Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-01-30
WASHINGTON.
The Appointments-Seed Dlstribu
tton-"Consctence."

ing that was predicted for tins week be.
tween the president and the senate is in
progress and there are prospects Of more
serious fighting all along the line. Mr..
Cleveland instructed his cabine, officers
TO furnish the information asked by
the Republican senators in regard to the
removal, suspension and appointment of
certain federal officials. The papers or
file in these cases were sent to tho sen
ate. Senators did not find in them sat.
lsfactory information; they have called
for more, and say it can and must come.
The senate has been speech-making
on silver again this week. The president
has made law Of the recently passed
presidential succession bill by giving it
his signature, and the house Of represen.
tatives has been blessed with the addi.
ton of 600 more new bills. There are
now about 5000 measures awaiting for
the consideration Of this slow moving
body, which has, as yet, disposed Of but
one important measurc-the succession
bill mentioned above. At this rate il Is
easy to predict what will be the fate Of
the most Of them.
ono Of the reforms that has been pro.
posed in congress is in regard to eulo-
gies. 1t was submitted by New York
member, Mr.. Beach, and it asks that
eulogies or memorial services over dc.
ceased senators and representatives
shall be delivered on Sundays. When.
ever death is formally announced in
either end Of the capitol that branch Of
congress OF which deceased was a men,
her Immediately adjourns. oven il the
body has been in session but five minu-
tes. That Is one day lost, and then an
other day is lost when the memorial ser.
vices are ordered. Sometimes these mo.
mortal days come toward tho close Of the
session when there is rush Of work and
timo can DC ill spared.
Some have suggested that this obituary
eloquence had better be voted "out OF
order" at all times, and others have OK
pressed their opinion that it should be
rclegatcd to the Christmas vacation or
the long summer vacation, when mem.
bers might show their respect in
marked way by coming together in a
special session solely for eulogis.ic pur-
poses. If congress would set good ex-
ample in this respect the departments
might next drop their rcrnicious custom
Of shutting down on public business and
setting all their clerks at liberty when
ever some forgotten parsonage who was
head Of the department happened to die.
But even if,hey should not tho reform
proposed in congress would be great
gain Of time and would help to solve the
problem how congress is to perform the
sworn duties Of members, specially
imposed by an article in the constitu.
ton, "to leglslate in ell cases whatever
The special memorial services Of the
present session will be over Gen. Grant
and the late Vice. President Hendricks,
and will probably take place in Mar ch.
The annual preparation for scattering
seeds over the country may'b witnessed
now at the agricultural department. In
the seed division all day long heads and
hands are busy dealing out to senators
and representatives tho usual gratuity OF
this paternal government to agriculture.
This doing up and labelling Of seeds
always large business, is unusually so
this year, and expert packers and filters
complain Of oyerwoIk.
But tho seeds must DO ready for the
congressman to distribute. How would
they like to face their constituents il the
latter had been deprived Of their ex-
pected onion ana potato germs2 Ono
congressman did decline this preferred
bencfaction of the government last year,
but his constituency was not agricul.
tural.
Most Of them are pleased at the pros
pcct Of sending out more seeds than ever
before. Each congressman is to get $500
packages of vegetable seed and 500 pack
ages Of flower seeds, in addition TO field
seed-wheat, corn and other grains.
This. is 1900 moro packages than they
have received other years, although
there are seventeen moro congressman
than heretofore. Your correspondent
does not charge the agricultural depart.
mcnt anything for this advertisement.
If any Of you fail to get seed you will
know who to blame for it.
Speaking Of packages reminds me Of
ono received on Wednesday last by the
secretary Of treasury. 1t was contrib.
ution 10 the conscience fund and was
postmarked New York. 1t contained
one $1,000 bill, two $500 bills and five 500
bills. They were all cut in TWO, with
small piece clipped from the center
and tho word "canceled' marked with o
don across the face. Tho sender said:
"Hcre are $500 U. S. bills, mutilated 30
as to insure the government getting the
money. Whatsoever man sows that
shall he reap. have sown to the wind
and am reaping the whirlwind.' II was
signed "Conscience."