The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-04-30
IsprcIAL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
WAsHINGToN. April %, 1890.
There is, after ALL TO be some agitation
of the subject OF the election of United
States Senators by direct vote OF the peo-
pie during this session of Congress-.
Senator Mitchell, OF Oregon, has devel-
oped into q champion of move In this
direction, and on last Monday addressed
the Senate in a lengthy argument in favor
OF a constitutional amendment providing
for the selo ct on of members of the upper
branch of Congress by a majority vote OF
the people of each State.
An incident in the Congressional life
of the late Samuel j. Randall is related
by Washington reporter, touching upon
the distinguished Representative $ relig-
ious opinions and how he silenced theo-
logical discussion in his committee-room.
1t is said of him that he worked out his
religious theories in the same philosophi-
cal manner that he brought to bear upon
every subject in which he was interested
and brought the same power of reason ng
into play. That conviction once estab-
lished could never BE uprooted. One
day about two years ago his committee
room was filled with Con9ressmen. Mr..
Randall was busy at his correspondence,
paying no attention apparently to what
was being said apart from his own
work. The conversation around him
finally took a philosophical turn
and launched off into discussion Of
the Bible and Christianity, the tone of
the discussion being decidedly skeptical.
Indeed, there seemed to be strong athe-
istical sentiment present. The conversa-
ton continued without appearing TO in
terest the Pennsylvania, when, attract
cd perhaps by a rather broad aud liberal
assertion by one of those present, he got
up, pushed his letters aside, stood at the
corner of the table, with that set look of
determination and positiyeness on his
face so often remarked on the floor OF the
House, and said: G entlemen, Christianity
is truth. The man who doubts distrusts his
own intelligence" This was said in his
most solemn and impressive tone, and at
once silenced the discussion. moment
later he left the room.
The Chinese enumeration bill was
knocked into cooked hat IN the Senate,
and will be heard of no more this ses sion.
Senator Evarts, of New York is given
the credit for It's defeat. In his speech
against it the New York Senator de-
bounced it as barbaric measure. un-
American and despotic in form, and not
calculated in any wise 10 reflect credit
upon the nation adopting IT. The bill
provided for furnishing every Chinese
resident with a certificate of such resi-
dcnce at the time of the taking of
the census, and the exclusion in
the future OF every Cinnamon not
provided with written authority TO remain.
Senator Wilson. OF Iowa, offered an
amendment allowing Chinese laborers to
pass through the United States bound
for points outside, which was adopted.
This, in effect, destroyed the original
purposes of the entire Chinese exclusion
act In view OF this, Seu ator Stewart,
one of the most radical of the anti
Chinese bill supporters, moved TO table
the enumer ,ting bill, and it was so done
by an almost unanimous vote.
Mrs. ]. Ellen Foster, the non-partisan
temperance worker, was given an elegant
dinner last week, at which were present
the most noted personages of public life,
including Pres dent Harrison and wife,
Secretary and Mrs. Blaine, and the
British Minister. The honor was ten
deled Mrs. Foster on the eve of her do
parture Tor Europe.
The conference committee having in
charge the bill organizing Oklahoma under
aterritorial form of government has settled
the differences of the two houses and re-
ported a measure Gu, culated to give entire
satisfaction 10 ali parties concerned, un-
less perhaps, il be the men who desire
the Federal places and WHO live in the
territory. 1t will lie remembered that,
some weeks ago, when the Senate was act
ING upon toe Oklahoma bill, Senator
lngalls tackled on an amendment limiting
office holders to actual residents. The
reason given for this was that the Kansas
Senator had been to the President and
asked for a Judgeship for one of his con-
stituents and had been refused The re-
fusal, it is alleged, was accompanied by
the statement that tue men to fill the va
lious offices in the new territory had al
ready been picked out. ingalls, said moth
inc. but the fruits of his thinking were
visible in the bill in the provision COM
polling the appointing power 10 contne
appointments TO residents. Since that
time, however, the wrath of the Kansas
,yclonic Senator has been appeased, the
obnoxious feature IN the bill has Teen
stricken out, and one of the new judges
will come from Kansas.
The usual scramble to get out of Wash
ington during the hot months goes mer-
rily on. Both sides of Massachusetts,
avenue for five blocks is almost depopu-
u
trace left. This locality is in the finest
part of the city, and consists of hand
some stone flats rented by the season,
after the same manner that cottages and
hotel quarters are secured during the
summer months at seaside resorts. One
of these fats. located on Dupont Circle,
rents as high as $500 per month, and
eagerly seized at that. 1t was occupied
last winter by wealthy merchant of
Philadelphia, who, with his wife and two
daughters, gave several magnificent re-
ceptions just after the holidays.
The next important question TO come
up for discussion in Congress is the land
grant forfeiture bill. This is a measure
providing for the forfeiture to the Gov
eminent of all the lands heretofore
granted to railroad companies and which
have been unearned by the said corpora
lions. 1t involves the ownership of sew
eral million acres of very valu bile lands
in Western and Southwestern States.
The railroads of course are lighting the
bill for all there is in 1t, and as there are
n good many men in Congress anxious to
show the country that they are not in
sympathy with corporations, n pretty
fight may be expected Perhaps the Oft
repeated statement that the Senate is
y l II