Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-01-13
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence of the Standard
WASHINGTON, Dec. 80, 1887.

heruIar cspOhutuCe Oh tue SlanuarQ.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 80, 1887.
Although many Congressman hav,
gone to their homes to spend the holi
days, the number is not so large as us
| nal, on account of the restriction il
railroad courtesies imposed by the
provisions of the Interstate Commerce
law. The day OF passes is past for oul
national solons, and its effect is very
perceptible to those who watch the
movements of Congressman. One Ci
those who remain, but not from mo.
tives of peeuniary economy, is Speaker
Carlisle, who wishes to improve all OF
his leisure time in selecting the House
committees. One not familiar with
this duty of the presiding officer, can
have no conception of the great labor
which it involves; it is a whole
months hard work. which must be
performed in much less time. The
Speaker is making satisfactory pro-
gress and promises to be able to an
nounce his committees by the date
Congress reconvencs. Though the
names OF the Ways and Means Com
mittec have not been made public,
still your correspondent violates no
confidence in naming the most prom
inent members, as follows: Democrats,
Roger z. Mills, of Texas; Benton Nc
MILAN, of Tennessee; w. C. ?. Breck-
enridge, of Kentucky; S. S. Cox, of
New York; and w. b. Bynum, of In
diana; Republicans, w. ID. Kelley, of
Pennsylvania; Thos. b. Reed, of
Maine; VIM. Mckinley, of Ohio. 1t
is now virtually settled that Mr.. Mills
is to be chairman of this, the most
of all tho committees.
One thing | can say of the gentleman
from Texas, and that is the alleged
pictures of him now appearing in the
press do not at all look like him; this
counterfeit presentment must have
been taken twenty years ago, if ever,
as it represents the Southern states
man rs youngish looking man,
though his age is past iifty-five.
. AS an evidence of the progress of
tariff reform sentiment, even among
our friends the enemy, the course of
Mr.. Nelson, the Republican (Scandina-
vian) member from Minnesota, is very
suggestive; he has been in Congress
three terms, he is invincible before the
people, and his district is overwhel-
mingly Republican, yet the gentleman
proposes to voluntarily retire at the
close of his present term because he
is disgusted with the policy of his
party OH the tariff issue. This is GER
tainly OF no little significance-a po-
litical study that tends to show the
strength of the position assumed by
President Cleveland in his great mes
sage, especially in the West.
Again this year, as last year, festivi-
ties and funeral rites are strangely
mingled in the capital of the nation.
Last Christmas the flag was lowered
and Grape displayed in honor of Lo-
gan; this Christmas the people of the
United States sorr0wfully commemo-
rated the virtues and the public SER
vices OF that worthy exemplar of his
countrymen, Daniel Manning, who by
his own courageous efforts arose from
humble beginnings to stand among
the honored and powerful of the earth,
and then closed his brilliant and sue
cessful career with the martyrs crown
OF duty to brighten his memory for
many years, with the Nations plau-
dit well done, which will place him
in the temple of fame side by side
with Robert Morris, Alexander Hamil-
ton, and Robert J. Walker. Congress
is also mourning the death OF one of
its members, Mr.. Moffat, of Michigan,
and the customary committee was APP
pointed to escort his remains home
and provide for the funeral.
There will probably be another i'm
portant vacancy to fill in the Interior
Department very soon, as General. Ar
thur, Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
has often expressed to intimate friends
his desire to resign and thus relieve
himself OF the anxietics and response
bilities incumbent upon him. 1t is
said that rather than rely too much
on subordinates for the execution of
instructions, he devotes himself too
much to looking after the details of
his bureau.
One of the interesting local events
OF the holidays, was the celebration of
the S9th birthday of Mr.. w. w. Corco-
ran, the noble philanthropist, who is
esteemed as the first and foremost of
Washingtonians. While he is bowed
with physical infirmities, his mind is
as bright and his interest in current
affairs is as lively as thirty years ago.
This benefactor of his race is possessed
of the rare gift of growing old grace
fully.
Another event was the presence of
Mrs. Cleveland at dinner given to
500 poor children of the capital. The
first lady of the land seems in her nat
ural element when doing deeds of
kindness and charity.
A LAW has been passed in Waldeck,