The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1886-11-20
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER,

w 0oJ INV hoSAos'io "AANs
Representatives are coming in
from their recent battle fields. A
few members elect of the Fiftieth
Congress are here too, and have
visited thesHo just to see how
it looks. A1iyely time is expect
ed from now until the first Mon
day in December, when Congress
meets. Members who are not re-
elected will be trying to get their
best work in shape, a great deal of
wire Pulling will be going ON, and
the session is expected to open up
actively whether much business
will be accomplished or not
Democratic Senators express
themselves as thoroughly satisfied
with the outcome of the elections,
and consider the party in good
shape for 1888. They agree that
the Democrats did not go to the
polls as they might have done, but
where the Democratic vote came
out, the Democratic party more
than held its own. They retain a
good working majority in the
House, and in States where Legis-
latHres have to elect new Sena-
tors the effect OF the elections will
reduce, if not reverse; the Repub-
iiean majorityin the United States
Senate. daoigaa.I IaFlH 9L
Should it prove true that the
Democrats have captured the legis-
latures of New Jersey, Indiana,
and California, as is now Believed,
the Republicans in the Senate OF
the next Congress win hold the
majority only by the dangerously
narrow margin of two. These will
be Senator Riddleberger of Yir-
ginia and probably Van Wyck of
Nebraska, neither of whom is in
harmony with the Republicans, and
both of whom are uncertainties
when it coaes to voting. ~
But however this may be, there
is no disappointment among Dem
ocratic politicians with the cam
pelgn They expected nothing
better in an off year, and the few
Democratic Losses IRE in no wise
prophetic of defeat in 1893. On
the contrary, it is thought, they
will serve good purpose in show
ing the necessity of organization
and harmonious action in the next
Presidential battle. d s-
The Republican press, in its
determination to condemn every
thing under the new Administra-
ton, has uttered a great deal OF
abuse about the manner in which
Commissioner Sparks has man.
aged the affairs of the Land Office.
They have expatiated on the out
rageous hardships he has imposed
upon the honest settler upon the
public domain, and the vast inJury
he has done to the present Admin
istration by his policy. A most
significant answer to these charges
came through last weeks cleo
tions. In the very States and Ter
ritories where the effects of Mr.
Sparks decisions and rulings are
particularly and immediately felt
there we're remarkable and nnex-
pected Democratic gains, and the
voting was done by these same
much injured, honest settlers
sii Another excellent record of re-
trenchment comes from Govern,
ment Bureau since it went into
Democratic hands. 1t is that OF
Engraving and Printing, where al
the paper money, all the postage
stamps, and all the stamps of ey
cry kind used by the Government
are made. The total expenses 0.
this Bureau are more than 20C,OU
less this year than last, and less
than in any year since 1878. Th'
same work is accomplished with I
greatly reduced force of employees
1913 persons having been dischrg
ed since March, 1885. The amour
saved from their salaries and TO.
labor and other expenses, makes
an aggregate saving of $l82,78j
which will be returned to thu
Treasury unused s ~a t