Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-03-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, MAR. 10, 1855

WASHINGTON, MAR. il, 1883. |
Who will be nominated at Chica-
GOT Less than three months from
this time the convention will meet
hence all Republicans are getting
interested in the above question. 1t
is much easier question to ask
than TO answer. 1t is doubtful If
the best informed republican in
Washington. would attempt to say
who the candidate will be. He may
be any one of the dozen gentlemen
mentioned or he may be as yet I'M
named. Let us consider how the
chances stand at present.
Senator Sherman is developing
considerable strength in the South,
but unless he can make some friends
in other states his nomination is ex-
tremely doubtful. Senator Harri-
son and Judge Gresham have both
shown themselves to possess much
strength in the Northwest, but the
ill-feeling that has always cropped
out between their followers dispos-
es of the chances of both of them.
Mr.. Chauncey Depew has consid.
cradle following in the Eastern
States and just now he is credited
with having a real boom in Pennsyl-
vania. So far no one of the other
candidates appears to be attempting
to antagonize Mr.. Depew, but then
his following is perhaps too small .
yet to make that necessary. That's
the situation as it exists today. The
gentlemen mentioned are the only
ones, whose friends have, so far, at
tempted to boom them for the nomi-
nation. All the rest are apparently
waiting for that concentration of SEN
timent that has as yet refused to
take place in anyone's favor except
Mr.. Blaine.
The pension claim agents of the
city got a score in the Senate on
Thursday. Senator Plumb had read
a letter received by an ex-soldier in
Kansas and written by Washing
ton pension agent, which intimated
that. the writer had special facilities
for pushing private pension claims
through Congress. The letter asked
for a fee of $25, SO in advance and
balance upon passage of bill. Mr..
Plumb said he believed that large
sums of money were being obtained
from ex-soldiers by men who render
them no service whatever.
Senator Hale wanted to know the
name of the firm which sent the let
ter; in view of the tact the rules of
the pension Committee prohibited
all attorneys or claim agents making
any arguments before the Commit.
tee, it was plain that they could rem.
der no service to the ex.soldier.
therefore the letter was clearly in.
tended to deceive and defraud the
man to whom it was written. Mr..
Plumb preferred not to mention the
name of the firm until the whole
matter had been thoroughly investi.
gated by the Pension Committee.
Senators Davis, Cockrell, Plumb and
Hale each took this occasion to de.
nounce the Washington claim agents
as "sharks."
The Dependent Pension bill has
been under consideration by the
House Committee on Pensions, but
| as yet no action has been taken on
it. Petitions have been presented in
the House from Pennsylvania and
Ohio, asking for the passage of a
service pension bill and the per diem
pension bill.
| Senator Teller, of Colorado, paid
bis respects to the Presidents mes
sage in a strong speech, on Thurs
day. He dwelt upon the immense
advantage of protective tariff and
contrastad the great prosperity OF
this country with the poverty of free
trade England.
Senator Hale's resolution for the
appointment of a special Senate
committee of seven, to investigate
the many alleged violations, by fed
eral officials, of the civil service law,
has been passed by the Senate and
the committee appointed. They Will
begin the Investigation as soon as
possible. The subject is large one
and includes officials from messen.
gers to Cabinet officers; but the re-
suit will pay for all the trouble. 1t
will show the people of the country
that in spite of the great professions
and promises of the Administration
hypocrisy is its groundwork.
Senator ingalls, will, it is under
stood, write an open letter in reply
to one written by an ex.staff officer
of Gen. Hancock. 1t will also an.
swer the charges made by some
democrats with accommodating
memories, that the language used by
the Senator in referring to the Presi.
dent in his recent speech. was un.
precedented for its severity and per-
sonal application. 1t will be shown
that the language complained OF was
very mild, il it be compared with
that used by democratic Senators in
speaking of Lincoln, Grant, Hayes,
Garfield, and Arthur during their
Presidential terms.
Senator Brown. of Georgia, is the
latest democratic Senatorial kicker
at the Administration tariff pro-
gramme. He wants the internal
revenue laws repealed at once, and
it might be added, so do his moon.
sinner constituents.
The Ways and Means Committee
have commenced night or rather
evening sessions, which it seems are
necessary in order to make such pro-
gress with the tariff bill, as will get
it before the House in reasonable
time. 1t held it's first evening meet
ing Saturday, when the internal rev.
enue portion of the bill was dispos-
led of. Tt was adontad without