Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-01-27
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Administration Attacks on Randall
The knights of Labor and the
Reading Strike.
From our own CorrespondeHt.l


The knights of Labor and the
Reading Strike.
From our own CorrespondeHt.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. 81, 1855.
The sensation of the week in political
circles was the defeat of Randalps candi-
date for the chairmanship of the Pennsyl
vania State central democratic committee,
and the passage by that committee of a
highly laudatory resolution in regard to
Cleveland and his recommendations for
the reduction of the treasury surplus 1t
was genuine surprise to everybody out
side of administration circles. The free
trade democrats are jubilant and predict
that Randall will have no more influence
in the party councils, while some of Ran
dall's friends do not hesitate to openly ac-
cuse Cleveland of having gone into the
State fight and of having thrown the
whole weight of the administration
against Randall in order to force
him to support the Cleveland tariff
programme. In the meantime the repub-
hcans are enjoying the split. Randall is
Il man who neither furgrts nor forgives,
so it will be interesting to observe how he
will get even with Cleveland for his un-
derhauded blow below the belt.
The executive committee of the Ma
tiOnal Railway Conductors ASSOCIATION
are to have a hearing before the House
-
the bill recently introduced requiring rail
way conductors to be regularly examined
and licensed by a government board OF
examiners. The bill is vigorously op-
posed.
The Knights of Labor are making a
great effort to get the House committee on
commerce to recommend u congressional
investigation of the Reading railroad
strike. The fact came out in an
informal discussion of the matter that
over halt the committee were opposed to
any congressional investigation, believing
that II any investigation were needed the
Interstate commerce commission were
the proper parties to make it. The ques-
tiOu will be called up again Tuesday, when
4 delegation of the knights of Labor will
endeaVor to persuade the committee into
their way of thinking.
The House committee on manufactures
have unanimously agreed to report favor
bly, Mr.. Mason bill providing for an iu-
vestigation of trusts and combinations.
The report Is expected TO be made to the
House early in the coming week. The
trusts affected are coal, sugar, mining
and kindred subjects. Lively opposition Is
expected and already there are rumors Ot
a strong lobby to oppose the bill.
Mrs. Gen. Grant, who Is visiting in this
city, has been the recipient of many at
tentions from her old friends She will be
joined next week by Mrs Fred Grant
HEATH.
An Old Letter to the First U. s. Senator
from Vermont - Militia Matters
Opinion of Ex.Justice Strong
on the Blair Bill.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1855.
To the Editor of the Free Press
{ Mr H. A. Willard of this city, in look
ing over some old papers the other day
found a letter which was written to a rela
live, Gen. Bradley, the first United States
senator from Vermont. The writer wa
a Quaker named Eben Breed, and the let
ter is dated Lynn. VI ass December 80
| ISL, and is quaint IN language as well "a
in ideas. The following extract is of in
! terest:
Il have taken the liberty TO make anC
send thee few pair gentlemen S, slippers
two pair of them are marked for thyself
which ask thee to accept. two pair arr
directed to nr. ;. l.. Mitchell, to whom
have written, and ask the favor OF thee t
hand tI him, and with view To eAhlbl
10 the president of the United states I
specimen of The manufacture Of the tow!
of Lynn, long h3.uWn as famous place 10
shoemaking. I nave sent him two pal
slippers for himself and three pair TO
his wife. The former | made myself ant
the latter Cot made in Lynn. | men
toned to several of our leading shoe
makers my intention of sending a sampl
of our work TO hee and the president au,
others for the examination of the leading
characters of the nation and they approve
of it, and as thou art well acquainted Wit
us, and what q high opinion and regar'
the people OF j. IN have Tor the presluen
it is wished that thee will present them Il
such manner as thee should thin!
proper SO that it is understood as snlal
or simple testimony of the sincere regar'
aud appreciation OF people who tho the
move in humber sphere OF life, they ar
industrious, enterprising and firm SUP
porters of the present administration
Thy slippers and one pair for the preslden
(the light colored ones are made OF a mer
lean skins, sheep. | chose thl
in order to show TO what perfection tht
manufacture of that article had arrived
but a few Yeats ago the pelt would onl.
bring q to 10 cents, now they are worti
from 40 to 50, and when dressed as thes,
J are, of which the slippers are made, VII
4 sell for 50 - which is equal to the tormel
price of a sheep, meat, wool and all
1t is proposed by bill now before tn
House committee on militia to establish
bureau of militia III the war department
to aid the States in increasing the officer
of the militia, etc. The secretary of wa
has been asked To submit his views ol
the bill,
Last night n rumor was current arount
the hotel lOboies that eX-Justice William
| L
retired, had delivered an opinion befo-
the Columbia law school of this city, in
lecture on the constitution, declaring tn
Blair educational bill unconstitutional
Your correspondent called on the judg
at his residence this morning and the fol
lowing conversation took place
as it true, judge, tnat you gave a
, opinion before the Columbia law schoo
, against the constitutonality of the Blai
bill ?'
'ldid say that in my opinion the meas
ure was unconstitutional, and that be
lieve the Supreme Court would so decide
! but it was IN reply 10 question from
l student and not rs a part of my lecture,
said the judge. Continuing, he said, '
had no intention or thought that my T,
marks would become public property, or
would not have given an opinion. Eve
. since | retired from the bench 1t has bee
, my fixed principle never to give publlcit
i to an opinion on any matter that was {
might come before the Supreme Cour
and shall not depart from 1t. | am col
n stantly in consultation and intercourS
| lt.,itb no iuStippa n that thprptOI