The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-12-10
jsspsr Courier corespondssesl
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
wAsHIxaroH, ID. e., Dec 8, 1896.

wAsHINeTox, ID. e., Dec 5, 1896.
The Il one OF The bnsies, weeks NJ the
! ear In Washington. Congress will he
here next asck. and evsrs body must bs
ready tor Il from the President Ia The
house keeper. The Presidents
10 receiving its last course Of
and revision. Cabinet of-
ticcrs are performing similar work on
their annual reports. snd their assistants
of the First, Second. Third and Fourth
degrees. wish several hundred Buresn
Chiefs, Comptroilers. Auditors and On.
cers too numerous TO mention. are sr-
ranging their Agures and plodding over
long tables ~ ststistics.
The streets 0f the city are again alive
with . busv. bussling thromg sud up ~
the long drsested Capitol. Chairman
Randall, with . quorum Of his conmii-
|tee, hae for week been pressing work
lon Appropriation bills. He repoSts fine
progress, and saws Congress will not
have 10 wait on him for money bills
During the week ha has had ~ c0nsulia-
lfion the heads OF different Bureaus aud
lGovernment establishments. with regard
10 The needs of their respective depart
tnentk for the next year. Among these
were Prof. Baird, Of the National Mu-
scum, Smithsonian .nd Fish Commis-
sion; Superintendent Thorne. Of the
Coast Survey: DR. Godding. Of the Gov
eminent Irsane Asylum; Col. Wilson
Of pnblic buildings aud grounds and
Ioibcrs.
The improved condition Of the Gov
ernment service under Democratic Al
ADMINISTRATION has been mentioned repeat
edly, but new instances Of reform ars
tontinually making themselves fslt
which deserve especial notice. Ths
President probably never made happier
letroke of public policy than when h'
lcalled Mr. Benedict here 10 be Public
Printer. In the period Of three month";
lihe notoriously dtmorslized Government
Printing Office has been put In such or
der that about one third more work !
lnow heing done with the same amour
lof money, and the press room whic'
three months ago had 40 forms waiting
for the press 10 now clear, havint
js'csugbt up"
4 Itie too bad the President cannot b
left In peace and quiet with his modes
Iliiile country home. A. soon - ~
real estate dealers OF Washington knes
lof his intention to buy this place the
ieecured as much ground in the vicinit
les presible, and ever since they have bee
.uslrg the Presidents name IN the nso'
ilibeTai mamrer IN connertion with
Isnr,s Or srheues they have been orgas
!,ztd ior improvements o. the rnb'ic 81
+ lpense. OF course she President has hee
liz M wa, concerned In these mnnoi
,vers. hm tunnrs 10 that effect cannot b.
he snnaying 10 him.
Almost every dav the President {
Col Lamont IL forced % say there i NJ
word of truth in some reports sbo'
l'he President. The ColoneI'A latest d
!nisi. which IL very emphatic. i Ia regsr
,,,lo an investigation which II l. alleRe
lshe President il ccnhnr'ing hy means I
i, "a private detective 90 hnd out II any I
line District Commissioners are interre
,cd in rea, eetate along the line Of u
proposed extension OF Msssschnsct
Avenue. The Secretary adds that u
president bad his hands full of his ow
Legitimate duties and did not care 10 Il
l,erfere with outside matters.
HOme Ov NUe elaEeUeufH trirkt tnths
from this citv In connection with the p
lice scandal alleging demoralization ~
lrottenneas in District affairs and unive
lsal dissatisfacfion with the Commission
lrrship form OF Government. are qmi
untrue. The people ~ the District e
Ithst the present Commissioners are no
lest and reliable. and thar any errors ~
:, may commit 2re purely those of ind
=, mcns. The ssx-psy ing pecp'e esp.ci.l
know whom they are well of. and 30
'plhaye M desire 10 exchsnge the presr
~ (sovernmcnr rule ard Government har
ilirg IN District expenses for the boon
suffrage.
Speaking ~ the police scandal. cevts
members 0f Congress have express
their opinion that Congress- will not :
y 10 have the matter investigated ~
can take M notice of II officisllv,' e
Representative eowden. "for no %
Qreesmsn has been individually aspere
lor injured. and whoever demanded
Investigation would be considered
lputtinR himself on the defensive .
Iconfessing HE 9nilt." But nov since
: many police officers have heen punish
ses and dismissed II II eaid they viii app
for redress 10 the President. and IN q
-- lhe declines to give the subject atfensi'
!, ilthey will ask Congress to help them.
q. A 8