Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-01-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, JAN. 8, il

The Speaker did not Announce tire
House Committees until Thursday,
and as Friday and Saturday were
given to the work of organizing,
committees have not yet had time TO
report any bills, and as, 10 conse
aupnce, little business can be trans
acted on the fio,r of the House dur
ing the present week, speeches ale
suggested. Indeed it might be
good plan to utilize these dull and
idle days for the purpose OF getting
off the set speeches on tariff and
lother questions, which members
have prepared months before Con
gress opened. and which, if not de-
livered now, are sure to consume a
great deal of time later in the ses
sion, when time is more valuable
that now. 1t 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 Speaker,
no matter how badly he may have
done, because of the abuse heaped
upon him. He bad 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.
A New York member who is a
strong supporter of the administers
ton, was quite emphatic in his de
nunciation of the Speaker. He ex
claimed: "Why he has given all to
the South and left us out in the
cold" In looking over the lists /
find this to be the fact. There are
54 committees, and of this number
the Southern States have the chair
manships of 80, which would rather
confirm the New York member In
/ his assertion. Missouri has the
| craftsmanship OF FIVE committees,
Massachusetts one. Arkansas has
three chairmanshlps, the great State
of Iowa only one. Georg a has -four
and Minnesota none. Texas has
three and Wisconsin only one.
Pennsylvania, the keystone State,
has only two, while Kentucky has
four. And so | might go on through
the entire list and show the partial
ity Of speaker, who pretends to
desire to blot out all sectiOnalism. l
do not wonder that Northern and
| Western men use language in dis
cussing this condition of affairs that
would indicate a foTgetfuluess OF
early Sunday School training.
In the case of Thoebe against
Carlisle, the Speaker has thus far
ignored the issue, but several affida'
Wits have been laid before the com.
mittee, so strong in their nature that
Mr.. Carlisle must face the music.
He has therefore asked for further
time, which is regarded as humilia-
ting in his part. The committee
grants the courtesy, and will not re.
port until the last of this week. Mr..
Thoebe is vigorously pressing bis
claims to the seat, and the commit
tee on elections find many difficult
ties they did not anticipate. Should
they report against Mr.. Carlisle, a
contingency not probable, then mat
tiers will be extremely complicated.
The case is perpleXing, to say the
least.
| Senator voorhees,, who followed
Mr.. Sherman ii. 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 thined out when Mr..
Sherman got through, which is also
true. But why complain? The PEG
pie are ready to listen TO and anxl.
Gus to have facts, but no sophistry
or subterfuge will answer.
Ex-Congressman Bragg, of Wis
cousin, has been here several days
and it is understood has the prom
Use of the Mexican Mission. Presi-
dent Cleveland has been very unfor.
tunate, thus far, in his appointment
of Ministers to Mexico. He has al
ready made three, and this would
make the fourth. In case Mr..
Braggs gets the place, his habits OF
Sobriety are such that the American
!. people need not fear further disgrace
on that score, at least. When be
appeared on the floor of the House
among bis old friends last Saturday,
With screen over bis lett eye, theS
began to joke him for having begun
| Mexico City life so soon. He thinks,
however that he can stand the social
climate of the Mexican Capital very
we'll. At all events he is willing to
try. He said: I" / am not afraid OF
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