Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-12-28
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, Dec. IA, 1888.


Mr.. Cleveland has received the res
ignation OF u. S. District Attorney E.
b. Sellers, of the indianapolis district
but has not vet accepted it, nor will
he unless compelled to do SO. The
Attorney General has telegraphed to
Mr.. Sellers informing him that the
President joins him in requesting a
withdrawal of the resignation. Both
Mr.. Cleveland and the Attorney Gen
eral would like for Mr.. Sellers to re-
main in Office to prosecute the election
fraud cases, including that of w. W.
Dudley.
The River and Harbor bill, appro.
priating $l1 1,906,S5O, has been report
ed to the House. 1t will probably
pass the House all right, but from re-
cent expressions on the part of Repub'
lican Senators it is probable that it
will never be considered by the Senate.
In view of. the very large appropria-
tion for this purpose, made the last
session, nearly $22,O0O,OOO, no tears
are likely to he shed over the failure OF
the present bill.
Senator Beck's health is slowly i'm
proving, but he will not resume his
seat at the present session. He leaves
in few days for Aiken, S. c., where
he will spend the winter.
Two caucuses OF the Democratic
members of the House have been held
this week, in order to determine upon
a policy in regard to the admittanee OF
the new States. The great diversity OF
opinion on the subject developed by
the discussion, made it evident that it
would be impolitic to attempt to bind
the members, so that they will vote as
they please on the subject. provided
that the question gets before the
House, which many members think
doubtful.
John Sherman denies the story that
he would refuse a place in Harrison's
cabinet for fear that Gov. Foraker
would succeed him in the Senate and
intimates very strongly that he will
take the State Department if it is Of
tered him. Blaine is in the same con-
dition. The question among big Re-
publicans here is which one Of them
will capture the plunder. If were a
betting man l should feel disposed to
back Blaine
There is some talk among the Dem
Ocrats in the House of taking the
wind out OF the Republican sails by
passing a bill repeating the entire to-
bacco tax. Whether this idea, which
many consider good one, will be al
lowed to end in talk, cannot yet be
told.
Little Billy" Chambers latest is a
feeble attempt to get up a Congression-
al investigation of the election in South
Caroliua. Chandler's rantings receive
no attention. Even the Republicans
have become tired of his everlasting
song of Southern outrages, and it is
not likely that he will ever secure the
" investigations which he so much
desires.
The Democratic Senators have done
good work this week, in showing the
weak points in the Senate tariff bill.
They do not expect to defeat it, but
they are determined to offer amend
ments to every section of it that they
think wrong, thus putting on record
their protests. That is all they can
do, and it is all that the party expects
of them. If Republican Senators vote
against their own opinions, az they
have done daily of late under the par
ty lash, it is their own look out.
There was rumor early this week
that Senator Brown, of Georgia, who
has not been here this session, intend
ed to resign. His nearest friends say
there is no foundation for the rumor
A general army order has been is
sued, announcing that hereafter there
will be published annually at the end
of each year roll of honor, making
mention Of officers and enlisted men
The first will be issued at the close o
1889.
An effort is being made to hav,
Congress refund to the widow Of Gen
Hancock the money which he experid
ed out of his own pocket to entertain
the French officers who attended tn,
Yorktown celebration in 1881. Sen
ator Cockrell has introduced a reso
luton, which was passed, directing tn
Secretary of War to furnish the Sen
ate with statement of the amount 81
expended. When that statement i
furnished, joint resolution will b
offered directing that the amount
with interest, be refunded to the wild
ow. This is just claim, and one tina
should be paid at the earliest moment