Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-08
Photographed Letter.
WASHINGTON, d. c., July, 9Th 1886

This is the day celebr ated the world
over by all true American as the an
niversary of the birth Of political and
religious freedom. It is day for re-
joicing. 1t will be the worse for
human liberty if the time ever comes
when the native born American loses
respect for the anniversary of Amer
lean Independence. Congress pre-
tends to be in session while everybody
else is taking things leisurely. The
only excuse for this is the backward
ness Of public business for which
Congress alone is to blame.
Senator Edmunds has astonished
every one in and out of Congress by
announcing the preparation of bill
which, if adopted by both houses and
signed by the President, will give the
President exclusive appointing power,
and relieve the Senate of the bother
of confirming or rejecting appoint
ments. The main features of the bill
are, that with few exceptions, the
President shall make all appointments
to Federal Offices; that the term of
Office shall be fixed at four years, and
that no removals shall take place
except for cause, and this cause to be
investigated in the United States
Courts; the President shall have pow
er only to suspend those whom he
deems unworthy to continue in Office,
and the suspended officer shall be
required to go into court and show
why his suspension shall not terminate
in removal, the judge TO decide.
This law would possess the advantage
of giving fixed tenure to Office and
relieve the Senate of all the fuss and
trouble about appointments and throw
all the responsibility on the President
altogether. No one seems to under
stand why Mr.. Edmunds, who has
contented so strongly hitherto, for the
right Of the senate to confirm or eject
appointments should take this tack.
His only explanation is that such a
law would be in the interest of better
civil service. 1t is not likely to be
adopted.
The death of Judge Davis creates a
vacancy in the position of the leader
of the independents in politics. He
was the most conspicuous representa-
tive of independence in politics this
country has ever seen, and, it may be
added, the truest and most faithful to
his convictions of right.
Talking of war reminds me that the
case of that doubtful if not doughty
warrior, Fritz John Porter. as printers
would say, is "off the hook" it is to
be hoped forever. The bill of his
relief passed the senate on Friday, not
withstanding the long and earnest fight
made against by it Gen. Logan and
others. Of course the president will
sign it; he will be 'tonly too happy"
1t was a striking coincidence that just
before the vote was taken the an
nouncement was made that the Presi-
dent had just vetoed bill giving Mrs.
Gen. Hunter pension of $50 per
month. AS Gen. Hunter presided at
the court martial that tried Fritz
John Porter, the point is easily seen.
Another thing was noticeable in the
last debate, and that was, that Butler,
the former Confederate general from
South Carolina, took up the cudgel
for Porter in the joust with the
opponents of the bill.
Time, it is said, makes all things
even, and if the Republican party,
and the boys in blue don't square
accounts with the Democratic party at
the next Presidential election, then [
am no prophet.
The severest attack made on the
President in either house yet, was
made by Representative Gibson, of
West Virginia, on Friday afternoon.
The point was his vetoes, and crit
eisms on bills of pensions. Among
other things that Mr.. Gibson said was,
that the President was no better than
any other American citizen, and not
the equal of any man who periled his
life and went out to save the Union.
The friends of the Hennepin Canal
bill are pretty happy, and think there
is daylight ahead. The River and
Harbor bill having been passed by the
Senate, with this bill attached, it
must go back to the House. If the
House should agree, and the President
sign it, all would be lovely; but there's
many a slip etc.
The Northwestern people feel that
they have been badly treated by the
President, the Interior Department
and Congress this season. and the facts
Justify them in their feelings. The
class of people who open up the coun-
try, develop its resorces, and make it
home for intelligence, morality and
patriotism, have had hard time of it
under this Democratic administration.
1t is rumored here that the Dakotans
are wrathy enough to fight, but they
will have time to get in good humor
before they are admitted by Demo-