Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-12-24

WASHINGTON LETTER.


| itC. 1000.
The past week In Congress was mark.
ed by important legislation and interes-
ting debates, but the liveliest interest
centered in the fate 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 for taking the vote
the galleries of the House began to fill
up rapidly. Long lines of people clad in
rubber shoes and gossnmers and carry
ing dripping umbrellas, thronged the
corridors of the Capitol and crowded in.
to the long seats of the galleries, where
they waited patiently for the event.
When the Speaker recognized "the
gentleman from Illinois," an instantan-
eous hush fell upon the House, and Mr..
Morrison in formal manner, moved
that the House resolve itself into a Com
mittee OF the Whole, 10 consider revenue
bills. Mr.. Mckinley, of Ohio, the ack-
nowledged Protection leader of the Re
publican side, demanded the yeas and
nays. Before the roll call began, Speak
or Carlisle cautioned the House to OBJ.
serve the most rigid order, as the vote
about 10 bo taken was on one of the
most important questions that this Con-
gress had before it. When the result of
the vote was handed to the Speaker he
announced it amid almost breathless si-
lence. Some of the Republican mem
bers then began to applaud, but in a
moment all demonstration was suppress
ed. Col. Morrison swung about in his
chair and finally turned his back upon
the House, while Mr.. Randall smiled
and glanced triumphantly at Messrs.
Mckinley and Reed, who, from the Re-
publican side, were quietly observing
the Democrats.
Friends of Representative Morrison
were speaking of his future in connec-
tion with his retirement from Congress
next March. There is one possible posi-
tion they think that he would like to
have. Should the Interstate Commerce
bill become law, and the commission
therein authorized lie composed of men
to suit Mr.. Morrison, he would accept
the presidency of this commission and
serve the people against monopolies.
Senator Edmunds was violently op-
posed to n 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. Its 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 TAX
ing step twenty-five years backward
in practical civil service reform.
The Senator believed that all these of.
fees ought to be held for fixed terms,
and he was willing that the President
should, for every vacancy, select n man
of his own political faith. Said he If
there is to be a change in couple of
years hence (as | trust and believe the a
|
moved from the M re strife AMI spoil
and contention of politics"
Senator Butler of South Carolina IS
anxious to get up senatorial junketing
excursion to Mexico at Government ex-
pense. 1t is proposed in the res jlution
he introduced that five Senators shou d
investigate "any disturbances betwe N
the two countries" The Sou II Carolin-
ian 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 Mexi-
can border troubles. There might have
been some cause for such trip when
the Cutting affair was di,turbing the
peace of the frontier, but now the pro-
ject can have no object but that of en-
joyment to the travelling party.
Much interest is manifested in the ac
ton TO be taken by the President in ref
ercnce to the nomination of Mr.. Mat
thewS, the colored Recorder of Deeds
from Albany. This is one of the Pre5i-
dents recess appointments, which h,
has held back SO far not knowing wheth
er TO submit it to the Senate or aban |
on it. Mr.. Matthews received thrteeI
votes for confirmation when his cas-
was before the Senate last Spring, bu
= it is thought he could not get ten nov
for the Senators feel that Mr.. Cleve Ian,
exceeded his prero sative by re-appoint
ing this official after its rejection O
him.
Much has been sail about the enor
nous emolumentS OF the office of til
Recorder of Deeds. 1t has been sugges
u ted that the incumbent grows rich to,
: rapidly, and that Congress shomld max
the position salaried one, and turn tn
fees into the District treasury. The oil
= flee under Frederick Douglass, wa
worth in fees on an average of $50 day
But rumor said that the pers onal fees o
the Office ran up to $3.50 the day b.for
7 the last Thank ging, and that durin
:. the fall the re 's averaged $0l day
4 If half + this be true. NJ Mathews ca
: retire on n snug little iortui no mat G
r what the President and Senate may de
= eide to do with him.