Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-08-13
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, August 10, 1886.

pFidlllS foo,VVo W pay Aoi WV
of the assessment for the site of the new
National Library over and above what
was first appropriated. But when they
come again they must remunerate the
numerous people whose business has
been broken up, and themselves ana
families turned adrift in very summa-
nv manner. Let justice be done though
the heavens fall.
1t is alleged that the dynamiters in this
country intend demonstration against
the British Cover nment, making Paris
the base of operations. Doubtless they
consider the failure Of the eXtradition
amendments at the late session OF Con-
gress as something not to be mlslm-
proved. Jerry Donovan is credited
with being head devil in this business.
Very much to our astonishment MIR.
Cleveland has put the Albany man,
Matthews, forcibly into the Recorder OF
Deeds ship, against the Senate's de-
cided Judgment and the public senti-
ment. Mr.. Dorsey Claget:, a close
friend of Marshal Wilson, has succeeded
Ramsdell as Register OF Wills. The
President has also reappointed Mr..
Button, postmaster at Lynchburg, re-
jected by the Senate.
One of our city dailies editorlally re-
marking on the voluntary retirement OF
several leading men of the House OF
Representatives after this Congress, be-
cause their wish to expedite and I'M
prove legislation has been disregarded,
SAYS that "the rules of Congress must
be reformed altogether" The changes
i'm the rules made last December were
in the right direction, but subsequent
experience shows that something more
is wanted than tinkering OF the new
rules, namely, bran-new set, constl-
tuted with view to facilitate business
and prevent distractions. Very well,
be it so, but to have things quite right
the reform must 60 deeper, or into the
very spirit and temper of Congress IT.
self. Judging from effects, each Con-
yress starts with Il secret conference, in
the House, between the Speaker, the
Chairman of the Judiciary, Appropria-
tions, Ways and Means, Claims, War
Claims and Pensions Committees, and
perhaps one or two more, at which 1t is
understood and agreed on that with
reference to the mass of private claim
ants, constantly accommodating, the word
of promise shall be kept to the ear and
the eve, but broken to the hope. This
is more especially the case with a DEM
ocratic House, whose great ambition is
to be able to tell the people at the next
coming election how very economical
they have been, viz, by stinting neces-
sary supplies, and keeping honest
claimants still unpaid. Now if any
party wants to win the genuine regards
of the people let all that underhand pol
icy be put behind the back, and a
straightforward, upright and down
right demeanor adopted instead. Let
the government manfully look its pri-
rate Indebtedness full in the face, and if
it is lnconvenient to pay what is due in
cash, pay in low priced bond, to run
ten, fifteen or twenty years. That
would be perfectly acceptable, and in
conformity with equity, for the country
has no moral right to prOtract payment
of Just debts year after year, and age
after age, keeping claimants out of the
use of their money. Then, when the
country is honorably rid of this indebt-
edness, members of both Houses would
be free to give undivided attention to
objects of legislation, instsad of bog
CLING with claims they never dexter
ously handle. That would be a reform
worth talking about.
What will the Virginians OF the VAL
ley think of the bold Riddleborger? n
five years dose of Prohibition may cure
him. Riddleberger drunk is no match
for John Sherman, sober.
Our Mexican etllorescence has
bloomed and the petals lie scattered on
the ground. Cutting is bad egg. and
kicked up that fuss with the Mexican
editor thinking of the backing he would
get from the multitudinous ultra patri-
OTIS east of the Rio Grande. He is SEN
fenced to year in Jail and fine of
5000. On our northern frontier the
Canadians are answering their Maine
and Massachusetts, competitors with con-
tinual additions to their Coast Navy.
Amongst other vessels they have bought
an American craft, the Yosemite. If
the Canadians are mad they have
method in their madness.
Those Belfast rioters cap the climax.
They fight like demons, and keep on at
it. The wonder is what and whence is
the dnimus that inspires them. Knotty
problem.
after l43 ballotings in vain, the Con-
gressional Convention of the Eighth
Virginia district at Alexandria has adj
journed to August 25th. 1t is impossible
to decide who the nominee will be, Lee,
Foster or Hume. Anyway they are
very much out of temper with Mr..
Cleveland's Civil Service dogmas. The
Matthews nomination here in the Dis
trict has bearing on the subject.
The death of Samuel j. Tilden seems
to have released his quondam associate
Abram S. Hewitt, who now comes out
and openly says that Samuel was truly
elected President but was afraid to take
the office. But, was the cowardice all
on one side? There was really no
ground for fear, for until the Republic
cans saw that Tilden and his chums were