Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1886-04-01
THE WEEK IN CONGRESS.
THE POT HOUSE POLITICIANS
AND NOT THE PEOPLE

OF the District Who Censure the Pres
ident for Appointing Recorder Mat
thews. The Militia Appropriation.
Special Correspondence of the Sentinel.
WASHINGTON, March 29.-Presi-
dent Cleveland's efforts to satisfy the
people of the District have generally
succeeded. The complaints against
the Negro. Matthews, may be traced
to neither race prejudice nor home
rule. It is the pot-house politicians,
several of whom have been waiting
for the Recordership, who have Great
ed a semblance of meeting. 1t scarce
ly behooved Democratic Senators to
assume the responsibility of rejecting
Matthews; they can show no ground.
If Senator Vance, or any member of
the District committee saw fit to vote
against Matthews, suspicion prevails
that an opportunity was grasped to
pierce President Cleveland. But there
is hope that Senator Vance, whose
vote was by proxy, is the victim of
officious friendship.
THE SENATE
was Mortified by Senator Logan's res
olution to abolish secret executive ses-
sions. 1t concurred in the bill PEN
sioning Gen. Hancock's widow. The
bill to add a new building to the
White House, at cost OF $500, 900,
was favorably reported. Senator Will
sons bill against circulating obscene
literature through the mails, increases
the fine to $1,000, and prescribes
term of imprisonment at hard labor
from one to ten years. The debate
over the President and the Senate was
resumed. Government Printing Office
employees are promised what they
asked the committee on labor report
ed in favor of restoring the old system
which allows 60 cents per thousand.
THE HOUSE
was considerably surprised by the
Chaplain's prayer against gamesters
to boards of trade. Thursday night
was devoted to eulogies on the late
Joseph Rankin. Mr.. Tim Campbell
introduced bill to give government
employees half day holiday OH Satur-
days. The Indian appropriation, on
which debate resumed, was the source
of several parliamentary points dur
ing the week. The favorable attitude
towards the new Congressional Libra
ry fans hopes for the long-delayed
structure. Representative Cox is still
dreaming out new civil service ideas
and of an ideal politician.
THE MILITIA APPROPRIATION
of only 100000, a reduction of $780,.
900, as reported by the House com.
mittee on militia, is generally con-
demned. No one had even dreamed
of a reduction. Not only had the in
crease of the regular appropriation
been expected, but hopes entertained
that new advantages would be afford
ed. The Senate had given promise
Of several measures that an increased
allowance only could sustain. Last
but not least, Senator Ingalls,, with
his philanthropic idiocy, had urged q
new departure in the militia system OF
the District of Columbia. True, there
is hope that an amendment restoring
the old appropriation may yet bt
adopted. But the bright hopes in
which militiamen, here, there, anc
everywhere, have INDUCED are cloud
ed, if not quite drowned.
THE ARMY BILL,
introduced by Senator Logan, will re
ceive colder reception in the Hous,
than advanced militia measures. The
debate last week developed the old ster
eotyped Indian stories. In a word
the army must be increased becaus,
the Indian, though decreasing, is still
fighting. The fundamental argumen
seems to be to decrease him as mucl
and as quick as possible. He is in tn,
way. The United States, having takel
everything he ever had, is not satisfet
with taxing the country to feed, cloth,
and educate him, but insists on an ad
ditional tax to thrash him. Senate
Manderson asserted that we must trca
the Indians as we find them-bruta
,avages. The whites, in turn, ar
treated likewise.
LITTLE Mr.. DINGLEY
was shocked last week, and has no
yet recovered. Little Mr.. Dingley
the only man in the Maine delegation
on whom Winking Reed has eve
"wunk" in vain. During all of Littl
Mr.. Dingley's service in Congress
Little Mr.. Dingley has known moth
ing and nobody but American ship
ping interests. Little Mr.. Dingle
, has gone to the very depths of th
merchant marine; he fairly drip'
But, like Winking, Little Mr.. ding
ley understands quite we'll how to vot
; against Democratic measures. Littl
Mr.. Dingley regards the free ship bi
as suicide. Winking does not kno
lust how to regard it, but winks, an
thus takes the credit of having 'wunk
on Little Mr.. Dingley with success.
I LABOR LEGISLATION,
0 though .discouragingly slow, is earnes
), ly contemplated. The bill to create
t Department of Labor and Agricul
ure, however, receives no little oppos
' ton from conservatives. Argnmel
e is advanced against what is considers
e an absurdity, on the one hand, and .
o elephant, on the other. Many q
r quite willing to give the Bureau
n Labor exclusive scope and fair iris
e Others are adverse to changing Il
present admirable system Of the d
= partment of Agriculture. There Is
b growing belief that labor advocate
besides not representing tho needs