The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-02-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.

AOAlHUlOH LII 161s
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9Th, 1eS6.-The at
titude of the president and senate con-
tinues to be the chief topic of comment
here What will the republican sena-
tors next do? is a popular question.
With Senators. Logan, Edmunds, Nor
rili, HOar and Sherman as leaders they
might do almost anything that is ex-
IRENE or unwarrantable. But some OF.
them have become recalcitrant and hos
tilities may yet end in a senatorial
retreat.
There is very little harmony among
the majority in the senate. There are
too many presidential candidates on
| their side of the chamber for unity OF
purpose and action. There are no less
than eight republican senators who are
looking hopefully towards the white
house in 1888.
The situation as between the senate
and administration is not materially
changed, but some of the republicans
are anxious TO have the trouble end, no
and have gone SO far as to say there Is
real issue. One of them said, 'sI wish
some one would disabuse the public
mind of the belief that there is going to
be any fight between the president and
the senate. There can be none" con-
/ biuuCQ uC, buC DICoAQCub 10 uldSB6I
of the situation. II he refuses the in
formation we ask, that settles it. We
can do nothing but refuse to confirm.
At the end of the session he reappoint
bis man, or appoint another man, that
lie ALL"
And then Senator Edmunds, who has
been one of the managers of this dem
onstration against the administration
! virtually called for a truce to these
| farccial proceedings. 1t was when he
asked that the Riddleberger resolution,
presented by the chair to the senate,
be laid on the table. The resolution re-
ferred to the strained relation between
the president and senate in regard to
Information affecting officials suspend
ed or appointed, and defined the presi-
dents duty in the matter from the Rid
dleberger standpoint. Mr.. Edmunds,
suddenly awakened to the fact that the
senate has been wasting time, and that
there were but four months of the ses-
sion left for business. The resolutions
embodied no practical questions and it
would be time enough TO debate the
question when it should become prac-
teal one.
Mr.. Riddleberger is the republican
readjuster senator form Virginia. He
is addicted to making eccentric propo-
sitions to these nate and something rad
ical and silly is always expected from
him. But on this occasion he was suf-
ficiently sober to criticise the hoary
headed Vermonter for voting against
the Piddleberger resolution. He NELL
toned the fact that Mr.. Edmunds him
self had ipaggurated debate on the sub
ject involved. He concluded by re-
marking that he did not mind being
run over by a railroad train, but he
did object to being mashed by a wheel
| barrow.
Although the republicans say great
deal about removals without cause,
happen to know that they only wish
more had been made by the new au-
thorities. A republican senator ex-
pressed himself freely few days since.
"Confound Cleveland" exclaimed he,
"The republicans in my state have been
completely demoraliZed and our organ
ization has been broken up because
some of our most active politicians have
been retained in office" Said he, "they
are afraid to help us lest they might be
| removed, and L wish the president
would dismiss every republican now
holding Office in my state. Then
they would go to work again for the
party.
The senate has now called upon three
OF the cabinet officers to furnish infor-
nation bearing on official changes,
Atty General Garland, and Secretaries
Manning and Lamar. The two former
have refused and the latter will do like
wise. And now the house of represen-
tatives has asked the secretary of the
treasury to outline his future silver poll
icy. Ii the administration were not
master of the situation it would elicit
the sympathy of the public. It has
been asked to account for its past ac-
ton, for what it is doing at present and
finally now it has been asked to state
its future intentions.
Congress has accomplished but little
SO far this week. The senate has talked
of Dakota, high art and the electoral
count, but it has not voted for any
thing. The house is as usual waiting
for something. 1t is now waiting for
committees TO report measures. The
committees profess to be hard at work,
howevcr,and pretty soon bills will,oome
pouring in.