Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-04-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
IFrom our regular Correspondent. I
wAsHINaroN, D. c., Mar. Is, 1889.

President Harrison's appointment
of corporal" Tanner to be COmmis-
sioner of Pensions is great victory for
the ring Of Washington pension sharks,
all of whom are rejoicing ut their prrIs-
poets for growing rich during four years
of Tanners favorable decisions. Pre-
parations are being made 10 flood the
country with circulars inviting every
ex-soldier, including those who have
been refused pensions, to make new ap-
plicatiOns for them.
Within an hour after Tanners nOmi-
nation was sent tn the Senate, one agent
here ordered ,000. 900 circulars printed
and bought fifty baskets of champagne
to celebrate his brilliant victory. Con-
seTvative people are somewhat alarmed
at the appointment of Mr.. Tanner, who
has long been known to favor the CIV
ing of indiscriminate pension tO every
soldier who served three months in the
Union Army. Our pension list is now
nearly 100000, 900 a year, and it will
be in Mr.. Tanners power to largely in
crease that amount bySdecisiOns iunder
the present laws. There Is some talk OF
trying to defeat his confirmation by
the Senate, but it would hardly be pos
sible, as every Republican will vote for
him-they dare not do otherwise.
A gentleman who is thoroughly
familiar with Pension office practice
and who also knows Mr.. Tanner well,
said to-day "The fiscal year begin
ming the first of next July will show a
deficiency in the Pension appropria
tion of from $40, 900, 900 to $4,000, ,0OO
owing to the construction Tanner will
put upon existing laws, and it's dollars
to pennies that wien the estimates are
made for the fiscal year-9O-9l that
pensions will be put down for at least
$500, 600, 900. "Great Scott" And the
war was over twenty-five years ago.
All the poor newspaper men will have
to become pension agents and get rich.
That's the best thing | can think Of.
The Irish element in the Republican
party although small, has just shown its
power by preventing Weiteaw Reid's
being appointed Minister to England.
Reid had set his heart on going to Lon
don, but he got left, although he was
nominated Minister to France as COM
pensation for. his ruffied feelings.
President Harrison has issued a proc
lamation opening up u portion of Okla
homa Territory to settlement. There
is no good reason why it should not
have been issued two weeks ago.
Justice Stanley Matthews of the Su-
preme Court, who has been sick since
last summer, was on Wednesday last
reported to be cOnvalescent. On Fri
day he died. And then the truth came
out. His family knew of his dangerous
condition and had no hope of his re-
covery, but decided to keep it from the
public as long as possible. 1t is almost
impossible to get the truth about a
prominent man who happens to get sick
In Washington. Just why the public
should be fooled is question that has
never been satisfactorily answered, and
1t would seem to be about time to stop
lying in regard to such things. The fu-
neral of the late Justice took place this
afternoon from the family residence.
1t was attended by the President and
Cabinet, the Supreme Court and the
Senate. After the services the remains
were placed on special train and
started for Glendale, Ohio, accompani-
ed by the Supreme Court.
A lively fight is going on among the
Republicans over the position of Pub
lie Printer. In order to narrow the lines
somewhat Mr.. Harrison has annouced
that the position shall go to the west.
1t is difficult to say who will win in the
final rounds which are now on, but the
impression is that Mr.. Merridith, of
Chicago, or Osburne, of California, is
the coming men.
The negro callers at the White House
have been quite numerous of late, but
so far the President has given the col
ored brother nothing at all, and he is
getting somewhat discouraged.
Gen. Badeau is trying to prevent the
confirmation of Fred. Grant, who has
been appointed Minister to Austria, but
there Is little prospect of his succeed
ing. Fred Grant is not brilliant man
by any means, but he has not openly
been guilty of anything disgraceful.
while Badeau, by his action in suing
the wife of the man who raised him
from AFFECT poverty to affiuence and
kept him up for years, forfeited the re-
spect of honorable men.
The Senators are growing restless
about adjournment, and it is not likely
that they will remain longer than
about April 5th, as that is about the
time set for several of the junketing
committees to get started on their ex-
cursions.
All the clerks in the First Assistant
Postmaster office are work.
ing three hours day extra time owing
N hn i'm nIIT, hor Of n ;a,, IN, ~,
for the fourth class post-offices which
are pouring IN.
John c. New, the man helped to
steal Indiana, has gotten the best pay
ing berth under this Government. He
been appointed Consul General Lon
don.
Frederick T. Roberts, M. D., physi-
clan to the Royal College of Surgeons,
University of T,ondon Emo savS.