The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-03-02
WASHINGTON LETTER
From our Regular correspondent.l
WASHINGTON. II. q. Feb o7

WASHINGTON. ID. O., Feb. 81, 1888.
The time for the meeting of the
Democratic nominating convention be.
ing fixed on June 5th, makes 1t two
weeks before the ReLlican convention
meets. This date was not agreed up
on without struggle, for there is an
element In the party, which though
small and rapidly diminishing, still be-
lieves in waiting for the Rebublicans
to make the issue. The majority Of
the party however, think that the issue
has already been fully set forth by the
Presidents message to Congress and
that 10 other platform is needed to
make the fight on.
This is the aggressive element, those
who carry the elections and the pres
ent aggressive condition of the party
will rouse their enthusiasm to an un
usual pitch, will make them think of
the many national victories won by
the party in ante.bellum days. The
selection Of the great metropolis Of the
outhwest, St. Louis, as the place OF
meeting was the very best that could
have been made.
The further the Government print.
ing Office investigation goes the better
it shows for the democratic manage
ment of Mr. Benedict. He has saved
the Government already over 100000
and at the same time done more work
than has ever been done in the same
length of time in the history of the
Office.
Q1ite number of republican papers
have been foolish enough to charge
Pension Commissioner Black with hav-
ing shown favoritism in allowing the
amounts of pensions to soldiers living
in democratic states. A table has
been issued by the Pension Office,
showing the average pension paid each
soldier in each State and Territory. 1t
shows that the largest average amounts
are paid to soldiers who are residents
of the States and Territories which
have always given republican MAORI
ties. Bring in another republican
canard.
The worst squelched man in the
House is Mr.. Boutelle of Maine, the
gentleman who recently got rampant
over the proposition to return the
captured Confederate battle flags 10
their original owners. and who wanted
the Secretary of War to furnish the
House with a detailed statement OF
everything he knew about these fags
That statement has reached the House.
That is what squelched Bvutelle. l,
contained more information than he
wanted. 1t showed that the democrat
ic administration had taken much
better care of the flags than the repub
licans ever did, and further that not a
confederate flag, with one exception,
and that was loaned to be returned,
had ever left the possession of the Wa,
Department under this administration
The negotiation OF the Fisheries
treaty would alone of itself be suf.
ficient reason for the people to keer
the Government in the hands of The
democratic party. The subject covered
by the treaty has been constant
source of worry to this country foI
more than hundred years, and many
attempts have been made at settlement,
but none so favorable to this country as
the present treaty.
Mr.. Mills, Chairman of the House
Committee on Ways and Means say,
that Revenue reform is making rapid
headway in New England. He wa,
informed in Providence r. l. by life
long republican, that although never
having cast Democratic vote, this
year be proposed to support Cleveland
and revenue reform, and that he be-
lieved there were enough men just like
him to carry that state.
| Mr.. Springer's bill for the organiza
tion of the Territory of Oklahoma wa,
considered by the House on Saturda,
but no vote was reached.
There is rumor in society that Sec
retary Bayard and Mrs. Folsom, thu
Presidents Mother-in-law are shortly
to be married and that Mrs. Folsom
who is now in Paris, has gone ther,
for the express purpose of getting hel
trouseau.
The Secretary has been interviewed
on the fisheries treaty He expressed
himself as entirely satisfied and say
that we get everything that was con
tended for.
Washington is in mourning for it
foremost private citizen, w. w. Cor
cOrap, the millionaire philanthropist
He was buried this afternoon.
1t is said that Postmaster Genera
Dickinson is already seriously i'll from
overwork. The Office seekers and thei
friends are to blame for it. All thos,
who had failed to get what they want
ed from Mr.. Villas, poupoed upon tb,
new official, to say nothing of tht
large number from his own State wht
expected something.
The Presidential party returned hom,
yesterday morning much pleased with
what they saw and with the cordial re
oeption with which they met on theil
hurried southern trip.
| Enooh Arden Huynaousd