Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-02-08
MEN ANDTHINGs At WASHINGTON.

The unseemly wrangle which has tax
en- place in the House of Representatives
during the past week will serve at least
one good purpose If it calls the attention
of the country to the extravagant waste
of time which has been the fashion in
Congress for some years past. 1t has
been the rule, rather than the exception,
for Congress to consume the greater part
of each session in what seems unnecces-
sary idleness only to find itself over
whelmed with business at the close OF
the session, with the result of much legis-
lation being enacted in great haste and
in an incomplete and unsatisfactory
manner. la the controversy which has
just been witnessed the Republicans
have been undenisbly right as matter
of principle but they have been wrong in
the methed of procedure. The Commit
tee on Rules should have devoted its en-
tire time to their consideration and have
made their report to the House. and
upon that question the fight should have
been made, Their failure to do this
placed them apparently in wrong posi-
ton As far asSpeaker Reed Is concerned,
that officer is right, because the constitu-
ton never contemplated that the House
should have power to compel the attend
ance of absent members, and when
present to be powerless to make their
presence available. Any other construc-
ton renders it null and void, as it is a
well-settled principle of law that in de-
filming an instrument of writing such
construction should be placed upon it as
will render it effective unless such con-
stru:tion should plainly do violence to
the language and letter thereof. All
reasonable men admit that members OF
Congress are chosen to perform certain
duties, and the practice of filibustering
and absenteeism has been carried to such
extreme lengths that the public business
has fallen into a state of partial paralysis.
The Republicans can well afford to place
themselves in the position which they
have taken, namely, that the public
business should be dispatched with
reasonable promptness and that the ma
iority should rule.
The calamities which have fallen upon
two members of the cabinet in such
quick succession have cast a feeling OF
gloom and sadness over the entire city.
and especially in administration circles.
MANY persons believe that the cabinet
will soon undergo almost an entire re-
construction. 1t is thought that both
Blaine and Tracy will voluntarily retire
during the present year, and that Secre-
tary Noble will be appointed to the SUI
preme Bench in place of Justice Miller
who has signifed his intention of retiring
during the coming summer or fall.
The colored people are holding a
national convention here this week to
consider questions affecting the condi-
| ton of their race. Instead of acting in
harmony they were unfortunate enough
to engage in controversy at the outset
over the question of temporary chairman.
1t is not the exclusive privilege of the
white race to quarrel ON such occasions,
but 1t is TO be regretted that in this instance q
violent dispute should have arisen over mat
/ ter of so little consequence.
| West Virginia republicans can now congrat-
ulate themselves That they have at least one
representative in Congress, the house hay
/ ing promptly seated Charles Is. Smith, of the
Parkersburg district, as soon as his case cou Id
be brought TO q vote. IL will be noticed that
the vote was strict party cDe, although the
facts all go u show that there was no Justifica-
ton for the issuing of the Governors certit n
cate to Jackson. 1t seems TO be the rule
among both political parties TO decide contest
| ed cases In favor of their respective adherents
case. This practice is a most vicious one and
calls loudly for prompt ana effective RENE
edy. Congress should at once authorize the
organization of q strictly nom partisan tribun-
al 10 which all contested cases should be re.
| ferred, where the contestants might lltigate
their differences instead OF appearing upon
the floor of Congress where the question be.
comes one of politics and not OF votes cast by
the people, The movement in favor OF ballot
reform should embrace within its scope THU
equally important question OF fairly deciding
contests when any such arise.
The failure On the part Of New Io:k City t6
raise the ten million loan by the consent o.
the legslatu 4 seems to have ruined hel
chances for the Worlds Fair and the choice o
location seems TO have narrowed down u
Washington and Chicago. The charge haI
been most unfairly made against the republi
cans OF injecting politics into the scheme
whereas The truth of the matter is that thu
democrats have done precisely what they
charge upon the republicans. When the
movement was first started In New York tht
Chamber of Commerce very properly had The
matter in charge, but Mayor Grant. by {
species of sharp practice. ealleda meeting ant
, had himself chosen chairman and one of hi
henchmen appointed secretary, This course
placed In his hands the power to appoint {
committee to take charge of the Fair. and o
course he was careful to see that this powel
was placed in the hands ofhis friends ant
Tammany Hall in particular. Mr.. Plat very
wisely and properly objected, and Mayor
GIANTS scheme failed Of consumation. In
order 10 secure the consent of the Legislature
IL was necessary to have the support of the re-
publ lcans IN that body. and this Mr.. Plat anC
his friends were unwilling To concede unless
the committee was modified to such an ex
tent as 10 render 1t non-partisan. or at least Il
free II from the absolute control of Tammany
Hall. The democrats seemed unwilling to de
this, and thus the consent of the Legislature
could not be obtained. There are very few
sensible men who would consent that Tam.
many Hall should disburse twenty millions o
public money. and there are certainly no In
telligent republicans who would consent thai
such vast political machine should contro
the worlds Fair and the disposition of its i'm
mense patronage in a presidential year.
g. w. u. BLACK.