Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-02-14
wAsHINaroN LETTER.
wAsHrseroS. D. c. Feb. g. 1899.

which he has compelled the majority of
the House Committee ON Rules to act in |
reporting the code of Rules sooner than
they had intended The new Rules are
about as one-sided and unfair to the mi
nority as they could we'll be, and give
Speaker Reed almost as much authority
as he has exercised without them. 1t
took seven hours to get majority vote in
their favor from the Republican caucus,
and from all accounts the discus ssiOn was
at times extremely bitter. A Democratic
caucus also considered the Rules reported,
and although they regard them as so
many gag-laws, il was decided that If the
Republicans would allow reasonable
time for their debate, so that their injus-
tice might be shown to the country, no
unusual obstacles would be interposed by
the Democrats to prevent their adoption by
the majority, as theyo My wish to put
themselves on record rs protesting against
their adoption.
Economical men in Congress were sur.
prised to learn from a speech of Senator
Morrills that owing to the over crowded
condition of the public buildings in Wash
ington $121, 700 year Is spent by the
Government to rent private buildings.
The buildings that are worst off are the
White House, the Patent Office, PostoffiCe
and Government Printing Office. The
last named is in deplorable condition,
looked at from every standpoint. 1t is
old, and its walls are in dangerous con-
dition it is unhealthy and is in constant
danger from fire. There is pretty gen.
eral agreement that it will be cheaper to
erect the necessary buildings than to pay
such large amount for rents. Early ac-
ton is expected in Congress to relieve
this unsatisfactory slate of affairs.
The Republicans of the House did not
dare to seat Smith, of West Virginia until
they had legal quorum of their own
members present to vote him in. Had
they done otherwise the Supreme Court
would probably have been given an op-
port unity to pass on the constitutiouality
of Mr.. Reeds ruling in the matter of a
quorum OF the House. The fact that the
Republicans waited until they had quo
rum present to take the decisive vote
shows how little confidence they have in
the legal status of Mr.. Reeds rulings.
A gloom has been spread over official
and social life in Washington owing to
the deaths in the Cabinet circle. Sunday
morning Secretary Blaine's daughter died,
and Monday morning Secretary Tracy's
residence was destroyed by fire, the lives
of his wife and daughter lost, and himself
brought out in IN unconscious condition
by the firemen. The funeral of Mrs. and
Miss Tracy was held in the East room at
the White House on Wednesday, and a
more affecting scene has never been wit.
messed here.
Representative Mutehler, OF Pennsyl-
vania, who is one of the shrewdest Dem
ocrats in the House, says - Reeds rul'
ings have made it certainty that the
Democrats will have good working ma
: iority in the next House"
L | 1nC OulbCu SShAN AeAc W.
e cided that the test-oath clause in the con
8 stitution of Idahe is constitutional.
i The Blair educational bill, which is be.
ginning to look hoary, was taken up this
r week in the Senate and it may get through
the House, hut it is doubtful.
Another re-rated pension Office officia
First Deputy Commissioner Hiram
e Smith-has gone. When asked for hi
( resignation he sent it in, and thereby Sc
a cured an extra months pay, the resignA
!. ton being accepted to take effect Marcl
, 5th, and he has been given leave OF alb
e sence to that date. He was appointed las
/ March.
, Considerable excitement was create,
q Wednesday by the news that ex-Speakel
3 Randall was much worse. Mr.. Randall
/, has been 30 deeply interested in the hgh
, in House that he has overtasked his brair
: thinking OF it in order to make sugges
items to the Democratic leaders, and i
J.. has had bad effect upon his health.
: A bill has been introduced in thu
Senate to admit New Mexico. An attemp
p was made to have the Senate pass the bill
providing for the organization of Okla
, hona Territory this week, but it failed
not because OF opposition, but becaus
;. precedence was claimed for the Blair edu
L cationsl bill.
The Ohio ballot-box forgery investiga
ton was resumed this week. Among tn
most interesting witnesses were Governo
Campbell and Murat Halstead. Ex.Gov
ernor Foraker attends every session of tn
Committee, and seems to fully realize lha
he is on trial.
Mr. Harrison did not attend the Suprem
Court Centennial in New York on &C
count of the sad bereavement in tn
homes of two of his cabinet members.
" l have used Ayers Pills for the pas
l. thirty years, and am satisfied should no
I. be alive to-day if it had not been 70
them. They cured me of dyspepsia whe
/ I,11 ofb ,,,nl;n;,,a, II