The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-21
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


(From our Regular Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18Th, 1889
Speaker Reed has lost no time since
his election. He expects to announce
the remainder Of the standing com
mittees of the House this week. Mr..
Reed has been called lazy man, and
perhaps he is, but if so it's great
pity that lazy man hasn't been elPc-
ted Speaker of the House before this.
for in this matter of appontia the
committees he is ahead of all his re-
cent predecessors.
A joint resolution has already hpen
introduced in tine Senate providing
for a Congressional recess from next
Thursday to January 9th. and there
is not the slightest doubt about its
passing both Houses. The recess
will not, however, he spent in idle
ness. The important committees will
he in session almost every day get
ting business in shape. Mr.. MCKEE
ley, chairman of the new Ways and
Means committee, proposes, to 90 to
work at once upon the tariff bill
which is to he passed at this session.
1t is probable that what was known
as the Senate tariff bill at the last SEES
sion of Congress will he used as the
basis of the new bill. Trusts too are
TO he looked after by the same com.
mittee. The Election committee will
take up the contested election eases
and push them through as rapidly as
may be consistent with Justice to all
parties concerned.
The more that is known about the
defalcati0n in the office of the Ser
geant-at- Arms of the House the
worse things look for all concerned.
A committee of the House made a
hurried investigation of the business
methods of that Office, and in its re-
port TO the House said enough about
its looseness to Justify almost any
kind of rumOrs. Sergeant-at Arms
Leedom's personal account was dis
covered to be $3.50 short, aud the
books show that he has used the Gov
eminent funds right along to dis
court notes for members of the
House. and put the profits in his own
pockets. The amount stolen by Sill
colt the ASCENDING cashier is within
a fraction of $4,000, and who is to
lose it is still a debatable question.
Either the Government Or the mem
bers for whose pay the money was
intended, will have to he responsible,
as it seems to be generally conceded
What owing to the peculiar circuIn-
stances surrounding the ease nothing
can he made out of the $50 600 bond
of Leedom. What makes the thing
look worse for all concerned, is that
no serious effort has been made to
trace SilcOtt and try to bring him
back. The fact that LeedOm and
Silcott have been the boon compan-
ions of lot of fast Congressman
makes many people believe that Lee
dom and quite number of members
and ex-members of the House would
be very sorry indeed to see Silcott
under arrest. for fear that their turn
might come next.
The investigation of the books of
1.-THE Office of the Sergeant-at Arms
showed Speaker Reeds account to he
over drawn S1.934. This created a
big sensation when it first leaked out,
but was quickly squelched, when
Mr.. Reeds attention was called to it,
BY the following statement from that
gentleman: II have never over
drawn my account, in fact have
never drawn cent until it was due.
After l was elected Speaker there
was due me 1884, I handed in my