The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-01-22
OUR wASmINGr0N LETTER.

WASHINGTON, Jan. IS, 1886 The proceedings
of the week on Capitol Hill have been varied, in
teresting 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 silverquestion, irrelevant because no
financial measure was formally presented 10 that
body until to-day SIX senators nude long set
speeches in advocacy of continued coinage. an
other crowded in an Grafton in behalf of nation
al monuments to Lincoln and Grant, and anoth-
er expended eloquence on the subject Of our
army. In its daily secret sessions the Senate has
had before it the Presidents nominations, hun
dreds of which have been confirmed.
No cause of complaint has been found against
the nominees themselves in regard to their hon
esty, fitness and efficiency and the Republican
senators, in lieu Of any such grievance, have
been discussing in caucus the question of discip-
lining the President on the subject Of tenure of
Office. Unable to express themselves freely on
this subject in executive session without expos
ing their plans to the opposition, the leaders of
the Republican majority quietly conveyed 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 Democrats
did not know what was brewing, and the pro-
posed motion was carried.
In this caucus, the Presidents policy was the
subject of debate, and the more pronounced dis
cipnarians such as Logan, Hoar, Conger and
Morrill,, advocated refining up the President to
compel 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 fair
minded Senators held that it would be going too
far to ask of the President an explanation of his
right to select his own friends 10 fill the Offices
tor which his party had fought so hard, and that
he was only doing what a Republican President
would do, If one were in the White House. This
kind of argument was very dstasteful to the Re-
publican managers and they proceeded to dis
cpine their obstinate brethren in a caustic way
that won them over, or at least compelled them
to submission.
While variety of opinions were expressed
with regard TO the propriety of raising formal
issue with the administration at present upon
this question, majority were disposed to say
that should the information sought not be forth
n n n npn in Kan
ate will take some formal action to secure it, or
an ayowa from Mr. Cleveland that he will not
are many Republicans in the House of Repre-
sentatves who would like to see all of the Re-
publican oiiice-hoders discharged indiscrimi-
nately. Their reason for this is that their party
machinery is being disorganized by the present
state of affairs. Many of their party workers re-
ceived appointments to Office as rewards for
party service, and as long as they retain their
places under the present administration, their
hands are tied in way to make them useless for
party work.
Among other bills to abolish the Civil Service
law that have been introduced in the House was
one by Representative Seney, of OHIO. No such
bill can pass the Senate while the Republicans
have control of it. They affect devotion to civil
service reform and the so called spirit" of it,
and will continue to do so as long as the act can
be made useful in keeping Democrats out of of
flee and in bothering the Democratic party
Then again there are many shrewd Democrats in
both branches OF Congress, who would deem il
iinwise to repeal the Civil Service law and who
good politics in letting II stand as it is though
of course, the question will be agitated like that
of silver all through the session.
The House of Representatives was commenda
bly, industrious in disposing of the Presidential
Succession bill, which has passed without change
Just as it came from the Senate Under its pro-
visions the line of succession is taken from Con
gress and lodged in the Cabinet. Only the Pres
dents signature is lacking TO make it q law, ant
then MIR. Bayard and not Mr.. Sherman will BIZ
Vice President Of the United States.
A startling visitation of death has just darkcn
ed the home o. the Secretary Of State, and tht
genial, graceful homelike hospitality character
istic of the Bayard mansion will be hidden unde
the shadows of bereavement for the remainde
of the season. Miss Catherine Bayard, the edes
daughter of the Secretary, died suddenly on Sat
nrdnY afternoon of hpnrL dispnsn