Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-12-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
from our re gnlar cOrre.p opds ut.

caucus committee, reported to the
Democratic Senatorial caucus this
morning list assigning the Democratic
Senators to positions on the newly
created committees, which was ratified.
Affairs around the office Of the
Sergeant-at-ATms Of the House are be-
ginning to take on an ugly look. The
committee of the House, which has
been investigating the defalcatiOn of
the absconding cashier, Silcott, in its
partial report tells enough about the
loose way of doing business in that
Office to surprise people, and everybody
knows that the committee discovered a
good many things which it has not told
because members and ex-members OF
the House are mixed up with them.
This mystery should be at once and
tiers have arrived at the stage where 1t
will be far better to make public every
thing the committee has found out
than to attempt to smother up things,
as has been done. This smothering
policy has resulted already in filling
the air with rumOrs charging all sorts
of things against various gentlemen of
prominence in both parties. In the
meantime Silcott is the Lord only
knows where, and the books show q
shortage of about $71 900. If the action
or rather want of action on the part of
those most concerned may be taken as
basis of opinion, Silcott's defalcation
was no legal crime. He has however,
been indicted by the grand jury of this
city for forgery, and if his whereabouts
can be discovered he may be brought
| back.
Congress will take recess from
Thursday next to January 6. Many
members and Senators will take advan-
tage of this opportunity to go home for
flying visit. This is particularly true
of the Democrats Of the House, who do
not feel the same responsibility about
the recess work of the House commit
tees that they did last year, and for
some years past.
The Senate has two propositions be-
fore it relating to negro emigration
from the South. One is bill offered
by Senator Butler, and the other a reso-
luton offered by Senator Gitson. Both
look to Government aid for the emil
grants.
The Mckinley tariff bill will probably
be the popular name for the measure
which the Republican members on that
most troublesome subject, the tariff. 1t
is entirely too early to attempt to make
a prediction as to what the new bill
will be. Some people think the bill
will be based on the Senate tariff bill of
the last session. Your correspondent
does not think so. The Senate bill of last
year was vote-catching hodge-podge
of absurdites hurriedly thrown together
by order of certain Republican bosses,
and would never have passed the Sen
ate had not those who voted for it
known that it was certain to be defeat
ed in the House. The new bill will be
constructed in more leisurely way and
will consequently be better measure
1T could hardly be worse.
Gen. Clark, ex.Clerk of the House of
Representatives, has been presented
with valuable gold watch and chain
by his former employees.
Chief Justice Fuller is coming
out in new role-that of popular
orator. He delivered the address at the
Congressional centennial last Wednes-
day and he is to deliver an address at
the dedication of the Lincoln Music
Hall in this city next Friday night.
The Senate has so far confirmed very
few of Mr.. Harrison's nominations, and
against some of them there is a very
active fight being made, notably, Nor
gan, Commissioner of Indian affairs,
and Dorchester, superintendent of Indi-
an schools. 1t would not be surprising
if these two are rejected.
A committee of the House has been
appointed to try and run down the
scoundrels who committed the forger-
les on the notorious ballot box contract,
which was used in the recent Ohio
campaign. Honest men of both par
ties will earnestly wish the committee
God speed in its good work.
The House committee on Elections
having perfected an organization, the
steam of perjury in the contested cleo
tion cases will begin to flow this
week.
Justice Lamar of the Supreme Court
has accepted an invitation to deliver an
address to a mass meeting of the citi-
zens Of Richmond, Virginia, on the life
and character of the late Jefferson Da-
Wis.
Speaker Reed promises to announce
the rest of the House committees before
the recess.
The death of Mrs. Scott-Lord, sis
ter of Mrs. Harrison's, has made things
very quiet around the White House.
Mr.. Randall continues to improve.
He took short walk Saturday.