Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-01-25
WASHINGTON LETTER
Written and Compiled for the HERALD
WASHINGTON. Jan. 81, 1889.

some facult, that whenever brought
to bear upon fire.eating Senators
from the South always results IN
provoking those gentlemen into a
state little short of madness. For
instance, when Senator Morgan, OF
Alabama, SAID that if 1t was in his
power to expel every negro from
that State and keep them out he
would do so. Mr.. Blair, by asking
him if he thought it would be best
for the interests of the white peo-
pie in the South that the negroes
should emigrate in a body, threw
the Alabamian into passion which
caused him to engage in some
rather bitter pers Qualities toward
the New Ham pshire Senator. The
question asked was certainly a
harmless one, and II asked by any
other Senator | don't believe would
have angeIed Mr.. Morgan as it did,
Why it is that the hot-blooded
Southerners are always ready to
quarrel with Senator Blair has long
been a puzzle to me. He is essen
italy a man OF peace, aud vet he
saws that if he received challenge
to fight a duel he should feel 1t his
duty to fight.
The Senate has passed the
amendment to the tariff bill, al
lowing a bounty of one cent per
pound on all sugar produced IN
this country. Senator Quay was
the only Republican Senator that
voted against the amendment, and
Senator Payne the only Democrat
that voted for It. Unless some
thing now unforeseen shall prevent,
the bill will be passed by the Sen
ate to. morrow afternoon.
Commissioner of Pensions Black
wants to be appointed Judge Adj
vocate General Of the Army, and
rumor says Cleveland has prom
ised him The appointment, but
there is considerable doubt about
his eligibility.
Mr.. MOrton's present visit to
Washington is for the purpose OF
familiarizing himself with the du-
ties of the presiding officer OF the
Senate, in order that he may be
prepared to assume them after the
fourth of March without awk-
wardness.
The House has passed a bill
providing for the admission of
South Dakota with two Represen-
tati yes and Montana with one, by
Presidential proclamation, when
the voters accept the constitutions
already formed and for the admis-
sion Of North Dakota, Washington
and New Mexico by Congress when
their constitutions are form I'd.
Opinion differs to the probabilities
of Senatorial action on this meas
IRE, but the majority think that
nothing will be done at the present
session.
Senators Morrill, and Stanford,
the Republican members OF the
sub committee of the committee on
public buildings and grOun DIS,
which is engaged in investigating
the Office of the supervising Arch
itect of the Treasury, have already
exposed a condition of affairs that
should put somebody in prison. 1t
has been a common practice III this
Office for employees to make con-
tracts, through outside dummies,
to perform work which shO uld have
been done i'm the Office. Although
receiving sTlaries from the Gov
eminent, these men were allowed
to contract for doing work, and
what is worse than all, to fix the
price to be paid for the same. The
investigation is not yet over ; and
it is said that considerable crook
edness Is expected to be shown up
in connection with the selection Of
sites IN various cities for public
buildings. The Democratic adj
minstratiOn will get out none too
soon.
The Democratic Senators are
somewhat frightened at the pros
pect of a number of Democrats of
the House voting with the Repub
licans to pass the Senate tariff bill.
Representative Wilson, of West
Virginia, and Representative
Catchlngs, OF Miss, have openly
stated their intention of voting for
the measure, If it ever gets before
the House, and it is generally be.
lieved there will be enough of the
same sort to insIre Its passage, if
it could be brought before the
House. There's the rub. 1t is
hardly likely to be voted upon in
the House, unless its friends eau
steal march on its enemies.
The supporters OF The several
candidates for Speaker are show
ing a disposition to divide up into
factions. Pennsylvania has two
candidates for Clerk of the House,
Hon. Ed. Mcpherson and Major
Carson, Washington correSp0n-
dent Of the Philadelphia Ledger.
PeuusylVan ia has always had the
clerkship when the Republicans