Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-12-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 81, 1885,

marked by Important legislation ana
interesting debates, but the live
hest interest centered in the tate OF
Mr.. Morrison's effort to discuss the
Tariff question.
Although the ground was covered
several inches deep with muddy
slush, and the rain was falling
steadily, when the time drew, near
Tor taking the vote, the galleries OF
the House began to fill up rapidly.
Long lines of people clad in rubber
shoes and gossamers and carrying
dripping umbrellas, thronged the
corridors of the Capitol and crowded
into the long seats of the galleries,
whore they waited patiently for the
event.
When the speaker recognized the
gentleman from Illinois, an in
Simultaneous hush fell upon the
House, and Mr.. Morrison, in a
formal manner, moved that the
House resolve itself into Com
mittee OF the Whole to consider
revenue bills. Mr.. Mckinley, OF
Ohio, the acknowledged protection
leader of the Republican side, de-
manded the years and nays. Be-
fore the roll call began, Speaker
Carlisle cautioned the House to
observe the most rigid order, as the
vote about to be taken was on one
of the most important questions that
this Congress had before it. When
the result of the vote was handed to
the Speaker, he announced it amid
almost breathless silence. Some Of
the Republican members then began
to applaud, but in moment all
demonstration was suppressed. Col
Morrison swung about IN his chair
and finally tGrned his back upon
the House; while Mr.. Randall smiled
and glanced triumphantly at Messrs
Mckinley and Reed, who, from the
Republican side, were quietly oh
serving the Democrats.
Friends of Representative Nor
lisou we're speaking of his future IN
connection with his retirement from
Congress next March. There is one
possible position they think be
would like to have. Should the
Interstate Commerce bill become a
law, and the commission therein
authorized be composed of the kind
of men to suit Mr.. Morrison, he
would accept the presidency of this
commission and serve the people
against monopolies.
| Senator Edmunds was violently
opposed to repeal of the Tenure OF
Office Act which the Senate voted
for. He said it was restraint now,
| although the President was making
great number of suspensions. It's
repeal would be an invitation to the
Executive to remove on purely
political grounds everybody who did
not agree with him, or with some
Department official, or with the
party. He thought the Senate was
taking a step twenty-five years
backward in practical civil service
reform.
The Senator believed that all
these offices ought to be held for
fixed terms, and he was willing that
the President should, for every
vacancy, select man of his OWL
political faith. Said he: off there
is to be chang. in couple of years
hence las trust and believe there
willy all these matters will then be
removed from the mere strife and
spoil and contention of politics."
Senator Butler of South Carolina
is anxious to get up Senatorial
junketing excursion to Mexico al
Government expense. 1t is proposed
in the resolution he introduced thai
five Senators should investigate any
disturbance that may have occurred
between the citizens of the two
countries. The South Carolinian is
entirely too late for business. The
press and the State Department,
long ago furnished Congress and the
public all that was to be known
about the Mexican border troubles
There might have been some causes
for such a trip when the Cutting
affair was disturbing the peace OF
the frontier, but now the project can
have no object but tina, of enjoy.
ment to the travelling party.
Much interest is manifested in the
action to be taken by the President
in reference to the nomination OF
Dir. Matthews, the colored Recorder
of Deeds, from Albany. This is one
of the Presidents recess appoint
ments, which he has held back so
far not knowing to submit it to the
Senate or abandon it. Mr.. Mat
thews received thirteen votes for
confirmation when his case was
before the Senate last spring, but it