Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-11-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsnINeroN, November 28, 1888

he indofsed the civil Service law. In his
hands has been placed . report of the
Civil Service Commission showing the
violation of the law by Republican off
eials, by the collecting of money for the
Malone campaign fund. The Commits
sloners say that their report is accom-
panied by evidence which leaves no
doubt Of the guilt of the parties, and that
whether they shall be punished or NOT
lies entirely with the President 1t Is in
timated that at least two of the Commits
sioners will resign If the President refuses
to order the prosecution of the guilty
psrties. What the result will be is hard
t, say. But | don't see why President
Harrison should hesitate minute. Laws,
whether good or bad. are made to be en-
forced,
The new Commissioner of Pensions is
up to snuff when it comes to getting
around the Civil Service law. Here's
snecimen case The first or second day
the Commissioner was in Office he pre-
meteo a watchman to be Superintendent
af the Pension Office building, this week
the same man was transferred to high
srade clerkship and a new man was made
suDeriptendent. Wasn't that slick way
ef making the watchman high priced
clark without submitting him to a Civil
ssrvice examination =? ds it any wonder
that people here, who ale necessarily fa-
yuiliar with such cases as this, should
snonsider the whole Civil Service busin ss,
sas at present conducted, farce Mr.
Raum has also developed another trait
cpeculiar TO Republican officials-that OF
looking out for their families. He aas
created new division in his office and
Amounted his son to be its chief at sal
airy of So 2,0os "a year.
Now that Secretary Proctor has re
signed the presi&ncy of his Vermont
Marble Company, he will be able t. de-
vote his entire time to the War Depart
ment and the laying of wires to succeed
Senator Morrill,.
The Speakersh;p contest. although very
quiet, is developing a great deal ot ond
blood among the Republicans. Repre-.
sentative Cannon ami his friends are ex.
tremelv bittereagainst Reed, and striving
hard to brlnr about combination that
will defeat hi.R, in fact that is the only
reason that Cannan eier became candl-
date. He hes never had the rsmotest
chance of being nominated, and no one
knows it better than himself, but he has
not yet given up the hope of downing
Reed. Mckinley, who would be looked
on as the winner if Reed was out of the
way, is having fight made on him from
several quarters. Senator Quay says
that Mckinley shall never be Speaker il
he can prevent it, and he thinks he can
Foraker too, ii Is said, is bringing the
little influence he has to bear against Nc
Kinley. 1t grows worse as the time ap'
proaches for the holding of the caucus
all of which is very encouraging to the
Democrats, for it makes it absolutely Ger
tain that ne Objectionable legislation will
get through the House as long as this
pickering among the majority lasts.
President Harrison promised Com
mittee Of the National Convention 81
Commercial Bodies, which called on him
this week, that he would consider the
question of recommending in his annual
message the adoption of a national bans
rupt law.
The proposition of Mr.. Arkell, Russell
Harrison's partner, to pay 81, 1,000, ,o0O fol-
the privilege of putting an advertisement on
the back of ofpostage stamps will be reiacted.
Uncle Sam does not believe in running
opposition 90 the newspapers, which he
considers the best, and the only Legitimate
advertising mediums.
There seems to be screw loose some.
where in the Republican machine, or else
United States Treasurer Houston, who
during the Presidential campaign was
Chairman of the Irdiana Republican State
Committee, would hardly have ttken
pains to use the language he did, win en-
he appointed Miss Tanner, daughter of
the deposed Corporal to be his private
secretary, just after Mr.. Raum, her
fathers successor, had accepted her resig-
nation of a similar position in his office.
Mr.. Houston teld the young lady that it
afforded him much pleasure to be able to
show his appreciation of the valuable
services rendered the Republican party
of Indiana by her father, Corporal Tan
ner, during the last Presidential election,
and he told it where he knew it would be
published, Isn't this treason towards the
man who kicked Tanner out of the Pen
sion Office? Or was it only intended as
gentle reminder to the gentleman In the
White House that he was in danger of
being called ungrateful?
Between the candidates for Speaker
and the candidates for the smaller offices
under the House, the Republican Repre-
sentatIvcs are having hard time, and it
is not to be wondered at that they are
slow in turning up.
Mr.. Carlisle will receive the Democratic
nomination for Speaker of the House