News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-02-04
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the News and Citizen.l
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
Ian. %. 1886.

on pensions, silver money and the
electoral count bill the interesting
controversy between the President
and Republican Senators and three
different conventions. One of them
was in behalf of improving the Mis-
sissippi river and other Western water
ways, another was by the National
Board of Trade, and the third was
held by silver men from different
parts of the country.
Senator Sherman, President OF the
Senate, made notable speech to the
effect that after nearly hundred
years it still remains an unsolved
problem as to how the electoral vote
shall be counted. He argued that
where the two Houses cannot agree on
any question affecting the count, they
shall meet and vote in joint conven-
ton. His plan was endorsed by Sem
ator Evarts, and controversial by
Senators Edmunds and Hoar. The
debate was interesting, and was made
more so from the fact that the speak
ers were all possible Presidential can
didates. Each was on his mettle and
at his best. The Senate was full
and attentive. 1t was a critical court
of able, subtle lawyers, and large
audience in the galleries also stimu-
lated effort.
Some extraordinary pension schemes
have been introduced into the present
Congress. One has just been brought
forward in the House that exceeds in
extravaganza anything yet proposed.
1t grants pensions to every soldier
and sailor of the Mexican war, and to
every soldier and sailor of the war of
the rebellion who served even fourteen
days in the army and navy. 1t gives
pensions also to the widows of such
soldiers or sailors, provided they have
not married again. Then it raises
certain pensions to the maximum of
s24 per month, prescribes that every
So pension now paid to widows and
minors shall be raised to SIP, and
finally it dates all the civil war pen
sions back to the death or discharge.
The attitude of the President and
Senate to each other has not changed
in the past few days. A political de-
bate is expected in the Senate soon,
however, over a resolution that Sena-
tor Edmunds expects to offer in open
session, calling on the President to
furnish information and give his rea-
sons for the removal of certain Off
Gals. Both Democratic and Republi
can Senators are making ready for
this prospective fray.
There are some Democratic Sena-
tors who hope the President will re-
fuse to submit to the Senate papers
on file respecting his nomination. The
anxiety arises more from personal
embarrassment, which the publication
of such documents would cause them,
than from q desire to maintain exec
! ntiva dionity- Such napers would
disclose the fact that some Senators
have, while protesting an active in
terest in behalf of one applicant, dill
igently pressed another for the place
sought. So long as these papers re-
main buried in the files of depart
ments, office-seekers will remain in
ignorance of the deception practiced
them.
Most of the Democrats concede that
the Senate has right to ask for in
formation relating to appointments
but they hold that any papers con-
tanning charges against incumbents
who have been removed cannot prop
erly be called for. Yet all through
the campaign they said, "turn on the
lights and turn the rascals out" The
Republicans hold that if dismissed Of
ficials had charges brought against
them, their personal and party friends
have a right to know what they were,
for the ssreform administration" said
no one should be removed except for
cause.
Senators refuse to abandon thei r
secret sessions. Gen Logan tested
this question fully few days since.
He proposed that all executive bust
ness be considered with open doors,
hereafter, introducing resolution to
that effect. He held that the people
had as good right to know what was
said and done in the Senate in regard
to nominations as in regard to legis-
lation, and that they were equally in
terested in both. He said that while
he never violated the injunction OF
secrecy, he was willing to have every
thing he said or did in executive ses-
sion published to the whole world.
There was a great deal of conster-
nation at this attack upon an ancient
precedent, and loud protests were
heard from both sides of the cham
Der. Only one Senator, Van Wyck
of Nebraska, supported Gen. Logan
and he withdrew his resolution, find
ing there was no hope for it.
In an interesting paper on South
American Bird Music, contributed to
the English scientific journal Nature,
a oorroopopdapt cove ssThoro 10 a