Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-02-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsHrNaroN. Feb. 8. ,sl

Congress, and In the controversy be-
tween til, President and Senate has
been partly overshadowed by the con-
stantly expanding Pan Electric expos
ure. Everywhere in Washington the
Telephone Is the recurring topic of con-
versatiOn. 1t is heard at the Capitol,
in the Hobbies of the Senate and
House, in the streeI cars and hotels,
and in every group where politics or
public men are discussed. Everyone
il wondering what the President will
10, and what the Attorney General
will do.
II is painful to see the democratic
party distracted frsm its great work OF
reform by this rmbaI assing affair. Az
ter twenty-five years Of publication il
is pity that it should be placed i'm
such u position. And ! feel constrain-
ed to say in the language of n Con-
gresham from Maine. IF the right
eous suffer thus, what then will be-
come Of us poor republicansinners."
The friends of NJ Garland hold
that while he is placed in very en-
barassing attitude, he is not at all to
blame The superstition that Mr.
Garland's purposes were entirely
honest does not affect the situation.
The pecuniary interest of n Govern
ment officer must have nothing TO do
with the public setvice with which he
is connected, and the Attorney Gener-
al has remained, since he was elected
to his high Office. connected with an
enterprise whose interests he could
further by using his official position.
Official virtue is urgently needed in
these days when there is n deep seated
suspicion in the public mind that pub
lie affairs are not honestly managed.
And this affair is peculiarly sickening
when it is remembered how the demo
cratic party prated, during the late
Presidential campaign, about old fash
loned public virtue.
The course that Attorney General
Garland will pursue cannot be forecast
difficult part to play where personal
reputation is affected. The opinion is
often expressed here that he must eth
er get rid of his telephone stock. or the
Department of Justice must get rid of
him. Some Congressman expressed
themselves freely about stock jobbing
statesmen, but Senators are reticent
Should proceedings of impeachment
be Instituted against Mr., Garland the.
Senate would be called upon TO act rs
jurors, and it would not be proper for
them to PREJUDICE the case.
The House committee which is TO IN
vestigate the conduct Of the Telephone
suit hay on it five democrats and only
three republican members, but the lat
ter are active and determined, Rep
resentative Mckinley, of Ohio, speak
Jog of tho .o"Pa of fha invsstit ra tion
that has been referred to this corumiI
tee, said "Nothing can stop HOUSE
Committee when 1t gets started II
can go as deep as it pleases.
Congress done n creditable week.
work in II quiet way. There was legis-
ation for land and water. The Sen
ate voted 5000. 0C0. 900 for the Nations
militia, and th> House passed the old
Dingley shipping bill. after some in
land members from Iowa, Arkansas
and other states had astonished the
floor and galleries 10y displaying in de-
bate their practical acquaintance witt!
nautical affairs.
After a long discussion in which
we're many passages at arms, the Sen
ate welcomed the coming common
wealth of Dakota 70 the ssterhood Of
States. 1t was by II strict party vote,
with the exception of Senator Voor
hees. who voted with the Republicans
tall sycamore of tie Wabash"
hrs a son IN Washington Territory who
holds prominent office. AS Wash
ington is also knocking for admission
at the door of the Union, some one
was SO uncharitable as to hint that
Senator Voorhees, saw good family
politics in this concession 70 Dakota.
Considerable rhetoric was expended
in the Senate over one man. Tie
Secretary of the Navy had asked for
an assistant Secretary of the Navy at
"a, 900 year, Senators Plumb and In
gals of Kansas and Van Wick of Ne
braska thought he was not necessary.
Mr. Plumb said he would simply be
another official to wear rose in his
buttonhole, give receptions, and dis
port himself to foreigners so as to
make the Government show" more
complete. These Department chiefs
were merely ornamental Depart
ment work, like the brook, went on
forever" regardless of who was Sc Gre
tary. lie thought there was already
too much machinery in the Govern
ment Departments. Responsibility
was now so much divided that in fact
when traced up, It could be found no
where.
Secretary Ingalls, referred with some
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