The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-01-19
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, D. g., Jan. Is, 1888.
The retirement of Mr.. Lamar from
the great Office which he has so ably
and satisfactoriIytflled for nearly three
years, was the occasion of many sim
cere expressions of regret. Especially
regretful were those who have been
associated with the Southern states
man in the discharge of public duties,
for it is the unanimous testimony of
all who have had personal contact
with him that he is 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 cay
farew ell TO the Ex Secretary. There
were many misty eyes and sorrowful
countenances.
There is little doubt of Mr.. Lamar's
fiual confirmation by the Senate to be
a Justice of the Supreme Court 81
though Republican maligni:y may
postpone it for some time. The ex-
tremists who are opposing him already
realize defeat, and iii their rage have
resorted to dilatory tactics IS their
only chance for manufacturing capital.
The nominations of Messrs. Villas
and Dickinson for Secretary of the In:
terror and Postmaster General, respect,
lively, will doubtless be confirmed at
the first executive session of the Sen
ate. Political malice has been unable
to raise any sort of issue in the case oi
either. 1t was for the purpose of re-
I lieving the situation as affected by
these pending nominations that Mr.
Lamar magnanimously resigned one
Office before he was assured of another
! Whatever chances there were to take
he preferred to take alone. without In
volving others in the complication
The Postmaster General has refraine(
from making at least two importsn
appointments in his Department OIL
account Of the impending change.
Much anxiety Is felt among the Re
publican employees of the Interior De
partment because they know that
new Secretary must provide fe1
places for his friends. If l had th
ear of MIR. Villas I would give him 4
least one hint In this direction. Their
is a certain Republican Chief Of d
, sion in this Department who hs
been drawing salary of two thousan u
dollars a year for fifteen years, an
still he is not tired. This mans d1tit
, are few and simple, and the place
not in the classified service.
The Congressional mill IL grindin
a slowly but not very finely, altheug
since the re assem- bling of Congre
. more than nine hundred new bill
have been introduced. Some surpri
# is expressed that the great State
h New York is nat represented on Il
= Ways and Means Committee, an omi
% sion which has probably not occurrt
before in the whole history Of Il
h country. The framing of new tar
y bill, to be presented to the House
this Committes, Is progressing rapid
r. and satisfactorily, and it is believ'
:, will be ready for consideration with
the next two weeks.
:, The Invalid Pension Commit
II probably learned valuable less
% from its experience AZ the last sessio
n If so it will not again present.an q
surd bill ike that vetoed by the Pr
=, ideu;. but instead, a measure allowi
"A som4thing like eight dollars q mon
to frieudiess soldiers.
enator Beck, of Kentucky who b
beeu for the past four years one of t
;, sti.uuchest Democratic leaders of
- senate. was the recipient of ma
hearty congratulations, this week,
his third election to the Senate. I'll
- brawny Scotchman is the only m
- ever so honored by the land of bl
fine horses. MIR. Beck is esteemed
-, his abilities and liked for his gen
nature. He is regarded as quite
authority on questions relating
-, finance and the tariff.
=, There are two factions of local /
=, publicans in Washington, and,
% heretofore, they are all torn up o'
~ the result of the recent primary me
=. ing, whose duty it is to select two
egates to the Chicago National c.
> yention. There is likely to. be CT
;, test.