Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-05-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, May "a, 1886.

about an adjournment of Congress
as soon as possible. He probably
takes the sensible ground that the
party has done itself so little good
at this session that it had better go
home before it founders into any
more blunders. But there is another
view to take of the Presidents mo-
tives. 1t looks very much as if he
were really to he married. He has
just bought a rose-embowered, vine
clad country seat few miles from
this city, which is an ideally suitable
spot in which to pass his honey
moon, and doubtless he would like
to have Congress out of his way.
The Democratic Congressman are
SO prosecuted by the applications
of the Office seekers that they look
hopefully towards the adjournment
as respite from their affiiction. A
funny story is told about prom
inent Irish constituent of Represen-
tatiye O'NeiP of Missouri. He came
to Washington and informed his
Congressman that he must have a
position as Waterman in the Gov
eminent service. "The Dimocrats
are in power now and it is time you
were doing something for me, be-
cause have been working for you
all along" "All right" said Mr..
'O'Neill, Where is the vacancy 2"
" | don't know replied the man,
II lave that to you. Al! l know is
/ want the Office and must have it,"
The Congressman went to the De-
partment of the Interior and exer-
ted high pressure upon all the prin.
cipal officials there. He considered
it a desperate case, and after a
weeks hard work, Republican
was turned out, and his Office
placed at the disposal of Mr..
O'Neill's constituent. The man was
then presented to the appointment
clerk Of the department, who offered
to swear him in. "No, l won't be
sworn IN" said he. ~ don't want
yer office. just wanted to see if
Johnny had any influence in Wash
ington."
Another efficient Republican Of
fee holder has just been discharged
from the Land Office under the SEN
tence of "offensive partisan" He
was from South Carolina, and he
lays his dismissal at the doors of
the Senators from that State. 1t
seems he was Blaine delegate to
the last National Republican con-
ventlon.
The subject Of filling the inches in
the Senate Chamber with busts of
the Vice Presidents has been dis
cussed at the Capitol. 1t was de-
cided that tho busts of tho three
living Vice Presidents, Arthur,
Wheeler and Hamlin shall be the
first to be put up. Then starting
with the first Vice President, John
Adams, two busts will be contracted
for at u time until all the inches shall
have been supplied.
1t has also been proposed that a
monumental statue in bronze be
erected in front of the War Depart
ment, to commemorate the public
services of Edwin NJ. Stanton, as
Secretary of War between 1S62.67.
The bill provides that three SEN
ators and three Representative
shall contract for the monument. 1t
shall be of heroic size and shall be
practicable, from condemned can
non captured or used by the United
States during the war. The bill has
stirred the ire of some of the Dem
ocrats who have gone so far as to
say it was introduced for the pur-
pose of provoking debate on old war
issues.
Whether or not Mr.. Stanton was
in all respects a great man, he was
at least sternly patriotic at a time
when men of this sort were needed.
He was unforgiving, it is true, but
this was hardly fault in the storm
of war. Just such a nature as Stan
toms was needed at the Capital dur
ing the civil conflict, and probably
no man of that time better deserves
monument.
The old soldiers throughout the
country are shoyering congratula-
tory letters upon Senator Blair for
his championship of the Service
pension bill, which recently passed
the Senate. 1t allows a pension to
every disabled veteran who is now
unable to earn his own living. who
served in the Union army for three
months. Many of these letters ex-
press enthusiastic gratitude, and
some OF them promise to elect Mr..
Blair President after Mr.. Blaine.
Taking it the year around Gener.
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