Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-03-17
From Washington.

senate Doing the Circus Business-Rid.
dIeberger Performing sherman
Rfng.master -Kenna's Speech - The
Blair Bill - Funeral Ceremonies of
Senator Miller, of CalifOrnia-Tucker
and BarbOur-HOn. John GoOde-But-
Ter MahOne-Gen. John POpe-COm'r
of Agriculture LOcaI.OptiOn -
s'snakes at all Hours"
[From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON, March 18th, 1886.
Formerly the U. S. Senate was famous for
its strict and dignified proceedings on all
occasions. Its studied decorum amounted
almost to dizziness. The House monopo-
lized all the light acting and sensational
roles; but it is changed. The Senate is do
ing the sscircus" business now. When
things grow dull over civI-service, silver
coinage, or questions as to the Presidents
prerogative, Riddleberger vaults into the
ring and by a quick succession of wonderful
feats in the high comic and the low tragic,
makes things lively, to the great satisfac-
tiop of the galleries and to the great con-
stfnation of the Gignified old Senator'S
Last week he gave an exhibition in which
Senator Sherman was made to play ring
master. This week he took tilt with Lo-
gan. In the first instance, he was charged
with having imbibed too freely of what is
known in Capital parlance as ''cold tea."-
These affairs, of course, are ridiculous and
ill-suited to the place and position, yet Rid
dleberger has considerable cause for COM
Plaint on his side. A little drunken homes
ty is some: lines better than a great deal of
sober rascality.
The discussion of the Edmunds report
ard resolutions, condemning the President
for his refusal to furnish papers and rea-
sons in cases of removals from office, still
continues. In the contest the Republicans
are against the President, of course, and
the Democrats are for him. One of the best
and most pointed speeches made on the
subject was by Mr.. Kenna, of West Va, on
last Friday. He showed that both Ed
munds and Sherman had shifted their posi-
lions on the subject of the Presidents pre-
rogative since the time of Grants removal
of Andrew Johnson's appointees. He ex-
posed the hypocrisy of Edmunds's wall
about Cleveland's removal of 643 in eight
months, by producing the figures to show
that Grant had turned out $50 in eight
weeks.
The Senate is becoming very particular
fact is, it has reached a period in its history
when it represents nothing and nobody. In
the formation of the government in the be-
created partly on the idea that it was to rep
resent the States and partly in imitation of
the House of Lords of the mother country.
The States have lost their sovereignty under
the Few regime and they no longer have
rights, SO the Senate only represents an OBJ
solete idea and ought not to be putting On
airs.
In the House, the proceedings during the
past week have not had much interest. 1t
is pretty we'll settled that the Blair School
Bill will DO defeated in the House. A bill
similar in effect has been reported adverse
ly by the committee. The Bill, besides the
constitutional objections which many Con-
gressmen have to it, is obnoxious on &C
count Of the many provisos and restrictions
with which it is loaded 1t makes discrim-
nations not at all complimentary to the
South.
The funeral ceremonies over the remains
of Senator Miller, of California, were per.
formed at the Capitol on Saturday. The
President and Cabinet, the Diplomatic
Representatives of the different nations at
tho CAPITAL, together with the two houses
of Congress, were present.
Friday night, the Virginia democratic
Association Of the District passed resolu-
tions-of J, greet at the retirement of Mr.. Bar
bour, aud complimented him on what he
had done for the party. 1t is subject OF
deep regret that Virginia is now losing two
of her very best men-Mr. Tucker and Mr..
Barbour. Their retirement is not only a
great loss to their State at this time, but to
the whole country. Their ability, integri-
~, and experience cannot be replaced. In
Mr.. Tuck. RS case, a recent visit to his dis
trict gives me to believe that his desire to
retire viii be disregarded next Fall by lis
friends. They argue that they cannot give
him up-t;lat his denomination is party
necessity. They say that the next election
will be a crisis in the Democratic party,
when powerful effort will be made By the
Republicans to gain the next House of Rep
resentativts-thatt the contest will be close,
and that the lest men should be put into
the field and secured for an emergency
They further claim that John Randolph
Tucker is the peer of the best man that Ell
Their party can put up from any State or Sec
ton. Tn, Sc are some of the reasons they
give.
The impression prevails here that Hon.
oOLu OOoOC DIS
eral will not be confirmed
Butler Malone, son of Senator Malone,
will be tried here this week for an attempt
to murder waiter at hotel by shooting
at him in a drunken frolic.
Gen. John Pope will be retired next week.
This is his second retirement, the first be-
ing at Second Manassas, when he had
headquarters in the saddle"
The Com'r of Agriculture and others yes
terday asked for an appropriation of ST.
600, 600. to build two machines to test the
man1iac, ure of sorghum by the diffusion
process. rs the boys used to say. ''That is
rather to much sugar for cent"
The eslimated cost of taking Senator
Miller 1t mains to California will be over
$40, OOO
Ali the Virginia news hear now is so
cal-option 1t reminds me of sign
used to see over saloon in Staunton du-
ring war times. 1t was intended to inform
the public shat snacks could be had at all
hours, but the painter had bungled it, and
the wayfaring man would invariably read,
"Snakes at all hours" l thought it prob
ably not inappropriate. NJ.
DEATH OF CAPT. G.. W. PETTIaREw.-
After long and painful illness Capt G.
w. Pettigrew departed this life Thursday
morning at o'clock, at bis residence in this