Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-01-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.


WASHINGTON, Jan. o, 1888.
"Twisting the tail of the British
Lion" has long been favorite and per-
fectly harmless pastime Of American
statesmen in the legislative halls Of the
nation. And it would seem that this
mighty animal is not to escape his
periodical torture during the present
session of Congress. The Lion might
do well to heed the admonitiOn of the
picturesque Ingalls,, who says 'if the
British Lion does not want his tail
twisted, he must keep it between his
legs" The Tall Sycamore of the
Wabash, Indiana's most popular son,
has expressed the same opinion also.
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, the British
Fisheries Commissioner, who by virtue
of his being a member of parliament,
has the privilege of the floor of Con-
gress, according to custom, is the dis
turbing cause at present. The distin-
guished Englishman held a sort of re-
ceptiOn in the Senate while Mr.. Voor-
hees was making tariff speech in reply
to Mr.. Sherman's attack upon the
Presidents message. The conversation
was pitched in such high tones that
Senatorial dignity was seriously Offend
ed, and the President of the Senate felt
called upon to silence the disturbance
with his gavel. AS for Mr.. Chamber
lain, he is probably more sinned
against than SHINING. The group of
Republican Senators who gathered
about him on this occasion were the
real offenders, for they should have had
the grace to conduct their guest to one
of the adjacent cloak rooms. The
Democratic Senators were intently
listening to the able effort of Mr.. Voor-
hees in refutation of Mr.. Sherman's
argument, and they justly complained
that though they paid undivided atten-
ton to the remarks of the Ohio Sena-
tor, whe.l it came the turn of Mr.. Voor-
hees, the attention of the Republicans
was almost entirely withdrawn from
the orator and the discussion. This was
a grave breech of decorum on the part
of those whose duty it was to observe
it. The matter has not yet been
publicly alluded to in the Senate,
though it may be in the near future.
One Of the most important bills yet
introduced in the Senate is that Offered
by Senator Hoar for worlds fair at
Washington in 1892. In connection
with this it is proposed to establish in
this city permanent exposition of the
arts, industries and resources of North,
South and Central America, the United
States, as a matter of course to take the
lead. Ifcarried out on the scale pro-
jected, this scheme will rival, if not
surpass, the glorious record of our great
Centennial.
Speaker Carlisle's committees are
probably more capable and satisfactory
to the public, if not to those assigned,
than if the work had been by any other,
for in matter of this kind, experience
is everything on the part of the presid-
ing officer. The House is now
thoroughly organized for business, and
the present week will be a season of
much interest and activity, as the COM
mittees are hard at work shaping the
course of legislation. The result of
their deliberations will appear later.
During the past week the Committee
on Elections had under consideration
the contested election case of Thobe
against Carlisle, and number of affi-
davits have been filed by the contestant
and several allegations presented by
his counsel. The hearing of the case
has been postponed till the last of this
week, in order that the Speaker may
have an opportunity of defending the
validity of his title, which he desires to
do. Mr.. ThObe's counsel is attempting
to make his client play the role of the
prosecuted workingman, in his vain eff
fort to make plausible case.
A striking and singular instance of
Republican official irregularity and
incompetency has just come to light
here in the capital. More than nine
teen years ago Gen. J. S. Crocker was
appointed Warder of the District Jail,
for term of four years, under bond
of So, 600; and although he has never
been re-appointed, nor given new
bond, the lucky General still swings to
his office. ''Turn the rascals out"
The indications are that in a day or
two the President will send to the
Senate two important nominations.
Mr.. Stockslager, who is Assistant Com
missioner of the Land Office, to be
Commissioner of the Land Office, and
General E. A. Bogg, ex-Congressman
from Wisconsin, to be Minister to
Mexico. 1t was Gen. Bogg who made
the memorable speech in the Chicago
Convention lauding Grover Cleveland:
1--WE all love him for the enemies which
he has made" The Wisconsin states
man has had a distinguished career,
both in war and in peace, and it is
known that the President is desirous
of honoring him.