buren,, or Harrison, or
Fillmore, or Garfield, and the only
pension bill ever vetoed until now
was done by Gen. Grant.
Besides this wholesale slaughter
of pension schemes during the
week, the President has indulgcl
in several honeymoon dinners ten
dercd by members of his Cabinet.
He also went on yachting trip
down Chesapeake Bay, thus leav-
ing the United States, which Of
fense the Constitution disallows IN
Executive during his official term.
On his return he found that 14l
more pension bills had been sent
from the Capital for his approval
or veto. Besides these, sixty mis-
cellancous bills are on his desk
awaiting his action, and if he has
determined, IS is stated, to care
fully examine every item Of every
bill! before signing it, his hands are
full for the present week.
No President has ever undertaken
to do so much before and | doubt
if any President, in justice to HIM
self, literally that be will not sign
single bill without reading it. He
is oppoped, however, to fastening
the day of the adjournment of Con-
grcss. and has repeatedly warned
those members who call upon him
that he cannot be hurried with the
examination of meaures, and that
he must devote time to these bills
which require it.
Much interest is felt in the Presi-
dents disposal Of the Fitz-John
Porter bill, which is at last through
10th houses Of Congress again
Gen. Logan was as earnest Ia his
fight against the measure on Thurs
day while making a three hours
speech, as he was when be talked
for three dnys on the subject a,