The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-06-17
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, June IL, 1856.

washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, June II, 1856.
The late Vice President Hendricks
made the remark that the presence OF
Mr.. Holman in Congress was worth
S25, ,0OO, 600 a year to the U. S. Govern
ment. 1t is thought that Mr.. Holman
and two other members (Mr. Springer
and Mr.. Henley saved the country
thrice that amount last week, If it
had not been for the presence of these
veteran members upon the Democratic
side, the Pacific Il. r. lobby would
have succeeded in passing through the
House one of the most outrageous
pieces of fraud which any lobby has
ever attempted upon the Government.
The present Congress Is weak from the
fact that many of it's members are raw
and inexperienced in National affairs.
Whenever an important public ques-
ton comes up they have no resources
of ready information to draw from.
When members like Holman, Spring
er and Henley show an aptitude for
public business, their constituents will
act wisely In keeping them in Office.
no matter how clamorous popular and
aspiring ounces may be for their places
Green members, no matter how good
may be their intentions, are utterly
valueless in securing honest legisla-
ton against powerful and disciplined
lobby. The Pacific r. r. people had
planned to push their extension
bill through Congress, and had SO
adroitly manipulated the members
that if it had not been for the presence
of Messrs Springer, Holman and Hen
ley, they would have succeeded. Their
proposition to extend the payment of
the debt of the Pacific r. r. was put
in such Elusive form, that it made
direct appeal to the members who were
not acquainted with recent Pacific r,
Il. history. The argument that the
U. s, would have better security for its
debt, and that in this way alone would
the Government secure anything, was
wei! calculated to DECEIVE. The report
of the committee was unanimous, and
this was strong argument ia its
favor. The lobby had circulated re-
ports that the administration was in
favor of the bill that Secretary Lamar
approved it and that Mr.. Thurman
himself had declared in favor of it.
These false statements, made without
the slightest official authority, seem
to have been swallowed by many
members without question. Neither
Mr.. Springer nor MIR. Holman knew
that the Pacific II. II. bill would come
up. The committee reported it with
out warning. But these gentlemen
were able at once to draw from their
funds of experience and learning suf
ticient argument to turn the House
against the most gigantic scheme that
has been proposed for years. The Pa
cific Il. r. committee attempted to
rush this bill through without infor-
nation and without reports in the
brief time of four hours. Mr.. Springer
made the best speech that he ever
made in the House. He at first ap
peared to be the emily member TO fully
understand the questions presented.
He was without preparation but dur
ing the speech of the chairman of the
committee in favor of the bill, he got
the Thurman Act and a copy of the
Pacific r. r. bill. He is q very ready
arilhmetician and during the chair
mans speech he figured the money
that would come to the Government
under such a measure. He found to
his surprise that the passage of the ex-
tension bill would cost the Govern
ment $50 100000. His clear and forci.
ble statement of facts impressed the |
House with the discoveries made by |
him during the thirty minutes in
which he had prepared his argument.
Mr.. Springer is one Of the most stu
dious men of the House, and he has at |
his fingers ends vast fund of inform
alton on all public questions. If it
had not been for his ready eloquence
it is doubtful if the Pacific r. R. lobby |
bill would have been thwarted.
Mr.. Holman's efforts, however, must
not be under-rated, and patriotic Dem
ocrats should never forget Mr.. Hen.
bricks estimate of him. The great
Indiana opposer of theft, waste and
extravaganza, is always at his post.
He has thorough knowledge of all
public questions, and he very rarely
makes mistake. His presence in the
House is standing menace to the
numberless conspiracies to rob the
public treasury. He is cordially hated
by all who are trying to get their
hands into the public vaults. 1t is
for members of Congress to
say, L would present bill for this or
that appropriation, but Holman would
be sure to kill it with an objection"
He stands alone, uninfiuenced by ve-
nality, Private, social and domestic
affairs do not touch him. Although
this debate was sprung upon him as
he displayed a thorough
knowledge of the minutest details con-
cerning the Pacific railroads, and was
not equaled by any member of the
special committee that has had this
subject under consideration during the
entire session.
In some remarks on President Cleye.
lands vetoes on private pension bills,
the Boston Transcript (Rep.) says:
Evidently there is no mOdus virendi
possible between a President who can
so busy himself in matters which the
great men on either side in politics are
to fix up together. He
is at once too vulgarly honest and too |