Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-02-13
Washington Letter.
tFram our Regular correspoudent.)


Washington, ID. G. Feb. 3. 1890
Speaker Reed is certainly the most
abused man in the aountry just now,
but having mapped out his course he
goes calmly ahead, and keeps his tenn
per. There was, at nrst, some difference
of opinion in the ranks of the republican
members. but since the fight began the
party is acting as one man in support
Of the speaker Mr.. Reeds actions are
for the purpose OF righting wrong of
long standing. lie believes that the
majority ought TO control legislation
and be responsible only 10 the people.
The democrats are making a hard fight,
and it will probably last until the repub-
leans have a quorum of their own in
the House and it will not be very long
tore they have it. The last four days
have been the most exciting in the
House since reconstruction days, but
when one comes to sum up what has been
| done ii amounts to little more than roll
calls and personal abuse of the Speaker
by democratic members. The question
before the House was the report of the
election committee in the Smith VS..
jackson contested election case. which
the democrats objected TO taking up.
and which has not yet been disposed
of.
A strong effort is to be made this
week to get quorum of republicans in
their seats in The House. They would
have had, and fully expected the day
before to have bad quorum of their
own members on Saturday night, but
one man went to New York Friday
night, and two others were toe sick to
occupy their seats, though one of them
Il Rockwell. of Massachusetts, - sent
word that he would take the risk of
leaving BIS bed and coming TO the
House il his presence would make up
the desired quorum. With the present
number of republican members of the
House it is well nigh impossible to keep
a qnolum of that party on the floor of
the House for two days at time. 1t
will be different little later on.
Secretary Noble is very anxious that
the Senate should take early action on
the Oklahoma town-site bill, and that
the bill organizing the Territory CT
Oklahoma should be hurried up in both
houses. He has paid several visits to
both tho House and Senate committee
on Territories 10 urge early action TO
avoid trouble snd blodshed. The terri
torial bill was reported TO the House
today
The House committee On Elections
has decided to report in favor of seating
Mudd, the contestant for the seat now
beld by Compton, of Maryland.
Ohio has scooped another fat position,
Judge W II. Taft. son of ex-Attorney
General Taft, having been appointed
Solicitor General in place of o. P. Chap
man deceased The pay is $1,000 a
year.
Secretary WINDOWS silver bill is not
meeting with as much favor as was ex-
pected 1t has republican oppon-
ents in both House and Senate.
Several representatives of the G. A. X
are here working in the interests of the
service pension bill framed by that or
ganzation.
Senator Chandler gave some very
interesting testimony before the naval
court of inquiry as to what he knew
about organizations of naval officers
and their efforts TO control legislature.
1t IS thought here that this court might
have discovered great deal more than
it did if it had been so disposed.
Representative Dibble thinks there
should be two Vice Presidents, and he
has a bill providing for them now before
the House Committee or the election of
President and Vice President.
Senator ingalls, was an interested
/ spectator on the floor of the House for
an hour Saturday night.
Representative Payson, of Illinois. is
an invaluable assistant TO Speaker Reed
during these stormy days.
There is an unyerlied rumor floating
around here that says Secretary Noble
will leave the cabinet to take the place
vacated by Justice Brewer in the United
States District Court.
Senator Allison has got back from
Iowa. He says his election is all right,
| only matter of time.
The Mormons, through their a'tor-
neys are still hammering away at the
bill for the admission of Idaho. They
object to the test oath clause in the
constitution adopted by that territory.
The House committee on commerce
will not report either of the several bills
for the repeal Of the Interstate com,
mercc law.
Secretary Proctor accompanied by
Secretary Rusk went TO Fortress Monroe
Saturday night Mr.. Proctor is on gov
eminent business, and "Uncle Jerry"
is taking little recreation.