Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1886-04-09
NO. |.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, March %. 1886.

Commissioner of Pensions in regard to
the charges he brought against his pre-
decessor, Dudley, it would seem that
the spirit of inquiry were raging here
now.
On the contrary all of these affairs
are dismal farces. No sensations have
been evolved from the Telephone brsi-
ness, and public interest in it is rapidly
subsiding. Hon. Casey Young has
contradicted the imputations against
the Attorney: General, and in seeking
letters for publication as testimony,
out of 2l2, five were from Mr.. Gar
land, none of which bear on the sub
ject under investigation.
Gen. Black is well fortified with
proof of his allegations against ex-C Com
missioner Dudley's Republican Pension
Machine. He has submitted cases of
gross irregularity, showing that claims
were advanced and allowed as partisan
rewards, and he has hundreds of affida-
Wits in reserve.
as to the Senate's fight for papers,
none but the blindest of partisans can
sec any other out come of the Republi-
can situation than surrender There
is desire on the part of most of the
Senators who have followed Mr.. Ed
munds' lead to drop the contest as soon
as possible and to say as little as posi-
bic about it. The debate has involved
so many Senators i'll contradictions and
| inconsistencies that it has clearly
strengthened the President in his posi-
tion. II has also served to direct at
teRtion to The evils of secret session so
intently that their very existence is
strongly threatened
The weakest point Of the Republi-
can position is that they have called
TOR this Information to be used in Star
Chamber sessions. If the Senate con-
sideled the Presidents appointments
in open session, there would be much
more excuse for those attacks upon
him for his secrecy.
Senator Edmunds is sorely cut by the
revolt of the Finance committee. Its
resolve to report tho nominations of
Internal Revenue Collectors referred to
it in spite of the caucus, was square
back down from the republican posi-
ton. And the present week is likely
| to witness similar action on the part oi
the Indian Affairs Committee, and
other Committees which are weary oi
the useless contest.
There was never any genuineness Of
cohesion Iii the movement, and it re
quired little political keenness to Sc,
what would certainly happen. Th,
obstruction was political blunder, ant
there was so little interest in it tha
the public did not even charge it
mind with the task of keeping up will
the debate. The indignation whicl
was pumped up was false and labored
and there has been no time when th
Republican Senators in a body hav
not regretted the course into whicl
they were dragooned by the raspin
selishness from Vermont. AS an ex
perimental issue it has been a disma
failure, and it is only astonishing tina
the pretense was kept up as long as
was Much was expected by the ms
tjoritv Senators from their colleague
MIR. Spooner, the new Senator fror
Wisconsin. He occupied the foo
part of two days, but failed utterly t
cover himself with glory. He starte
out quite bravely, but in winding u
he got lost, groped around for abou
an hour pointlessly in search of sui
able finale, repeated himself half doze
< times, and closed quite tamely.
Senator Colquitt, of Georgia, will
heard in long speech to-day on ii
Democratic side, and Senator Ingall
of Kansas, will follow next in beha
OF the Republican,. He is one
their ablest men and has careful
0 prepared speech,
The bill to pension the widow q
General Hancock has been before Il
!. House, and was eloquently supportt
. by Representative Bingham, of Pen
sylyania. Representative Price,
Wisconsin, opposed it. He said Il
d country had paid General Hancock
n brilliant, brave, generous in all h
proportions, the sum of S152,0(
during the hast twenty years. "H
helped TO save your country" suggest,
9 Mr. Bingham. Aud there are hu
dreds of thousands as good as he W
helped to save the country, who a
: starving, replied Mr. Price The pc
sion will be $1,000 year There a
msny members who would be glad
: make it $1,000, but the widows
Gen. Thomas and Admiral Farrag