The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-06-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, c.,
.Iuna IA 1894

L he ldIG lCo TeSIuSIO lAOh
made the remark that the
presence of Nh. Holman in Con-
gress was worth $25,O00,000 a year
to the U. S. Government. 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 r. r.
lobby would have succeeded in
passing through the House one of
the most outrageous pieces of fraud
which any lobby has ever attempt
ed upon the Government. The pres
ent Congress is weak from the fact
that many of its members are raw
and inexperienced in National af-
fairs. Whenever an impertinent
question comes up, they have no
resources of ready information to
draw from. When members like
Holman, Springer and Henley
show an aptitude for public bust
ness, 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 in
tentions, are utterly valueless in Sc
curing honest legislation against a
powerful and disciplined lobby.
The Pacific r. r. people had plann-
ed to push their extension bill
through Congress, and SO adroitly
manipulated the members, that if it
had not been for the presence of
Messrs. Springer. Holman and
Henley, theywould have succeeded.
Their proposition to extendthepay
ment of the debt of the Pacific R.
R. was put in such Elusive form,
that it made a direct appeal to the
members who were not acquainted
with recent Pacific railroad 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
well calculated to deceive. The re-
port of the committee was unani-
nous, and this was a strong argu-
ment in its favor. The lobby had
circulated reports that the admin
istration was iu 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. Meth
er Mr.. Springer nor Mr.. Holman
knew that the Pacific R. R. bill
would come up. The committee re-
ported it without warning. But
these gentlemen were able at once
to draw from their fund of exper-
ience and learning sufficient argu-
ment to turn the House against the
most gigantic scheme that has been
,proposed for years. The measure
involved the refunding of a debt of
$109,00O,000. This debt will be due
in eleven years. The Pacific R. r.
committee attempted to rush this
bill through 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 appeared to be the only mem
Der to understand the questions
presented. He was without prepa-
ration but during the speech OF
the committee in favor of the bill:
he got the Thurman Act, and a
copy of the Pacific R. R. bill. He
is a very ready arithmetician and
during the delivery of the chair
mans speech, he figured the mon
ey that would come to the Govern
ment under such a measure. He
found to his surprise that the pas
sage of the Extension bill would
cost the Government $75,OO0,0O0.
His clear and forcible statement of
facts impressed the House with the
discoveries made by him during the
thirty minutes in which he had pre-
pared his argument.
Mr.. Springer is one of the most
studious men of the House, and he
has at his fingers ends a vast
fund of information 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 moderated, and pat
riotic Democrats should never for
get Mr.. Hendricks estimate of him.
The great Indiana opposer of theft,
waste, and extravaganza, is always
at his post. He has a thorough
knowledge of all public questions,
and he very rarely makes a mis-
take. His presence in the Houseis
a standing menace to the number
less conspiracies to burglarize the
public treasury. He is cordially
hated by all who are trying to get
their hands into the public vaults.
1t is common for members of Con-
gress to say 81 would present a
bill for this OF that appropriation,
but Holman would be sure to KILT
with an objection" He stands alone,
uninfiuenced by venality. Private,
social and domestic matters do not
touch him. Although this debate
was sprung upon him as a surprise,
he displayed a thorough knowledge
of the minutest details concerning
the Pacific railroads, and was not
equaled by any member of the spec
ial committee thathas had this sub
ject under consideration during the
entire session. Juno.