The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-03-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
[From our Regular correspondent
WAsuINoTON. ID. c.. March IL,


with funeral services. over the deceased
California Senator, Mr.. Miller The
obsequies were attended by tho Presi
dent and Cabinet, the Snpreme Court
and both Houses of Congress. The
Senators, in body, escorted the re
mains to the railroad depot, en- route
to California, while the Marine band
headed the procession playing with
muftled drums the funeral march.
Senator Miller's death temporarily
gives the Democrats another seat in
the Senate. The prevailing opinion
among California Democrats is tina,
Governor Stoneman will appoint to
the vacancy either Mr. Delmar, a
pro miuent lawyer of that state, or Mr.
Geo. Hearst, editor of the San Fran
cisco Erdmiaer.
The Senatorial debate has been going
on steadily with crowded galleries.
After the Vermont Senator's celebrat-
ed speech Senator Pugh, Of Alabama,
led the Democratic assault on' the
Edmunds position. Mr.. Pugh is a
lawyer of fine abilities and he made a
strong legal reply to the Nermonters
assumption. Some of bis points were
very effective, one of the first showing
flaw in the Edmunds argument. Mr.
Edmunds claimed that Duskin, the
official who was suspended by the
Attorney General, was still suspended
official, and that, therefore, information
concerning his suspension was proper
matter for the Senate's consideration.
Mr.. Pugh showed that the term of
office, to which Mr.. Duskin had been
appointed, had expired last January,
before the Senate judiciary committee
had sought to obtain its information
through Mr.. Edmunds.
Senator Wilson next assailed the
President in speech that was very
unsatisfactory to the Republicans and
was laughed at by the Democratic
Senators for its weakness and absurd
assertions. The Iowa Senator troubled
himself but little with arguments but
devoted his time to a purely partisan
denunciation of the Administration.
The burden of his complaint was that
Mr. Cleveland had failed in his pro-
fessed intention to carry out the prin
ciples of Civil Service Reform.
Then Mr.. Kenna, the youngest man
in the Senate, e,spoke from Democratic
point of view. In the West Vrglnian,
Senator Edmunds met an adversary en-
tirely worthy of his in the unworthy
cause 10 which he is now devoting
lis energies. 1t was Mr.. Kenna's
second speech in the Senate, although
he has been a member of that body for
more than two years. He has been
serving his novitiate, as it were.
There is an unwritten law that requires
new Senators to be little more than
voting members. But after listening
o Mr. Kenna's first great effort, the
popular comment among his friends
was that he had been kept in the back
ground too long.
The effect of Mr.. Kenna's speech
was to show that the Republican Sen.
ators who claim to be standing on
such high moral ground in this cou
troversy have been actuated by partisan
feelings alone. He made many telling
hits at Senators Edmunda, Sherman
and Logan, quoting them against theil
present position, as when, for instance
he read the facsimile of letter writ
en- by Sherman, then Secretary of tn,
Treasury, in which he (Sherman) refus
ed to furnish the Senates request fo
papers of a confidential character flee
in the Departments. Mr.. Sherman
said, IN the same letter, that no law re
quired the President to give reasons.
He read an extract from Mr.. Blaine
book that was received with bursts O
laughter. 1t was where the Maine his
toriau stated that the Tenure-oi-O Offic
law was enacted lest President John
son should remove Republican offic
holders too rapidly, and it was after
wards practically repealed lest Presi
dent Grant should not remove Demo
cratic office holders rapidly enough.
Mr.. Kenna was merciless in hi
criticisms of the leader of the presen
controversy, and while the audienc
was listening attentively to the SPEAK
er it was also watching Mr.. Edmund.
face. During this scoring the latte
resorted to his old habit of pretendin
to be absorbed in a book which wa
open before him. 1t was noticed, how
ever, that he did not turn a leaf durin
the long reading of another choice e,
tract from Mr.. Blaine's book whlc
showed that Mr.. Eimunds had con,r;
dicted himself upon the right of tt
President TO remove without givin
anv reason for it. When the youn
Senator closed with the predictio
that Grover Cleveland would han
down to his successor the prerogativ'
of his office undiminished, he was su
} rounded by throng of Senators an
Congressman who had come over fro
the House to hear him. They Shove
ed congratulations upon him and shoe
both of his hands until his arms ache
To-day Mr.. Edmunds will be re-infor
ed by Senator Cullon of Illinois.