Middletown transcript., 1886-03-05
Our Washington Letter.

1
gins to-day. An exciting debate il
expected, and the Senate galleries will
be crowded so long as the fight lasts.
When the discussion is fairly under
way Senator Morgan will complicatt
matters by calling up his own indie
pendent resolutions to the effect thai
the whole proceeding is out of order
The Edmunds' resolutions should not
have been received. The only lega
procedure for the Judiciary Committe
was to have summoned Attorney
General Garland before the bar of the
Senate, and to have impeached this
alleged violater of law, who refused
to give up his private papers.
A number of Republican Senators do
not follow Mr.. Edmunds lead in this
matter with much zeal. 1t is pretty
well understood that the Vermont
statesman made this "much ado about
nothing" because there was not much
to do about anything and he was under
the necessity of impressing the Yer
mont Republicans with his greatness
and indispensability. The Vermont
legislature, which elects U. S. Sena-
tor to fill the seat now occupied by
this would be chieftain, is to be chosen
next fall. Until then Mr.. Edmunds
may be expected to be as Extensively
prominent in the Senate as possible.
He wants to stay in Washington, where
he has just built a superb residence,
and he has reason to fear the Green
Mountain boys are arranging his re-
tirement to private life when his pres
ent term expires.
The House of Representatives, this
week, does not offer such attractions to
visitors as the Senate. Nothing but
Silver may be heard from it for some
time. The financial debate begins
there regularly tomorrow. Ten days
have been set apart for the subject and
sixty Members have prepared speeches
on it. At the close of this discussion
the House will refuse to suspend the
silver coinage by an overwhelming
vote, and that is all that this forth
coming eloquence will accomplish.
If all this time and talk could be given
to an issue that promised results it
would be well enough, but it is agreed
all around that this debate will lead to
nothing in the way of legislation and
that not single vote will be changed
by the talk.
The telephone affair has taken a
party turn in the House. The Han
back and Pulitzer resolutions of in
quiry into the Pan-Electric has been
met by another set Of resolutions under
Democratic management asking for
a broader and more thorough investi-
cation, an investigation of newspapers
as we'll as officials.
Congressman Gibson, of West Vir-
ginia, opposed the investigation on the
ground that there was nothing to
investigate inasmuch as no charge had
been made against Attorney General
Garland or other officials who are al
legged to be implicated. "Why," said
he, "what will the committee report?
will they report that the gentlemen got
stock without paying for it ? Who
will say that was wrong ? / see men
all around me who hold railroad stock
and national bank stock voting with
the stock in their pockets, and no out
cry is made against it.''
Mr.. Gibson also attacked Represent
ative Pulitzer, of the N. Y. World,
who, be said, instead Of making COM
plaint against the Attorney General
in an open, manly way like a Repre-
sentative should have done, had re-
treated behind the irresponsible COL
umns of his newspaper to create scan
dal. Mr.. Gibson conceded that the
idea was to turn the rascals out but
said his especial desire then was to
stop the rascals from talking.
Mr.. Reed, of Maine, who tries to be
witty every day, said something about
the solemnity that had
recently fallen on the Democratic par
ty, and gave it assurances of his re-
spectful consideration in its present
situation. The Democrats laughed at
this as well as the Republicans, and
Mr.. Morrison replied that the gentle
man was mistaken in supposing that
'he Democratic party was in any trou-
Die. s'We propose to investigate
charges against our own people," said
Mr.. Morrison, las we'll as those against
7ours, and we trust, if we find them
yuilty, we will not be found, as the
have been found attempt
ng to shield them."
Miss Cleveland gave another large
luncheon on Saturday afternoon to the
wives of fifty Senators and Represent
Itives. She has at last solved prob.
em which had been unsuccessfully
lealt with by each Presidentisl family
ince the time of Andrew johnson.
That President accomplished the feat
# inviting to dinner each Senator and
ach Representative and his wife at |
east once during the two years of each |
congress. But since then Congress
las grown to be body of such formid-
BILE proportions in numbers that each |
President has fallen shorter and short
r of getting all around even in two
easons. Miss Cleveland began SER
es of lunch parties at which she hopes
o entertain all the wives of Senators
nd Representatives, while the Presi-
ent will dine only their husbands.
SEVERAL noted Sayants in Vienna