The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1888-01-26
LIVE WASHINGTON TOPICS.
A Special Correspondent Writes An
Interesting Letter on Important
Political Matters.
WASHINGTON, Jan. a, 1883.


WASHINGTON, Jan, a, 1888.
During the past week, It rather i'm
pressive scene was witnessed in the
Senate, when VIM. E. Chandler, who,
by reason Of his notorious connection
with the Hayes and Tilden campaign,
is living monument of the purity OF
elections, stood forth as the champion
of free ballot and fair count in the
South. A few years ago, when Jay A.
Hubbell, then in the House, was dis
tributing the Republican corruption
fund to carry Indiana, speech from
him rebuking the practice of using
money to il fluence votes would have
been fully as refreshing and effective
as was Mr.. Chandler's late effort.
The New Hampshire extremist was
discussing the municipal election at
Jackson, Mississippi, with which Con-
gress har no more to do than with the
election of Il church deacon in "No
Mans Land" But the real object OF
the Republicans was to provoke a
sectional controversy for the purpose
defeating Mr.. Lamar's confirmation
sn wh'ch they were signaly dis
appointed by the fact OF the Demo-
Gratis. Mr.. Riddleberger spoke right
out and said there was no conceal
ment of the fact that the resolution
WAS designed to bear upon u matter
that should be considered only in ex.
ecutive session, and declared his in.
tehtion to vote for Mr.. Lamar.
Az indicated in my last letter, Gen.
Edward S. Bragg, former Wisconsin
Congressman, has been appointed as
Minister to Mexico, and | still think
Mr.. StUckslager will be promoted t.
the vacant Cummissiorership of the
Land Office. Another Western Con.
gresham is in trouble with his for.
mer landlady. She was very kind
and devoted to the Congressman's
sick child, but it appears that she
transferred her tender feelings from
the daughter to the father, and that she
claims to be his wife, which allegation
lie denies and dehes her to prove it
Fo say the least OF it, the Congress
man was guilty of indiscretion, and he
Is now paving the penalty OF his folly
The Politicians Of Washington are
much exercised over two important
local Federal Offices that have lately
become vacant by limitation-tht
United States District Attorneyship
~ t!s2 ~i.g Postmastership, and al
you may well believe, there is no lacl
of applicants. 1t is thought that botl
places will be filled with good Demo
Gratis in few days.
Many Democrats are complaining
about the appointment nf one Ii
Barnes, 10 he clerk of the Committee
on Public Lands Of the Hose, at
salary OF $500 per annum. Thi
man was Republican, and for twelv,
wears held "a 50 200 law clerkship in tn,
General Land Office, from which h,
had only been dismissed a week
This is turning the rascals out will
a vengeance. Happy LIE Barnes, hi
decapitation was blessing in dis
guise, since he is thereby promoted.
Since the holiday recess, a thousanC
bills have been introduced in Con
gress, but OF that number only on
has passed both Houses, and that i
the bill fixing the salary of the Fisl
CommiSsioner--an official whose ser
vices have heretofore been gratis-a
five thousand dollars per annum.
The House has passed a bill decid
ing what shall and what shall not b
written and printed on mail matter
and the measure will probably pas
the Senate. Another bill presente,
in she H puse, N lieu Of the Deepen
dent Pension bill, is in act to pa
destitute veterans the sum of eigh
dollars per month, and there is a prot
ability that such moderate meas
ure may become law