The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1890-01-02
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 20, 1889.
Secretary Blaine, in answer to ques-
ton, expressed himself as entirely salts
fed with the progress so far made by the
Three Americas congress, and confident
that the congress will result in great
benefit to all the countries represented
therein. On Monday the congress will
adjourn until after the holidays.
Prominent prohibitionists are making
a fight on the confirmation by the senate
of the nomination of Justice Brewer, be-
cause he took the ground IN legal decis
ion that the owners Of certain breweries
in Kansas were entitled to conn ensation
from the state for their property, which
was rendered useless by the adopt on OF
the prohibitory liquor law. The decis-
ION was afterward reversed by the U. S.
Supreme Court. Judge Brewer is himself
a prohhibitionist, and it seems little
strange that the only opposition to his
confirmation should come from the pro-
hibitionists. There is not the slightest
doubt of Judge Brewers confirmation.
Senator Ingalls, has joined the rapidly
increasing number of congressman who
believe the p, esent civil service law to be
a delusion and snare, and that the
humb.g should be wiped out of exist
ence. Two-thirds of congress express the
same belief privately, and it begins to
look as if the time would soon come
when they will do so publicly.
Speaker Reed gave the dry bones of
congressional precedent rafting when
he announced the five. most important
committees of the hvusc-ways and
means, Mckinley chairman; appropria-
tons, Cannon, chairman; and mileage,
Lind, chairman. This is a very decided
improvement upon withholding the
committee announcements until the mid
die of January, as Mr.. Carlisle did two
years ago. There are various other
precedents that might be improved upon
and Mr.. Reed will doubtless continue
the vigorous policy SO auspiciously COM
menced.
Mrs. Harrison has the deep sympathy
of this community in the sorrow caused
by the death Of her sister, Mrs. Scott
Lord. Mrs. Harrison was devotedly
attached to her sister and as her own
health is by no means good, it is feared
the effect may be serious.
The senate has arranged its commit,
tees so as to provide places for all the
new me .nbers, and it is now ready for
business, but of course nothing of impor-
tance is likely to be done until after the
holiday recess.
Speaker Reed has had something very
much resembling the Irishman's monkey
and parrot time this week. although one
would naturally have supposed that
having worked SO hard to get the house
committees announced before the recess,
lie would have besu allowed to enjoy the
quiet so we'll earned by him. But 1t was
not so. He has been the most sought
for man in town. The cause of all this
uue& acted trouble for Mr.. Reed is a ru-
NOR that has generally been accepted as
fact here, to the effect that the repub-
lican members of the house committee
on rules, of which the speaker is chair
man, had agreed to report to the house
early in January, a rule giving the speak
er authority TO declare quorum of the
house present whenever the requisite
number of rieHabers are ip the chamber,
whether the members vote or not. This
is very important matter, and everyone