The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-01-28
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1855.


Ou- lawmakers on Capitol Hill have
lad before them this week much mis-.
cellaneOus matter and many minor
measures. 1t would be less difficult
to state what questions were not touch
ed npon by them than to mention
those that have been discussed. In
the Senate silver has been the chief
subject of debate, Dut in the House
there has been little of almost every-
thing.
The President lost no time in afi1x-
ing his signature to the Succession bill
This measure is thought by some to.
be far from perfect. Still. il will serve
for the present 10 prevent uncertainty
in the event of the death of tho Fresi.
dent, and il will give assurance that
the administration of the Government
will continue under thaparty 10 which
the people contlded 1T, for the full tenn
OF four years, The measure will prob.
ably always he known by the name of
the Hoar bill" but it was, in truth,
= concep ION OF Attorney General Gar
land. and WAS originally framed aud
pTessntad by him. Failing of passage
it was afferwsrd adopted by Senator
Hoar. OF Massaokusetf5,. aud has taken
his name.
! There is ALI interesting controversy
now between the Administrator and
| the Senate i'll regard to the suspension
of federal officials. Tha Republican
! Senators Caucusaj j on the subject and
| decided to ask for papeIs bearing on
removals and appointments, TIE
| President instructed the Cabinet old,
cars to send such papers. The Eepub.
| iioan Senators, or rather, some OF their
managers, Edmunds. Hoar, morrill,
information contained in these iocu.
ments, and forthwith put on their war
paint. They got all they asked for
but they want more, and confessed
that there was an error in the form of
the request for information. Senator
Edmuhds made a long speech, in
which he took the grounds that the
Executive branch of the Government
could and should be made to furnish
all the information in its possession
and the reasons touching the suspen-
sion of officials. Senator Salisbury, a
Democrat from Delaware, replied in
defense of the Administration, holding
that the Senate had no right to inquire
into the reasons for suspension. The
partisan Senator from Vermont be-
came still more positive, and said he
was in favor of bringing the members
of the Cabinet before the Senate Com.
mittee if necessary, to ascertain the
information upon which suspensions
had been made. He further gave no.
tice that he would oppose the confirm.
alton of the successor of every sus.
pended official, unless the Admins.
tratlon would at least say there was nc
information in its possession bearing
on them. The Democratic Seng'
tors caucused in regard to the
course they should pursue towards the
Presidents appointments. They had
special reference to what the Republic
can Senators might demand in The
way of Information concerning the
reasons for official changes made by
the President. The general sentiment
expressed IN caucus was that the Pres.
ident should be sustained in whatever
course he may take. Mr.. Cleveland il
averse to anything having even the
appearance of bringing executive pras
sure to bear upon Congress. He is moi
willing to exert any influence, ever
Indirectly, upon the members OF hi:
own party. When asked by repre-
sentatives of the caucna as TO what hs
would have them do, lie replied, Use
your own judgment As 10 what il
right and proper"
The week has been very quiet ont
in the official social world OF The Cap
itol. Through respect 10 the beTeaves
Cabinet family, that OF the Secretary
of State, Miss Cleveland eountermand
cd her ri-weekly receptions. aud noni
of the Cabinet ladies received. Tht
second State dlnGer of the season Wa!
held at the White House, however, OF
Thursday evening. IL Wss given tG
the Diplomatic Corps. The inyitatiOn'
having been issued week ago: Sec
letary Eaysrd specially requested the
President that il should nor he post
poned
missioner Sparks Of the LAM
Office holds the awful tenor Of hrs WAY
against the land thieves out West HI
has never been ia the least pert III bet
: by the threats Of assassination he ha,
, received from persons to whom he hat
refused laud patents There is proba
; bly, more indignation against him il
Dakota than in any other locality
3 The Commissioned has just expressed
his infiexibility in a letter sent to tha
Territory. He said: "a do not pro
pose to confirm fraudulent entries
4 and do propose to find out lhos,
$ which are honest and to separate then
from those which are found to b,
otherwise.
The Rootstown Protective AssOcia
ton held its annual meeting On Wed
: nesday, January goth. The attend