Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-19
GOSSIP FROM THE CAPITAL.
A Lawyer Who Has Had Enough of Con-
gress-0hice Luxury Only the Rich
Can Aford-West virginin and the Tariff
Question-Tenncssee Pleased With Har-

n Lawyer VINO mas mad EnOuEn OF Con-
gress-0flice Luxury Only the Rich
Can Afford-West Virginin and the Tariff
Question-Tenncssee Pleased With Har.
rison.
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH,
WASHINGTON, September 1S.-The number
of Congressman who drop into town from day
to day is increasing as they begin to look into
questions of legislation and the more momen-
tous question of domestic arrangements for
the coming session. Ex-Congressman Snyder,
of West Virginia. is also here, but says he
never wants to come to Congress again, as it
becomes more and more impossible every year
for any but a rich man to afford the luxury of
the office. On this subject he says: There are
great many drafts on Congressman. however,
known only to those who have served in that
capacity. In the first place, the necessary ex-
pense of securing nomination is considera-
BILE. Then the expenses of the campaign have
to be borne. Then it costs good part of ones
salary to support his family whether he keeps
them at home and runs out to see them occa-
sionally, or keeps them here Then every con-
stituent who wants to borrow $40 thinks he has
lien on your 5000 salary, and you are over
run with applications from charitable under
takings in your district. So you are lucky IL
you come out even at the end Of the year. The
life of Congressman units one, too, for time
for the routine work necessary to make a sue
cess OF the law. But am getting down to 1t,
and. personally, nave no desire to return to
Congress again."
Lots of Contested Seats.
Mr.. Snyder was asked about the protective
tariff feeling in West Virginia and replied:
General Hancock was undoubtedly right
when he said that the tari # was local issue.
While West Virginia is not protective State
in the general sense of the term our people de-
sire high tariff on coal, wood and lumber
On the question of protection the Democrats
have undoubtedly been losing ground. Then,
too. immigration has largely increased the Re-
publican vote in the State With the excep-
tion of Representative Wilson, the seat of
every other member is contested, and not
single one of the other three Democrats has
majority of more than %. If remember cor
rectly the original count gave each of the three
districts to the Republicans"
What do you think of the outlook for the
Democracy" was asked.
"If the right men are nominated think they
are good. The people have not found the
prosperous times they expected under the Re-
publican administration. Take my State for
instance. Every industry. except the lumber
trade, which is booming, Is completely
paralyzed. Then there have been ten times as
many applications for office under General
Harrison as under any other Republican Presi-
uent, anu bne numDel OF Ine disappointed ana
dissatisfied is enormous. 1t would not surprise
me at all the House should become Demo
cratic two years hence, and If Governor Hill is
nominated in '92 there is every reason the
Democrats should be fully reinstated."
A Southern Congressman's Views.
One of the Southern Congressman in the
city is Representative Phelan, of Tennessee
The appointm ents of President Harrison, in
Western Tennessee" said Mr.. Phelan, "havel
been good. The persons who have been given
the offices, while they are unqualified Repub-
licaDs, are clean. decent men, and that is more \
than can usually be said Of Republican ap-
pointments in the State" Mr.. Phelan has
very pronounced views on the race question in
the Southern States and intended at the last
session of Congress to make speech. setting
forth his views at length on the subject. 1.-THE
domination of the white man." said he, sis
simply question of civilization. To give the
negroes control of the law-making power
would invite every kind of extravagance; to
give them charge of the courts would substi- |
tute corruption for justice; TO make them sher- |
ifs would put authority in the hands of brutal
ignorance, As it happens the negroes are Re- |
publicans. If they were TO walk in and seize |
the Democratic party the white people would |
leave it come what might. In my district the |
negroes are fairly intelligent. Yet not over 8 |
per cent of them can read. Hundreds of them |
had no idea who was running for President in
the last election. They had heard the name of |
Harrison and thought it was Senator Harris.
Lots of them voted for him in consequence.
Some voted for me, and some also for Judge |
Bigelow. Everybody has his nostrum as a cure
for the race troubles, but the first thing to be |
done is to educate them for the duties of citi-
Eenship."