Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-04-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
tFrom our regular correspondsni.l
WASHINGTON. Mar. %. 1888.

WASHINGTON, Mar. %, 1888.
The sudden and unexpected death of
Chief Justice Waite, of the United
States Supreme Court, on Friday morn
ing, at his residence In this city, was
like q thunderbUlt from cloudless sky.
Everybody was shocked. Few people
knew that he was sick, he having on
Monday presided over the session of the
court which made some important de-
clsions, including the one in favor of
the Bell Telephone company. Justice
Waite was very popular in this city.
He was loved and revered by every one
with whom he came in contact and his
loss will be deeply felt by large circle
of friends. -..i..H
Justice Waite was an honest, palms.
taking, upright officer, and the seventh
man who has held that distinguished
place. He was appointed Chief Justice
from Ohio in 1874, by President Grant,
and was the successor of Salmon P.
Chase. The funeral services will be
held on Wednesday in the Hall of the
House of Representatives. and the re-
mains will be taken to Toledo for in
terment. Mrs. Waite, who was visit
ing California at the time of the
Justices death, is on her way to Toledo
and is expected to reach there about
the time her husbands remains arrive
there.
The political Importance of this death
can hardly be over estimated. If the
proper appointment shall he made to
the vacancy, it will have great effect
towards bringing the court back to the
strict construction of the Constitution
for which it was noted previous to the
late war. This appointment, owing to
the even manner in which the opinions
of the eight Justices are now balanced,
places more power as well as larger
responsibility on Mr.. Cleveland, than
has probably ever before fallen on q
President. N..
Still the country need have no fears.
He will appoint the right man.
Among Democrats here It is pretty
generally believed that the appoint
ment will 60 either to Speaker Carlisle
or Postmaster General Dickinson, al
though quite number of other gentle
men are favorably mentioned. But
everybody may be sure the President
will take his own time to fill this i'm
portant position, after carefully con-
sidering the claims of all.
The House has passed a bill to pre-
vent the products ofconvict labor from
being furnished to or for the use Of any
Department of the Government and
from being used in public buildings or
other public works, and to prevent the
employment of alien labor on public
buildings and works and in the Gov
ernment Departments.
Civil Service Commissioner Oberly,
Of1llinois, is being favorably mentioned
for the Vice-Presidential nomination.
Cleveland and Oberly, does not sound
so bad.
Chairman Barnum. of the National
Democratic Committee, has been here
for several days. He says the outlook
is all that could be asked.
The Senate has passed the bill reduc-
ing the postage on seeds, bulbs, plants,
shrubs, ETC., to four cents pound.
The House Committee on Revision of
the Laws have reported favorably the
joint resolution proposing an amend.
ment to the Constitution for the elec-
tion of United States Senators bv the
district votes of the people.
Senator Salisbury, of Delaware,
made a strong speech in the Senate on
Thursday in the support of the Presi-
dents message. He said: "The Demo-
cratic party is not in favor of free trade,
but it is earnestly in favor of reducing
tariff rates so that 10 greater taxation
would be imposed on the people than
was necessary to meet the just demands
of the Government" He further
stated that he was in favor Of retaining
the taxes on beer, whisky and tobacco,
in order to relieve from taxation every
thing essential to the comfort and well
fare of the people.
The report sent out from this city
that the committee having charge of
the matter had secured money enough
to purchase residence here for the
widow of Gen. Hancock, was a mistake.
The committee has made report
through its chairman, Mr.. Stilson
Hutchins, which shows that they are
still in need of subscriptions to the
fund. 1t is extremely probable that
this statement will bring i'm contribu-
tions enough to accomplish this very
laudable purpose. -.
The International Council of Women
held their opening session yesterday
afternoon. Many distinguished wo-
men from all parts of the country are
in attendance. The council will last a
week.