Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-02-21
Washington Letter.
prom Our Regular Correspendeni)
Washington. Feb. 18th. 1899.

Desperate efforts are being made by
many of the officials under the present
administration 10 get themselves quar-
tered on Uncle Sam in some permanent
capacity. The friends of Assistent
Secretary of the Treasury Thompson
have succeeded In getting his name sent
to the Senate as Civil Service Commas
sioner, in place Of Commissioner Edger-
ton, whom Cleveland peremtorilY re-
moved in order to get Thompson a
chance Of being confirmed by the Sem
ate. The removal of Edgerton leaves
only Commissioner. Lyman, Republic
can-and the friends Of Thompson will
endeavor to persuade the Republican
Senators that be should be confirmed,
and that the other vacancy will be left
for Gen. Harrison to fill with a Repnbli-
can. A very ingenious plan, but what
effect 1t will have is yet to'be seen.
Then First Assistant Postmaster Gen.
eral Stevenson Is after lifetime job.
Owing to recent death, there is va
cancy on the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict Of Columbia, and Stevenson has
made dead set at the appointment.
MIR. Cleveland may nominate him, but
there Is little probability that the Re-
publican Senators will copfirm tho man
who openly regretted that the official
day was not longer so that be might
remove moro Republican postmasters.
Democrats of the House say that the
Senate tariff bill will be reported from
the committee on Ways and Means this
week. Lively times are expected over
1t.
Mr.. Blaine has taken long lease on
the residence which was formerly occu-
pied by Hon. II. FL. Seward, President
Lipcoln's Secretary of State: 1t is
peculiarly appropriate that the residence
occupied by the Secretary Of the first
Republican administration, at the be-
ginning of the first twenty-five years of
that party's power, should be now, at
the beginning of the party's second
quarter-century Of ascey dency, be again
occupied by the same official. 1t is a
good omen.
The conferees on the Springer
'omnibus" bill failed to come to any
agreement. No report has yet been
made to either house. but a caucus OF
Republican Senators have decided to
stand by the Senate amendments, which
80 far as can see settles the fate of the
bill. but Mr.. Springer still thinks the bill
will pass. He says that three Republi-
can Senators will vote with the Demo-
Gratis to admit Mexico. Perhaps they
may, but il so It will be the first time
that Republican Senator has voted
against party caucus, in my recollec-
ton.
Secretary Bayard has again put his
foot 10 1t. he has forced Mr.. Sewell,
y. s. Consul General to Samoa.
to resign because that official gave the
foreign committees of the House and
Senate q true statement of affairs in
those Islands, statement that was
necessarily uncomplimentary to the
State department. The removal of Mr..
Sewell at this time is regarded as par
ticularly unfortunate, because it will
appear 10 the natives of the islands as
though it was done through fear OF
Germany. and as q rebuke to him for
bravely insisting on. American rights.
So strong does this view of the case
stFike Sesar5r Frye, that he says if he
kasssny influence with the next admin
istratlon Sewell shall 20 back to Samoa
as Consul General.
L Governor Hill, of New York. wa 8 over
here last week. and he and Mr.. Cleye-
land had regular monkey and parrot
time keeping out OF each others way.
They met st q dinner at Secretary
WhitneY's. but as soon as the dinner
was over Cleveland took train for
New York and rem aimed there until he
knew the Governor had left Washing
ton. The fact that mir. Cleveland has
decided to live in New York Cit, after
the fourth OF March has added nothing
to The love between these two gentle
men.