The Russellville Democrat., 1888-01-19
Washington Letter.

tFrom Our Regular Correspondents WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. Is, 1888.
 The retirement of Mir. Lamar from the great office which he has so ably and satisfactorily filled for nearly three years, was the occasion of many sincere expressions of regret. Especially regretful were those who have been associated with the Southern statesman in the discharge of public duties. for it IS the unani nous testimony of all who have had personal contact with hlm that he is one of the most affable, generous and kind hearted of men. This feeling was manifested while the employees of the Interior Department were thronging in hundreds to say fare we'll to the Ex Secretary. There were many misty eyes and sorrowful eountenances.
 There is little doubt of Mir. La mars final confirmation by the Sen ate to be a justice of the Supreme Court, although republican malig nity may postpone it for some time. The extremists who are opposing him already realize defeat, and in their rage have resorted to dilatory tactics as thelr only chance for manufacturing partisan capital.
 The nomination of Messrs. Villas and Dickinson for Secretary of the Interior and Postmaster General, respectively, will doubtless be con firmed at the first executive session of the Senate. Political malice has been unable to raise any sort of an issue in the case of either.
 It was for the purpose of relieving the situation as effected by these pending nominations, that Mir. La mar magnanimously resigned one office before he was assured of an other. Whatever chances there were to take he preferred to take alone, without involving others in the complication. The postmaster general has refrained from making at least two important appointments in hls department on account of the impending change.
 Much anxiety is felt among the Republican employees of the Interior Department because they know that a new Secretary must provide few places for his friends. If l had the ear of Mr. Villas would give him at least one hint in this direction. There is certain Republican Chief O: a division in this department who has been drawing salary of two thousand dollars a year for fifteen years, and stlll he is not tired. This mans duties are few and sim pie, and the place is not Tn the classified service.
 The congressional mill is grinding slowly but not very finely, although since the re assembling of congress. more than nine hundred new bills have been introduced. Some sur prise is expressed that the great state of New York is not represented on the Ways and Means Committee, an omission which has probably not  occurred before in the whole history of the country. The framing Of g new tariff bill, to be presented to the House by this committee, is pro gressing rapidly and satisfactorily and 1t is believed will be ready fol consideration within the next two weeks.
 The Invalid Pension Committee probably learned . valuable lessor from it's experience at the las session. If so 1t will not again pre- sent an absurd bill like that vetoed by the President, but instead , measure allowing something like th' sum of eight dollars a month t friendless soldiers.
 Senator Beck, of Kentuckey, wh' . has been for the past few years, on' of the stanuchest democratic leader of the Senate, was the recipient Q