The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-05-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondents
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
Nav. II. 1854

-"
May, II, 1861
Although the present session of
Congress is called dull one, it is
not without occasional sensations.
The President created one when he
sent to Commissioner Black'for pa
pers to enlighten him upon the sew
eral hundred private pension bills
which Congress hurriedly passed
and sent to the White House for his
signature. No President has ever
before taken the time or trouble to
examine private bills. Mr.. Cleve-
land vetoed only two ofthem. sign
ed eighty of the number, and al
lowed the others to become laws
without his signature after satisfy
ing himself that their records were
clear. But he directed the attention
of-our Legislators on Capitol Hill to
his determination to know the con
tent of every bill they send to him
o rapproval.
1t is just possible that Mr.. Cleve-
land will ignore another Presiden'
tial custom, namely that of going
to the Capitol just before the adj
iournnlent of Congress and while
the two bodies are rushing through
all the bills that can be passed in
that late and ill-regulated stage, and
of signing everything that is thrust
under his hand.
On Wednesday the army appro-
priation bill had been passed by
the House of Representatives, and
the bill providing for the. support
of our Diplomats and consuls had
Been taken up. Members felt that
they had already did agood days
work, andwere gladthat an opportu-
nifty for amusement should present
itself. Presently an item of the bill
was reached which led to a request
from Representative Hewitt that
the. appropriation for a steam
launch for the use cfthe legation at
Constantinople be increased from
81 900 to 81 1900.
This led to a funny story about
some competition with the "Effete
Monarchies" of Europe. Mr.. Can
non ofIll., criticised the Democrats
for proposing to increase the APP
preparation and another member
suggested that the late Republican
Minister to Turkey manage to get
along with the old launch. Mr..
Hewitt replied that the late Repub-
lican Misister did not get along with
it. "Iwent with him nthe launch"
continued he, "and the British
: launch came out and went by us
and the Italian launch came out
and left us and as the only Ameri-
can flag that floats in those waters
! is the flag on this steam launch, we
had to submit to the humiliation of
, seeing it run away from.
"Why didn't you fire up?" was
, asked by a Republican.
eve did," replied Mr.. Hewitt.
"Our American blood began to boil
and the boiler began to boil, and
the result was that when we got
half way to Constantinople, sudden
ly the whole thing collapsed and
we were left in the open Bosphorus.
If a Republican could not get along
with a thousand dollars-and l am
awitness that can prove that he did
mott don't see how any Democrat
? can get along with it." ''The last
Minister did not ask for more
, said Nh. Morrison. 'Oh, yes he did,
replied Mr.. Hewitt, land he appeal
ed to me as an American citizen to
come in here and make q statement
: of the humiliation we both felt on
| that occasion; and l have not re-
, covered from that humiliation yet
and if you ask Gen. Lew Wallace
he will tell you that he was never
: so Inundated as when in that brok-
t en- down launch. This $500 will
, save the honor of the American flag
A few evenings since Representa-
tive Hill discussed Civil Service Re-
form before the Ohio Democratic as
ISOLATION of this city, and talked a.
l bout the political situation in the
Buckeye State. He said while he be-
llieved the election of a Democratic
President should have been follow.
ed by a complete transfer of the of
t fees to Democrats, still the Demo
, Gratis of Ohio were not going to fail
, intheir support of the party because
they did not get what they wanted.
He mentioned however, that 10000
offices have already fallen into the
: hands of Democrats under the new
Administration, includingau of the
most lucrative ones in the gift OF
the Government. 81 am ready
said he, eat any time to vote for the
repeal of the Civil Service act. 1t is
t opposed to the genus of our Repub-
E lican institutions, but while it re-
mains on the statute book, it is the
duty of the President to enforceit.
"Ohio Democrats" he said, "are not
actuated by a thirst for spoils. II
the Administration helps them, all
right; if not, they will stand by the
; old party all the same. If MI. Cleve-
land had started in all at once to re-
move and appoint without waiting
5 to consider the merits and qualif,
cations of the men he would have
. Justified the accusation that the Re,
publicans, in every campaign, have
been making against u.s." juno.
WASHINGTON LETTER.