Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-07-16
OUR WASHINGTON CORRESgI
P0NDENCE.

Z 0H DEN CE.
MR. GOODIES REJECTION BY THE sENATE-sENA-
TOR MAHoNE's RELENTLESS FIGHT AGAINST HIM
A CHEAT STRUGGLE OVER THE RIVER AND
HARBoR BILL-ooNcERNING THE TREASURY
SURPLUS.
Especial Correspondence of the STAUNToN YIN
DIcAToR.l
WASHINGTON, July 14.-On Saturday last,
nomination of Hon. John Goode, of Virginia,
for Solicitor General This is the first i'm
portant nomination that the Senate has reject
ed. Mr.. Goode has discharged the duties of
the Office for more than year, and with very
marked ability and fidelity, abundantly prov
ing the good judgment of the President in
making the choice. But Mr.. Goode has been
relentlessly pursued by political enemies,
whose hostility grows out of the contests In
his congressional district Ever since Mr..
Goode was named for the place, Senator Ma
hone has been waging continual warfare
against confirmation, relying upon the Repub-
ican Senators to stand by him through in his
fight to defeat Goode. In 1881, when the
Senate was tie, politica Lily, not counting Ma
hone, he had the casting vote.- He sold it to
the Republicans, the consideration demanded
and granted being that he should have exclu-
sive control of the Federal patronage in Vir-
ginia. His vote gave the control of the Sen
ate to the Republicans and it was in pursu-
ance of the bargain then made that he de-
manded of the Republican Senators to reject
Mr.. Goode. That is the simple truth of the
matter.
Leaving out Mr.. Riddleberger, not one Re-
publican voted contrary to Mahone's wishes.
One-Mitchell, of Oregon-abstained BY vot-
ing. Several Republicans were kindly dis
posed towards Mr.. Goode. They desired TO
vote for bis confirmation, and for months past
have given the friends of that gentleman as
surances that they would do so. They recog-
nized his integrity, his ability, and his entire
fitness for the position. The utmost conf
dence that Mr. Goode would be confirmed was
felt up to the last day. Then the party lash
was
LAID UPON YHE BACKS
of those who had kicked over the traces
They promptly got back into their old places
in the team, and at the crack of Mahone's
whip, pulled with the rest. The Democrats
voted solidly against the motion to reject
They were reinforced by Mr.. Riddleberger,
who during the executive session at which
the matter was considered, made a long and
earnest speech in his favor. AS an example
of bad faith, may be mentioned the great Sem
ator, William M. Evarts, of New York. He is
member of the Judiciary Committee, to
which this nomination was referred. So fa-
vorable was he to Mr.. Goode, that in the COM
mittee he voted with the Democratic members
against an adverse report. But, all the same,
he weakened, and ON the final roll-call record
ed his vote forrejection.
Mr.. Goode having been rejected solely on
political grounds, very many of his Democrat
ic friends felt that the President ought to i'm
mediately renominate him for the position
Yesterday the entire Democratic delegation
from Virginia-except one or two who were
absent from the city-and other prominent
Virginians. waited upon the President and
urged Mr.. Goodies denomination. The Presi-
dent received them very kindly, expressing
his regret at Mr.. Goodies rejection, and his
entire Confidence in him. He did not, howev-
er, say what he would do in the premises
Mr.. Cleveland never does tell anybody what
he is going to do. He silently absorbs all the
advice that is given him, and then generally
does the most unexpected thing.
The breach between Senators Malone and
Riddleberger has long been widening. Since
the fight over this question it has become such
yawning chasm that there is little hope of its
being closed The trouble ARISES largely from
the fact that Malone has insisted upon con-
trolling all the Virginia patronage. By virtue
of his own position as a Senator, Mr.. Riddle
berger very naturally felt disposed to question
his right to do this.
THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL.
The average river and harbor bill is like
charity, in that it "covers a multitude of
sins" Many of the appropriations are made
for purposes that are of little value to the gov
eminent or ANY of its people, except, perhaps,
the Congressman who procure the money to
be expended in their district. 1t has always
been SO, and probably always will be. Every
now and then a river and harbor bill is vetoed
by the President, on account of its enormous
expenditures. None was passed last year.
The two houses could not agree, and the bill
fell between them. This time there has been
a vast amount of labor of pen and tongue ex-
pended upon the bill. The House spent ten
days in debating and finally passed it with
an aggregate of SIS, 100000. Then it went to
the Senate, and that body has been labor1ng
over it for more than week. Last night the
Senators ground away until midnight.
large number of amendments have been added
to it. and the total has been increased about
So, 900, 000 SO that it is now SIS, OO0, 900. 1t
has not yet passed the Senate. All day to-day
vas spent in discussing motions by Senator
Mcmillan, of Minnesota, to scale down every
item 30 per cent, and thus made 'thorizon-
tal' reduction of over S., 900, 900; and by Sem
ator Butler, of South Carolina, to reduce the
aggregate to 10000, 900, this amount to be
expended under the direction and at the dis
erection of the Secretary of War. If Congress
wants tn bill to become law, it will have to
apply some sort of heroic treatment for q re-
duction of the amount, for if laid before the
President in its present shape, he will certain
ly veto it.
THE TREASURY SURPLUS.
Yesterday and to-day the House had an ex.