The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-03-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent

WAsHINGToN. ID. G., March 90, 1886.
With the Senate's investigation Of
the Administration the House Com
mittee's investigation of Pan-Electric
stock, and another investigation of the
Commissioner of Pensions in regard to
the charges he brought against his
predecessor, Dudley, it would seem
that the spirit of inquiry were raging
here now.
On the contrary, all of these affai,s
are dismal farces. No sensations have
been evolved from the Telephone bust
ness, and public interest in it is rapidly
subsiding Hon. Casey Young has
contradictcd the imputations against
the Attorney General, and in seeking
letters for publication as testimony, out
of PIP, five were from Mr.. Garland,
none of which bear on the subject uo
der investigation.
Gen. Black is well fortified with
proof of his allegations against Ex
Commissioner Dudleys Republican
Pension Machine. He has submitted
cases of gross irregularity, showing
that claims were advanced and allowed
as partisan rev ards, and he has hun
dreds of atlidavits in reserve.
As to the Senate's fright for papers,
none but the bbndest partisans eau see
any other outcome of the Republican
situation than q surrender. There is q
desire on the part of most of the SEN
ators who have followed Mr.. EGmunds'
lead to drop the contest as soon as pos
sible and to say as little as possible
about it. The debate has involved so
many Senators in contradictions aud
inconsistencies that it has clearly
strengthened the President in his posi-
ton. 1t has also served to direct at
tention to the evils of secret sessions so
intently that their very existence is
strongly threatened.
The weakest point of the Republi-
can position is that they have called
for this information to be used in Star
Chamber sessions. If the Senate con-
sidered the Presidents appointments
in open session, there would be much
more excuse for these attacks upon him
tor his secresy.
Senator Edmunds is sorely cut by
the revolt of the Finance Committee.
Its resolve to report the nominations of
Internal Revenue Collectors referred
to it in spite of the caucus, was asquare
back down from the Republican po-
sition. And the present week is likely
. t,,t yi,,,1a, aat,a, fh, Of
the Indian Affairs Committee, and
other committees which are weary of
the useless contest.
There was never any genuin"ness or
cohesion In the movement, and it re-
quired little political keennesS 10 see
what certainly would happen. The
obstruction was political blunder, and
there was too little int rest in it that the
public did not even charge its mind
with the task of keeping up with th'
debate The indignation which was
pumped up was false and labor, d, ami
there has been no time when the Re-
publican Senators in a body have not
regretted the course into which they
were dragooned by the rasping selfst
ness from Vermont. As an expell-
mental issue it has been dismal fail
ure, and it is only astonishing that the
pretense was kept up as ling as it was.
Much was expected by the majority
Senators from their colleague, Nj.
Spooner, the new Senator from Wiz
consin. He occupied the floor part OF
two days, but failed utterly to cover
himself with glory. He started out
quite bravely, but in winding up he got
lost, groped around tor about an nour
poinllessly in search of suitable finale,
repeated himself half a dozen times,
and closed quite tamely.
Senator Colquitt, of Georgia, will
be heard in a long speech to day or
the Democratic side, and Senator In
gals, of Kansas, will follow next in
behalf Of the Republicans. He is ont
of their ablest men, and has a carefully
prepared speech.
The bill to pension the widow of
General Hancock has been before the
House, and was eloquently supported
by Representative Bingham, of Penn
sylvania. Representative Price, OF
Wisconsin, opposed 1t. He said the
country had paid General Hancock
brilliant, brave, generous in all his
proportions, the sum of Sl52,000 dur
ing the last twenty years "He help
ed to save your country suggested
Mr.. Bingham. 'And there are hun
dreds of thousands as good as he was
who helped to save the country who
are starving replied Mr.. Price. The
pension will be $4,000 a year. There
are many members who would be glad
to make it $4,000, but the widows OF
Gen. Thomas and Admiral Fdrragut
receive $4,000, and precedents in such
matters are difficult to overcome.