The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-05-02
RANDOM NOTES.

statements been made and investigations had as TO
the stamped envelope contracts, end one OF the last
reports OF the retiring Republican Postmaster Gen.
eral exploded the malicious attacks upon Gen
Hazen, the present ef1ctent Third Assistant Post
master General. The fact is, Gen. Hazen has ad.
minstered his business with rare efficiency and
economy, as the state OF his ONCE and the yearly
decreasing proportlonate expenditures for postage
stamps and stamped envelopes show most coucu.
stvey. But somebody probably some OF the former
dishonest dismissed oflicals-hss made some ire
sponsible hearsay statements, and the result is a
proposition for special committee, with chairman
commttec-room, clerk, stenographer. and the
other expensive appendages, witness fees, etc,
which characterize special committees OF the House
or Senate.n
III understand that this Investigation Ia not leyeled
at Gen. Hasen,"I said.
perhaps not. Very likely not. have heard It
was aimed at ex Postmaster General Gresham, who
acted very foolshly In interfering with the Third
Assistants once and paid the penalty by Increasing
Its expenditures. But nobody believes Gresham
acted dishonesty. He was put up to IL by dishonest
men, and only acted as tool In their hands,"
"What would you do7" asked, "with such appli.
cations for special committees7'
WI would refer them to the appropriate standing
committee Of the House having charge OF The genera,
subject In the present case, why are not the Com.
mittee on Post 0fices and Post Roads competent for
this duy7 They are certainly more competent,
from the nature Of their duties, to perform the
work OF ascertainng whether the subject is worthy
OF investigating than the Committee on Rules. Be-
sides this there will be pressure on the Committee
OF Rules to appoint special committee by those
who want TO be chairmen, and the friends OF those
who have broken.down constituents who would like
to serve as clerk, messenger, stenographer process
server, ETC., ETC., to the committee This kind of
thing ought to be put stop TO. No investigation
ho ,,,,ap aA xvlth
and then only after the report Of the proper standing
committee
As there are so many District people Interested In
the result Of the labors of the Commission invest.
eating the Scientific Bureaus, I made an effort last
week to ascertain what was likely to he agreed upon
by the Commission. Members of that august body
approached on the subject kept their mouths shut
as closely as an oyster at low tide and had to search
elsewhere for news, or rather hints as to probable
results. was told that Representative Herbert
was down on the Coast Survey and Senator Morgan
equally severe upon the Weather Bureau; that
Senator Hale leaned toward the Navy in the matter
Of photographic work, and Representative Lowry
was kindly disposed toward the Coast Survey
Whether the bill introduced by Mr.. Herbert dlspens
ing with certain important work now being done BY
the Geological Bureau hal the sanction of the Com
mission could not learn.
gentleman who is quite inimical to the present
management Of the Coast Survey said to me yester
day:
"You may rely upon this: that Notwithstanding
what the Commission may report as to the Coast
Survey the House Appropriation Committee intend
to cut down ts expenditures one-half, II not two
thirds. Mr.. Randall, who has charge Of the Sundry
civil bill, In which the Coast Survey approximation,
are always put, Ia determined enemy of that inst
tuition, as at present organized, aud he has sought
for evidence upon which to base report recon-
mending these reductions. The fact is that Randall
originated the Commission scheme, and expected TO
chairman of the Democratic contingent, and was
disappointed when the personnel Of the committee
was announced"
"Has Randall always been unfriendly to the
Survey" asked, "and has his opposition been based
upon the uselessness Of the work or its defective
character?n
"No," replied my Informant. "In the days when
Bache and Patterson presided over the Survey he
was friendly to It, His falling out occurred after
Hilgard became Superintendent. AID there isn't a
friendly feeling now between those who are running
the institution and him."
"Does the opposition to the Survey come from
those outside Of 1t 2" / asked.
"fes, and from some pretty smart fellows on the
inside" he replied. "Subordinates pretty well up In
figures have supplied the sub committee with facts
and then there is strong combination against 1t in
the Treasury Department. The present Supern.
tendent, you know, was appointed by the President
his personal selection-when Higard was sus-
pended and Auditor Chenowith undertook to nves-
tigate the bureau. Now, Chenowith and Thorne who
acted together during the investigation are at dag.
gers drawn, and understand that Mr.. Maynard and
Assistant Secretary Smith are acting with Cheno.
win. They intend to break down Thorne and
break up the Survey If they can; and the Commit.
tee on Appropriations Of the House will help them.
lbutton-holeda q Republican Senator recently to
learn what could Of the disposition Of the Senate
toward the Potomac Flats improvement and asked
him what would be the probable outcome OF the
present hitch on the subject.
"l am convinced" he said, ''that the Senate I'm
case the House does not provide fer the improve
ment, Will put an appropriation for 1t on the River
and Harbor bill. The fact IS, Congress has been
stampeded on this question, by the fear that the i'm
provement OF the ias would inure to the benent of
certain claimants, and that the United States would
have to pay, not only the Insignificant sum that the
nats are worth In their present condition. but also
the added value, no one can estimate how great, of
the Government improvements. There is better
understanding now Of the whole subject, and be.
lleve that the Senate will appropriate handsome
sum Tor the continuation Of the work, with proyiso
that It shall not be spent upon that Insignificant por-
ZION OF the hats covered by these titles until the ques-
ton OF title Is settled. That can he DONE he added
"by summary process, which would take but little
be settled long before the question came up for con-
sderaticn at the next session OF Congress-
"Do you not tnink," asked, 'that 1t would be
safer to provide for the appropriation In separate
bil?"
ut certainly would" the Senator replied "But
can 1t be done? In the present temper OF the House
1t does not look as II 1t could be done. No. The
hest course is to put 1t In the River and Harbor bill
and let 1t take Its chances OF Presidential veto
along with the good and bad schemes In that meas
ure Besides, you know, 1t il not incumbent upon |
the President to spend all the money appropriated
by the River and Harbor bill. He may sign the bill
on account OF the necessary and proper improve |
ments named In it, and then decline to carry on |
those improvements OF doubtful necessity or of |
purely local or individual interest" |
"what do you think OF the new Congressional |
Democratic Campaign Executive Committee ~ / |
asked q Western member.
VI think the selection Of Senator Kenna as chair.
man," he replied, "was a most excellent one.
senator German was the choice of most OF US, as we
mad great faith In his executive abilties But he de-
,llned to serve again In that capacity. lie has
enough to do as chairman OF the National Executive
committee, and will aid the Congressional Commit
zee In raising money and in other ways. Senator
kenna is young man, active and vigorous, ana
'apable OF doing great deal of hard work. lie Ia
'ery Intelligent man, well-read and well up on all
'ubc questions, and In sympathy with his party on
ieary every question. He made his mark In the
iouse, where he worked hard and spoke we'll His
peech on the currency question was the textbook
u the party during the 1873 Congressional campaign.
Fhe committee have done well, very we'll In choosing
lin az chairman"
swim the Democrats carry the next House ~ I
sked.
"Well, do not see how we can lose It, Still there
re many Democrats OF long political experience
Vho think there IL a possibility Of the Republicans
arryng 1t. ! am not one OF the number, however.
cannot see any real or substantial evidence OF
Democratic dslntegraton, and while we will un.
oabtedy lose number Of districts that we now
ave, yet II the light is made In the simon pure
Democratic districts, instead OF wasting money and
ctivlty on the doubtful Districts are sure to winn
WASHINGTON WIT.
Mr.. de weckherln, the Minister from the Neither
inds, Is the wit OF the Diplomatic Corps, and his
atest bon mots are always repeated with zest at
ocial gatherings He understands and speaks Eng
sh 30 well that he makes pun ss readily In our
anguage as In his own. Lately some ladies' and
Gentlemen were In his prpBence sneakn0 NJ a fa,,uv