Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-01-13
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Written and compiled for tho HERALD.
WASHINGTON, Jan. Q, 1888.


WASHINGTON, Jan. Q, 1888.
The Speaker did not announce
the House Committees until Thurs.
day, and as Friday and Saturday
we're given to the work of organic
Ing, committees have not yet had
time to report any bills, and as, in
consequence, little business can be
transacted on the floor of the House
during the present week, speeches
are suggested. Indeed it might be
a good plan to utilize these dull
and idle days for the purpose OF
getting off the set speeches on tar
If and other questions, which mem
bers have prepared months before
Congress opened, and which, if not
delivered now, are sure to consume
a great deal of time later in the ses-
sion, when time is more valuable
than now. It has been suggested
too that it would be good time to
deliver the funeral orations on de.
ceased members.
AS predicted the assignment of
members to the various committees
gave great dissatisfaction, which
came near an open revolt on the
part of many. My sympathies In
this contest were with the Speak
er, no matter how badly he NAV
have done, because of the abuse
heaped upon him. He had a most
arduous task to perform, and to
carry out the programme of the
packing process, necessarily had to
break his head several times against
the wall. Mr.. Carlisle, of all other
men, has the legitimate right to
consider himself the sore-head.
In the case of Th1be against Car
Isle, the Speaker has thus far ig-
nored the issue, but several affida-
Wits have been LAID before the CON-
mittee, so strong IN their nature
that Mr.. Carlisle must face the
music. He has therefore asked TOR
further time, which is regarded as
hurliijating on his part. The COM
rdittec grants the courtesy, and will
not report until the last Of this
week. Mr.. Thebe is vigorously
pressing his claims TO the seat, and
the committee on elections find
many difficulties they did not an'
ucipate. Should they report against
Mr.. Carlisle, q contingency not
probable, then matters will be ex'
tremely complicated. The case is
perplexing, to say the least.
Senator Voorhees,, who followed
Mr.. Sherman IN his great speech on
the tariff issue as presented by the
President, is an able man and made
the most of his cause, but his speech
fell fat. No one knew this better
than Voorhees, himself. He com.
planned that the Republican Sena-
tors left their seats during his
speech and so they did; that the
gallery rapidly thinned out when
Mr.. Sherman got through, which
is also true. But why complain
The people are ready to listern to
and anxious to have facts, but no
sophistry or subterfuge will an
sweC.
Ex.Congressmsn Bragg, OF Wis
oonsin, has been here several days
and it is understood has the prom
Use of the Mexican Mission. Presi-
dent Cleveland has been very un'
fortunate, thus far, in his appoint.
tnent of Ministers to Mexico. He
has already made three, and this
would make the fourth. In case
Mr.. Bragg gets the place, his hab-
its of sobriety are such that the
American people need not fear
further disgrace on that score, at
least. When he appeared on the
floor OF the House among bis old
friends last Saturday, with a screen
over his left eye, they began to
joke him for having begun Mexico
City life so soon. He thinks, how
ever that he can stand the social
climate of the Mexican Capital very
Will. At all events he IS willing
to try. lie said 81 am not afraid
Of anything.
Rhbard Bnrke, editor Of the
Eoncevarte wv. W NeICs,, died last