The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-01-17
WASHINGTON WRIT.
NEWS ,FROM THE SEAT OF GOV.
EMINENT.
What Is Going On In Washington
The SmaIlness Of Republican Sen.
ators.-General Cleanings

The SmaIlness Of Republican Sen.
ators.@General Cleanings
Especial Correspondence to the Sentinei.]
+ WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-There is
considerable feeling manifested among
democratic Senators over the we'll
defined intention Of the republicans to
withhold action upon presidential
nominations at this time A large
number of nominations have been
sent to the Senate during this session,
and very few of them have been re-
ported from the committees to which
they were referred. In the majority
of cases ample time has elapsed since
their reference to permit a report.
whether favorable or adverse But
instead of taking up these cases there
is clear evidence of an intention to un
necessarily postpone action. The mo-
tive is apparent. The republicans
wish to, hold the offices, which these
confrmations will fill, open, to be fill
ed by President Harrison when he
comes into power. I have in my
mind several instances, one of them
ajudgeship in Florida. made vacant
by the recent death of Judge rhoinas
Settle. of North Carolina The ten
ure of office in this case is ONE of life
service and the Office is desirable
one. The nomination has been in for
several weeks, hut NJ, action is yet an
nounced. Then there is the case of
Interstate Commerce Commissioner
Bragg, nominated to succeed himself.
No action in this case OF course
these, with many others, viii, be nice
positions for The incoming President
to fill. With this spirit, contrast the
action of President Cleveland, who,
upon coming into office, signed the
commissions Of number of appoint.
ments made by President Arthur.
Aside from the general feeling amons
our Senators against the unfair attl-
tude Of the republican in this matter,
there is a grave question as to wheth-
er tile Senate is not obliged to take
action upon these nominations. a
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
1t is understood that Gen. Harris IN
has sig ni6ed to prominent republicans
desire for the passage of the hIii crea-
ting Department of Agriculture aud
making the head of this department
cabinet officer, thus giving him the ap-
| pointment of another member ot the
cabinet. The bill is now i'll conference
committee. At meeting of the con-
ference Committee to-day there seemed
an evident inclination on the part OF
the Senate cnnferrees t. recede from
the Senate amendment aud permit the
transfer of the sigma servic, fra n he
War department t. the Agricultural
Department. Gen. Harris III ais, de-
sires the transfer of the geological
| survey from the Interior to the Agrl-
cultural Department.
PROPOSED REPEAL OF. TOBACCO TAX
1t is understood that Il strong effort
is in progress to induce the committee
on ways and means t. report separate
bill for the repeal of the tobacco tax.
1t is argued that the support which
| such a measure could command would
be quite sufficient tn insure its passage
through both houses at this session.
| 1t is doubtless true that major
ity of both houses are in favor of the
repeal of this tax, for on this side are
the Senator'S and Representatives from
the large tobacco-growing States and
all, or nearly all, the republicans.
But there are other considerations
which might or might not operate
against the repeal or as independent
proposition.
A SAMPLE PENSION LETTER.
The pension office has of late been
flooded with letters from ali parts of
the country frem survivors of the late
war, inspired by Private Dalzell's
statements, to which frequent mention
has been made Following is sam
pie of this correspondence, verbatim
JuNARY 1889 ROCK CITY ILL
Mr. E block end comret sein i'll
the that i Gin git my money 81 thot
i wot ask 700 was Discharged ct phil
! edelphie penszelfanie ent Het t. pay
my Way Home to Freeport ill pleas
let me no if i Gin git it yours truly