The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-02-14

only of letting In free materials, which his IN
tcrcsts now require TO AID the vast manufacturing
business he is engaged in. Mr.. Hewitt is on the
Ways and Means Committee, which frames tariu
bills. lie is also large bondholder, and votes on
questions affecting both tari1 and securities sena
tor Eyarts has bonds galore. He does not shrink
from saying they should be paid in gold. Tnen
there is Senator Miller, OF California; whose Alaska
Seal Fur Company is interested in having friends at
both ends OF the Avenue And the junior Senator
| from California, who Is interested In landgra
railroads, which are affected constantly by Congress
slonal legislation. Mr.. Mitchell, OF Connecticut
| genial gentleman, is chairman OF the Patent Com
mittee OF the House. lie is largely Interested in
patents, and, 1t Is said, Is one OF the owners OF
| telephone franchise, acting under patent. Does
| this disqualfy Mr.. Mitchell from being member?
| And, IL 30, then how can he serve with
propriety as chairman Of the Patent Commtee7
Then there is Senator Joe Brown, OF Georgia. He Ia
largely interested in railroads, aud isbesdes happy
| coupon-cutter. Does he take no part In discussing
or voting on bills Affecting railroads and Govern
ment funds? As to bank presidents and manu-
facturcrsin Congress, they are plenty as seaside
mosquitoes. Then there is the Hon. John A. sworc'
OF Pennsylvania, president OF the Gettysburg Ma
tional Bank; Senator Chace, Of Rhode Island, an ex
tensive manufacturer; Senator Camden, OF West
| Virginia, q manufacturer and president OF the
| Parkersburg National Bank; the Hon. William
| whiting, OF Massachusetts, largely Interested In
| supplying the Government with superior paper OF
| his own manufacture, and president OF the Holyoke
Bank; Senator Sabn, the chairman OF the National
| Republican Committee, also a manufacturer; Col
strait, of Minnesota president OF the First National
Bank OF Shakopee, and others too numerous to men,
tion. Are these gentlemen disqualified from serving
in Congress because they directly Interested In
questions affecting tarlfI and national banks. which
| yearly receive the attention OF Congress? Can
Senator JONES' OF Nevada and Senator Fair, OF the
same State, (who heralds to the world through the
| medium OF the Congressional Directory that
his mines have produced s20000o,o00 under
| his supervisory be both deSarred voicing the
the sentiments OF their state on the silver question,
because the States interests are the same az their
own? The fact is that the only rule to lay down In
such matters Is that the individual member shall be
his own Judge to his right 10 advocate any ques-
on, and that It is moral and proper for any member
to pursue any honorable private calling, whether In
ont OF Congress, provided always he does not
his oficia position with view to the enhancement
OF the value Of his own property at the expense Of
his constituents or the Government. II has never
been charged that Senators Harris aud Garland OF
Representatives Atkins, Young, and Joe Johnston
did or could use their oficial positions to beneht the
Pan-Electric Company. II had no bill before Con
gress, and no business arrangements with any de-
partment Of the Government. Now, 1t might be sait
that Senators and members who were manufactu
rers or national bank presidents ought not to vote
tariff or bank measures. But admitting this still
, there could be no improperly in their holding
! stocks or ONCE in manufacturing or bank compa
MES at the same time that they hold their seats II
Congress-"
. Apropos Of the worthlessness of Pan Electr,
stock, I met gentleman to-day who once held
large amount Of 1t, and who knows the ins and out
d Of the whole business. He said he had within tn
past week been offered block Of $4,000 par valu
for $50 cash. And this Is the stuff that the Bel
Telephone exchanges represent as capable of cor
Q ruptinp cabinets and cOurtsi