The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-01-14
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


Speaker did not announce the House
Committees until Thursday, and as
Friday and Saturday were given to
the work of organizing, committees
have not yet had time to report any
bills, and as, in consequence, little
business can be transacted on the
floor of the House during the present
week, speeches are suggested. Indeed
it might be good plan to utilize
these dull an idle days for the pur-
pose of getting off the set speeches on
tariff and other questions, which
members have prepared months be-
fore Congress opened, and which, if
not delivered now, are sure TO con-
sumo great deal of time later in the
session, when time is more valuable
than now, 1t has been suggested too
that it would be a good time to de-
liver the funeral orations.on deceased
members.
AS predicted, the assignment of
members to the various committees
gave great dissatisfaction, which
came near an open revolt on the part
of many. My sympathies in this
contest were with the Speaker, no
matter how badly he may have done,
because of the abuse heaped upon
him. He had a most arduous task
to perform, and to carry out the pro-
gramme OF the packing process. ne
cessarily had to break his head
several times against the wall. Mr..
Carlisle, of all other men, has the
legitimate right tc consider himself
the sore-head.
A New York member who is a
strong supporter of the Administra-
ton, was quite emphatic in his de-
nunciation of the Speaker, He ex-
! claimed "Why, he has given
everything to the South and left us
out in the cold" In looking over
the lists L find this to be the fact.
There are 81 committees, and of this
number the Southern States have the
craftsmanship of 80, which would
rather confirm the New York mem
Der in his assertion. Missouri has
the Craftsmanship of five committees.
Massachusetts one. Arkansas has
three chairmanships. the great State
of Iowa only one. Georgia has four
and Minnesota none. Texas has three
and Wisconsin only one. Pennsyl-
yania, the Keystone State, has only
two, while Kentucky has four, And
so l might 60 on through the entire
list and show the Partially of a
Speaker, who pretends to desire to
blotsou all sectionalism. 1 do not
wonder that Northern and Western
men use language in discussing this
condition of affairs that would indi-
cate forgetfulness of early Sunday
School training.
In the case of Thoebe against Car
Isle, the Speaker has thus far ignored
the issue, but several affidavits have
been laid before the committee, so
strong in their nature that Mr.. Car
Isle must face the music. He has
therefore asked for further time,
which is regarded as humIliating on
his part. The committee grants the
courtesy, and will not report until
the last of this week. Mr.. Thoebe is
vigorously pressing his claims to the
seat, and the committee on elections
find many difficulties they did not
anticipate. Should they report against
Mr.. Carlisle. contingency not prob
able, then matters will be extremely
complicated. The case is perplexing,
to say the least.
Senator Voorhees,, who followed
Mr.. Sherman, in his great speech on
the tariff issue as presented by the
President, is an able man and made
the most of his cause, but his speech
fell fiat. No one knew this better
than VOORHEES, himself. He COM
planned that the Republican Senators
left their seats during his speech and
so they did that the gallery rapidly
thinned out when Mr.. Sherman got
through, which is also true. But
why complain? The people are
ready to listen to and anxious to
have facts, but no sophistry or sub.
terfuge will answer.
EX-COngressman Bragg, Of Wis.
consin, has been here several DAYS
and it is understood has the promise
of the Mexican Mission. President
Cleveland has been very unfortunate
thus far, IN his appointment of Min
listers to Mexico. He has already
made three, ana this would make
the fourth. In case Mr.. Bragg gets
the place, his habits Of sobriety are
such that the American people need
not fear further disgrace on that
score, at least. When he appeared
on the floor of the House, among his
old friends last Saturday, with a
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