The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-07-08
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, July 2, 1Ss

ever since the Senator's ambition
turned squarely toward the White
House, but three freaks in the same |
week are something extraordinary.
In the first place Mr.. Edmunds cre-
ated real sensation by appearing in !
the galleries of the Senate Chamber as
the escort of bridal couple from his
State. He was never seen with plain |
quiet constituent before, and it was
regarded as positive proof that his
fences are rickety this time, and that
his Senatorial contest is real. Very |
few Senators dare to ignore the claims
made upon them by their constituents
as Edmunds has done, but he has
never had any real opposition to his
re election until now. He sat by this
honeymoon couple for quite a while,
pointed out to them the various SEN
ators, and even graciously explained
to them some of the features of the de-
bate, while the Senators on the floor
exchanged significant glsnces over his
unparalleled devotion.
Mr.. Edmund's next new departure
was the new attitude he assumed on
the subject of the Senate's jurisdiction
over the Presidents nominations to
office, and his suspensions and remov-
ais from Office. He introduced bill
in the Senate which proposes to give
the President absolute power to make
MT 70 fn WI hi \.
now he can make only by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate"
| According to this bill the Senate is to
have nothing whatever to do in the
removals. There will be 10 more need
for executive sessions, either secret or
open.
The Senator created third sensa-
ton by ebjecting to second reading
of the joint resolution which had pre-.
viously passed the House, to provide
for the expenditures of the Govern
ment for the next ten days following
the last day of June, the end of the
fiscal year. This caused an unusual
outlook for the first day of the new
fiscal year and the Executive Depart
ments opened in consequence on the
first day of July, without funds fol
the payment of any oftheir employees
This is an unprecedented emergen.
cy, SO far as know" said U. 6. Treas.
urer Jordan. No new business of any
kind can be done, no disbursents can
be made. and unless action be taken
before the end of July, no Government
official; not even the President can gel
his months salary. Senator Edlnunds
purpose was to emphasize and cal
public attention to the repeated fail
ures of appropriation bills to reach the
Senate in time for due deliberation and
and seasonable action before the END
OF the fiscal year-a purpose which is
approved by both the Democrats and
Republicans Of the Senate.
Under the law which forbids any
Department to expend money in any
fiscal year in excess of appropriations
or to involve the Government in any
contract for the future payment O
money in excess of appropriations, il
is questionable whether the heads o
Departments have the right to accep
the services of their employees with al
understanding that they are to b,
compensated when Congress makes
the appropriation. The question neve
came up before, but it is probable tn
Senate will Immediately pass tn
emergency resolution passed by tn
House and all will be right again.
The vetoing of pension bills has me
with almost unanimous approval from
the Democrats in Congress, the onl.
criticisms coming from Republicans
The President has been attacked b,
Republicans in both houses of Con
gress during the week for what the,
call violations of his Civil Service pre-
C tentions. Senator Hoar made quite
: vituperative speech, and Ingalls,, @
! Kansas, attempted, as usual, higl
+ flown sarcasm. This led Senate
0 Cockrell, of Missouri, to reply that tn
9 taunts fell harmless. The Admins
tration needed no defender in tn
I Senate. The people of the Unite
States would live to bend their knee
in thankfulness that Grover Clevelan
had become President. He was a
0 honest brave, true man, and he wa
g doing all that any one mortal bein
). could do to give the people an homes
q fearless. economical and Constitution
e al administration. Irate Senator Hoa
t declared that President Cleveland ha
not attempted to keep the pledge
!. which preceded and followed hi
$ election. He thought his promotio
s of party and party interests had bee
s equal to that of VanBuren and Pierce
L 4