Arizona weekly citizen., 1888-01-07
Washington Letter.
tFrOm our regular cOrrespondsnt)

WAsHINGIoS, December 30, 1887.
 The burden of conversation ct the Capital since adjournment. has been the appointment of the house com mittees. The Speakers room is hteT- ally crowded from morning till night by members who are urging their own in- terest or that of a friend. To compli- cate affairs. it is said that the President IS assuming to dictate to the Speaker certain appointments thst the Speaker don't want and that several members ere quite wroth because their merits are not more readily recognized. All these things are 8 sad comment on American politics. and Oughtto disgust the people to that extent ths; they will see to it that the next house is republican. There Is no question that the important com mittees are being mos. shsmefully pack ed m certain interests, and It IS through these committees that Legislation must come, If We have any, regarding the great lssues. As sn illustration. the control of the Ways and Means com mittee, the most important at this time, is gwen to the nOn-msnuiacturIng South while the bee hive of all New England IS only gwen one member, and the great manufacturing state of New Jersey, with lts millions invested, Is left without 6 representative on the committee. This is only one of many instances showing how desperate the democracy are III playing theIr lest game.
 Ex-Speakei Randall, of Pennsylvania, will be appointed chairman of the Ap- propriatlon committee. though neither the President or Speaker whnt him iu that position. but be carries too many guns tc be ignored, and is bent upon having It, and will get 1t. Judge Hol- man of Indiana, who has served many yeGJs on that committee, IS to be drop ped, aud will be made chairman of Pub Inc lands, which change does not suit bim. General Wheeler of Alabama, who was the chief Confederate Cavalry lead or, wants to be chairman O. Military affairs, but Dick Townsend Of Illino4r. k booked for the place and Wheeler is mad.
 General Herbert Of Alabama, who vas another Confederate leader, IS to be chairman ol Naval Gn4irs. Culbertsrn of fexss, prOminsnt In the Colfederacy, ls tO be chairman of of tue Judiciary and Dib5le of South Carolina. another prominent Cnuiedera:-, hss the com mi.see on Public buildings and grounds.
 The InvalId PeUsiCns committee was made unusually STOmlueut In the last congress, by the President yetOing l3l bills that the committee reported and passed. Col. Watson of Indiana, was chairman, and was succe essful in prss- ing feT bills over the veto. For that, the President demands 8 new chairman, but whether such petty vengeance will succeed or not Is matter of doubt up to thIs writing.
 The Presidsn. sent to the Pope as A Christmas present, beautiful engraved copy or the U. :. Constitution, richly bound in book form. There are fifteen pages n the book, and each page eigh- teen inches square. The book rests Tn 8 gorgeous case of Gyriau purple, and doubtless will be highly prizsd by the Pope.
 The report of tho Geological Survey just published, shows that the produc- iion of minerals ID the United States. reached last year the enormous value of S465.OOO OOO, the largest yet recorded ID any country, and about Si5.OO00OO greater than the year previous.
 It IS reported tbs morning on good authority, that on the re-EssembliDg of congress the President will send in & special message, recommending the re- moval of the tobacco tax. Such an act will reduce the revenue about S30,OOO,- GOO and will no. be seriously sntsgO- niZed.
 We have had as visitors this week about 300 school teachers from New York and Brooklyn, who have made tour of the city and its public buildings and express themselves ss highly pleased with the visit. Washington is getting to be the most delightful pleasure resort On the continent.
 Congress meets again next Wednes- day, from and after which time, until July st least, we may anticipate lively times. Everything goes to show fierce and bitter contest between the two great parties. A.