Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-12-19
Washington Letter.
From Our Regular Correspondent)

w dsiJ ~ ". DOC. o. 1907
The first week of its existence Con-
gress did little else but organize, and
there is little probability that it will get
fairly down to business until after the
Christmas recess. Very little can be
done in the House before the committees
are appointed. and if Speaker Reed an
nounces them before the holidays he
will do well-belter than the most of
his predecessors.
The biggest sort of sensation was
created at the Capitol last Thursday by
the announcement that G. +. Slcott,
Cashier, of the Sergeant alarms Office
of the House of Representatives, had
absconded with something like S75,0 900.
1t was particularly embarrassing to Mr..
Leedom, the retiring rgeant-at-Arms,
who was just preparing to turn the
Office over to his newly elected successor,
Mr.. Holmes. The money taken was
the salaries of members of the House,
and just who will have to lose it is not
yet settled, owing to the slip shod way
this office has conducted its business for
years. A committee of the House,
assisted by several expert accountants
from the Treasury department, are en-
gagged in making thorough investiga-
ton of the Sergeant-at Arms office, and
their report, which is expected early
this week, is anxiously looked for. Mr.
Silcott was brought here from Ohio by
Mr.. Leedom six years ago, and since
that time it is estimated that at least
100000 have passed through his
hands. He owes his downfall to fast
women and fas. horses, combination
that rarely fails to ruin any man who
follows them for any length of time.
A vigorous attempt is to be made to
get Congress to take up and decide the
question of the Columbus Worlds Ex-
position before Christmas If it is to be
held in 1892, time is getting precious,
Senator Edmunds, although not OPP
posed to holding an Exposition TO cele-
brate the four hundredth anniversary
of the discovery Of America, would pre-
fer seeing the money spent in establish
ing great National University.
The National.woo growers associa-
ton, which was in session here last
week, sent Committee to Secretary
Window to protest against certain
practices relating to the admission of
certain class, Of wool. The Secretary
informed the committee that he was
engaged in making an Investigation of
this subject, and assured them that full
justice would be done to the wool in
terests of the United States.
Secretary Noble has given permission
to 50 Sioux Indian chiefs to visit Wash
ington. They want TO talk to the Pres
ident about the sale of their lands, which
they have recently agreed to. They are
expected here next week.
Speaker Reed has announced the
Committees on Rules, Accounts and
Enrolment bills. The committee on
Rules, which may virtually be said to
control all legislation. consists of Speak
er Reed, Representatives Mckinley and
Cannon, and ex.Speakers Carlisle and
Randall.
Secretary WINDOWS annual report to
Congress would have made his reputa-
ton as one of the ablest iinanciers in the
country, if he had not been so rated be-
fora. 1t is document that the abeSt
of his predecessors would have been
justified in feeling proud of It's crown
ing feature is the original and ingenious
system it proposes as a solution of the
never ending controversy between the
friends of gold and silver as a basis for
currency. Every body is talking about
it, and doubtless these Congressman
who pride themselves on their financial
knowledge are burning the midnight oil
studying it. Whether it viii be adopted
is question that cannot be answered
OIL handed. No public man who values
his reputation woul dcommit himself for
or against such an important measure
without long and careful study. The
President in his message. merely calls
the attention of Congress to it, and then
adds that he may at Il later day send in
a special message on the subject