The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-01-27
Washington Letter.
Washington, JAN, is, 1885,

Inc proceedings Oh Gne week Oh Zap
itol Hill have been varied, interesting,
and fraught with results in the lower
branch of congress. The senate did
little else in open session than listen to
endless irrelevant talk on the silver
question, irrelevant because no financial
measure was formally presented to that
body until to-day. Six senators made
long set speeches in advocacy of contin-
ued coinage, another crowded in an
Grafton in behalf of national monuments
to Lincoln and Grant, and another ex-
pended eloqunce on the subject of our
army. In its daily secret sessions the
senate has had before it the presidents
nominations, hundreds of which have
been confirmed.
No cause of complaint has been found
against the nominees themselves in re-
gard to their honesty, fitness, and
efficiency. and the republican senators,
in lieu of any such grievance. have been
discussing in caucus the question of dis
ciplining the president on the subject of
tenure of Office. Unable to express
themselves freely on this subject in
executive session, without exposing
their plans to the opposition, the leaders
of the republican majority quietly con-
veyed the news TO their associates that
they must agree to motion adjourning
over from last Thursday to Monday, in
order that caucus might be held on an
important subject. OF course the demo-
Gratis did not know what was brewing
and the proposed motion was carried.
In this caucus, the presidents policy
was the subject OF debate, and the more
pronounced disciplinarians, such as
Logan, Hoar, Conger and Merrill, advo-
Gated refining up the president, to com.
pei him to state to the senate his reasons
for removing one set of officials to make
room for others of his own party.
Some of the more fairminded senators
held that it would be going too far to ask
of the president an explanation of his
right to select his own friends to fill the
offices for which his party had fought
SO hard, and that be was only doing
what republican president would do, if
one were in the white house. This kind
Of argument was very distastelul to the
republican managers, and they proceed
ed to discipline their obstinate brethren
in caustic way that won them over, or
at least compelled them to submission.
While variety of opinions were ex-
pressed with regard to the propriety of
raising formal issue with the admins
tration at present, upon this question,
majority were disposed to say that
should the information sought not be
ultimately, the republicans
in the senate will take some FORMAL
action to secure it, or an awowal from
Mr.. Cleveland that he will not give his
reasons for making removals.
There are many Republicans in the |
house of representatives, who would |
ike to see all of the republican office
holders discharged indiscrimately. Their
.eason for this is that their party
machinery is being disorganized by the
present ttate of affairs Many of their
party workers received appointments to
,ffice as rewards for party service, and
IS long as they retain their places under
he present administration, their hands
re tied in way to make them useless
or party work.
Among other bills to abolish the civil \
ervice laws that have been introduced
n the house, was one by Representative
'eney, of Ohio. No such bill can pass
he senate while the republicans haveA
ontrol Of it. They affect devotion to
ivil service reform and the so-called
spirit" of it, and will continue to do So
S long as the act can be made useful in
eeping democrats out of Office and in
differing the democratic party. Then
gain there are many shrewd democrats
. both branches Of congress. who would
eem it unyise to repeal the civil service
Nv, and who see good politics in letting
stand as it is, though, of course, the
uestion win be agitated like that of
liver, all through the session.
The house of Representatives was COM
lendably industrious in disposing of
he presidential succession bill. which
as PASSED without change, just as it
Ime from the senate. Under its pro-
sions the line of succession is taken
ON congress and lodged in the cabinet.
My the presidents signature is lacking
make it a law, and then Mr.. Bayard
i'd not Mr.. Sherman will be vice-presi-
mt of the United States.
A startling visitation of death has just
Irkened the home of the secretary of
ate, and the genial, graceful, homelike
Characteristic of the Bayard 4
ansion, will be hid under the shadows +
bereavement for the remainder of the
ason. Miss Catherine Bayard, the
dest daughter Of the secretary, died
ddenly D. Saturday afternoon, of !
art disease. Bud BAKEn.