Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-12-13
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, ID. c.,
December 10. 1899.


element about the Capitol last Thurs
day morning when it was whispered
around that there was a defalcatlon
on the part of one of the officers OF
the House. The defaulter is Craven
f. Silcott. of Ohio, the cashier to the
sergeant at arms, and the amount OF
money he got away with is about
S72. 900. He drew the money from the
Treasury Department to pay the saia-
ries of the members of Congress, but
instead of doing so went to New YORK
and is undoubtedly safe in Canada
with his ill-gotten gains. The cause
of Silcott's downfall is attributed to
betting on the races and running TWO
families at the same time. The COM
panion of his flight is a woman who
has been quite notorious around
Washington for some time past. The
dsfalcation would have been impossl-
ble were il not for the loose manner
in which business is conducted at the
Capitol. where no safeguards what
over are thrown around the disburse-
ment of public money. Many mem
bers of Congress are out sums OF
money ranging from $500 to S5,ooo'
they having signed receipts for their
money before it was drawn from the
Treasury, but it is probable bill VIII
be passed reimbursing them. Silcott
was a Democrat, and would have
been bounced in few days.
Since the meeting of Congress the
different departments of the govern
ment have been overrun with mem
bers of Congress looking for places
for their constituents. The Postofiice
Department is visited by a larger num-
Der of Senators and Representatives
than anv other. The postoffices are
the magnet that draws them there
II would seem that Cheap john
Wanamaker was bouncing enough
postmasters to satisfy the most impla-
cable place hunter, but still there are
Republicans who claim that he is
going TOO slow. In the other depart
ments the pressure for places Is
almost As great, and the axe of the
headsman is falling right and left.
There was an interesting eXamlna-
tion held i'm the hall of the House OF
Representatives. Wednesday night. 1t
was strictly private, and was Tor the
nprpose of selecting two reading
clerks for the House at the nice little
salary of $4,000 per year. The Idea
of having the candidates for the
places rehearse their vocal powers in
private was conceived by Mr.. Nc
Pherson. the clerk, who has the ap-
pointment of the readers. Among
the many other candidates who
showed how nicely they could read
were w. H. Wisner, of Martinsburg,
and w. w. Meek, of West Virginia.
Nepotism has begun early in the
United States Senate this session
Senator Moody, of South Dakota, Is
the person who did it. He secured
the appointment of his son, Warren
Moody. to be a page on the floor Of
the Senate at $3.50 per day. Official:
of the Senate, some of whom have
been in service quarter OF century
or more, say that this is the first In
stance within their recollection wher
a Senator's son has filled the office o.
page. Probably the father could no'
support his family on the salary of 6
SNS1ffre fsaii2sf8n COMMISSIONER Raun
does not talk as much as Corpora
Tanner did, he gets there just the
same. During the month of Novem
Der there were 14,1S9 pension certifi
Gates issued. The number of certifi
Gates issued in the same month Of
1888 was 10,0S7; of 1887, S,052; and o.
1886, 1886.
Miss Jennie Harrison, of GRAND
Rapids, Michigan, the daughter of 9
cousin of President Harrison, ha:
been appointed to a position in the
folding room of the Government
Printing Office If the family can't
get big salaries they are satisfied tc
take little ones-but one more rela
tive is provided for, anyhow.
Speaker Reed to-day appointed
committees on Ways and Means, APP
preparations, Manufactures, Elections
and Mileage. Mr.. Wilson is the only
member from West Virginia appointed
as yet, and he heads the list on the
minority representation of the Com
mittee on Manufactures.
The West Virginia Republican Asso,
citation has elected John w. Mason,
S. NJ. Howard, G.. NJ. Shinn and G. w.
T. Black as delegates to the National
Republican Association.
Col. Jake Kemple, of Wheeling,
who calls himself 1.-The celebrated
West Virginia orator and humorist, y
is advertised to lecture Saturday
evening in this city on Civil service,
or the great political nightmare.
VIM. A. Turner, of Martinsburg,
has been appointed a compositor in
the Government Printing Office.
Y.