The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-01-20
WASHINGTON LETTER



WASHINGTON. D. G., Jan. 10, 1888.
During the past week, rather i'm.
pressive scene was witnessed in the
Senate, when Wm. K. Chandler, who,
by reason of his notorious connection
with the Hayes and Tilden campaign,
is living monument of the purity o
elections, stood forth as the champion
of free and fair count in the soutt
A few years ago, when Jay A. Hub
bell, then in the house, was distrlbu'
ing the republican corruption fund to
carry Indiana, a speech from his re-
bukiug the practice Of using money
influence votes would have been fully
az refreshing and effective as was Mr..
Chambers late effort. The New
Hampshire extremist was DISCUSSING
the municipal election al Jackson, Mis-
sssippi, with which congress has n
more to do than with the election of
church deacon iu mo Mans Land.
But the real object of the republican,
was to provoke q sectional con'r ver'y
for the purpose OF defeating Mr.. La
mars confirmation, in which they wer
signally disappointed by the tact OF
the democrats. Mr.. Riddleberger spoke
right out and said there was no con-
cealment of the fact that the resolu
tion was designed to bear upon mat
ter that should be considered only in
executive session, and declared his in
tention to vote for Mr. Lamar. Sen
ator Stewart of Nevada, has made the
same announcement of his intention
Among other republican senators ex-
pecting 10 vote the same way are
Messrs. Sabin, Sawyer and Cameron.
This case will probably be brought up
for consd ration to-day. As the La
mar nomination comes first on the sen
ate calendar, it must be acted upon
before the nominations of Messrs.
Villas and Dickson are considered.
As indicated in my first letter, Gen.
Edward S. Bragg, former Wisconsin
congressman, has been appointed a.
Minister to Mexico, and still think
Mr.. Stockslsger will be promoted to
the vacant commissionership of the
Land Office.
Another Western Congressman is in
trouble with his former lsndlady. She
was very kind and d. voted to the con-
gressman'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 he denies and defes her to
prove it. To say the least of it, the
Congressman was guilty of indiscretion
and is now paying the penalty of his
folly.
The politicians of Washington are
much exercised over two important To-
cal Federal officers that have lately be-
come vacant 10y limitation-the United
States District Attorneyship, and the
city Pos,mastership, and a. you may
well believe, there is no 'ack of appli
oants. 1t is thought that both places
will be filed with good democrats in 3
few days.
Many democrats are complaining
about the appointment of one LIE
Barnes to be clerk of the committee on
Public Lands of the house, at a salary.
of S25OO per annum. This was a re-
publican, aud for twelve years held
$4,000 law clerkship in the General
Laod office, from which he had Only
been dismissed week. This is turn
ing the ra-cals out with vengeance
HAPPY LIE Barnes his decapitation was
a blessing in disguise, since he is there
by promoted.
Since the holiday recess, thousand
bills have been introduced in congress,
but of that number only one has
passed both houses, and that is the bill
liking the salary of the Fish Commits
sioner-an official whose services have
heretofore been gratis-at five thou
sand dollars per annum.
The house has passed bill deciding
what shall and what shall not be writ
ten aud printed on mail matter, and
the measure will probably pass the
senate. Another bill presented in the
house, in lieu of the Dependent Pen
sion Bill, is an act to pay destitute
veterans the sum of eight dollars per
month, and there is probability that
such a moderate measure may become
a law.
The Thobe Carlisle contested elec-
tior case, as was apparent from the
beginning, has completely collapsed,
the report of the Committee on Elec-
tions being practically unanimous in
q