Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1890-03-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. G. [
March 10th, 1890.

United States of America as
reaching from ocean to ocean, for
the Territories thereof" will have
all disappeared and we shall look
for them not in the wilderness
west of civilization but in a sub
division of Alaska. A fsw months
have passed since Washington,
Montana, and the two Dakotas In
creased the number of states from
thirty-eight to forty-two and now
we have New Mexico and Idaho at
the doors of Congress, and to use
a rather worn expression, knock
ing for admission.
The next census it is thought
will show every Territory in the
Union entitled to admission, and
if so, they will not be slow in
framing constitutions and attend
ing to other preliminaries enti-
tling them to become states, Utah
excepted, which, though long
sine, possessing the necessary
population, has for reasons best
known ito polygamy, been
declined state sovereignty. 1t
is not until her non polygamous
population apply for admission
that the Mormon question will
come out in its strongest colors,
and we will then be face to
face with the question Of recog-
nizing polygamy or refusing Utah
admission.
Montana has been unfortunate
in naming her first Representative
to the National council. She has
sent four instead of two Senators,
and for the first time in history we
shall have contested election
case in the United States Senate.
What the combination was that
produced SO complicated a result
is as yet yelled in mystery.
This far western Estate of great
Mountains and Plains" may have
taken this course to honor as many
of her distinguished citizens as
possible, or in her thankfulness
for admission she may have been
anxious to return the kindness
shown her by bestowing on the
Nation a double measure of Sena-
torial greatness. Until, however
the four Senators in question are
summoned to the bar Of the Senate
to have their respective creden-
tials passed on, we must remain
in doubt, for after their election
the Montana Legislature did not
remain long enough IN session to
answer questions or give reasons
for their action in this particu-
lar.
The Senate continues to have
its secrecy insulted and dignity
degraded by repeated publications
of executive work. The Delphi
Smelling committee" having in
charge task that would battle the
Pinkerton Detective agency itself,
that of uncovering the villainous
purveyor of Senatorial secrets,
continues to sit and summon be-
fore it the suspected newspaper
reporters of the press gallery, who
very naturally refuse to tell any
thing they may know. Anon
when it thinks it has smelled the
true scent that may lead to the
much desired discovery it ad-
Ijonrns to the Senate, another ex-
ecutive session is called, and Sen
ators gravely and in the densest
kind Of secrecy discuss the clue,
only to find to their surprise, hor-
ror and disgust, the whole pro-
ceedings spread on the pages of
the daily newspaper. Some of
these Senators are enraged and
strongly advocate abolishing the
press gallery altogether, others
look at 1T more philosophically
and, following the lead of Mr..
Ingalls,, are disposed to COM
promise matters. The situation is
interesting and clearly shows that
the press and public opinion are
mightier than even the United
States Senate.
The House has been for the
past week devoting it's leisure
hours, and they of late have been
very many, to discussion of the
contested election cases of Feath-
erston against Cate. Cate as a
Democrat took his seat from the
First District of Arkansas. Mr..
Featherston, Republican, contest
ed it, secured a majority report
from the Elections Committee,
and from Monday until Friday
the House was engaged in hearing
funny speeches from its witty
members on the merits of the two
claimants for Congressional hon.
ors. The matter was finally set
tied in favor of the contestant, Mr..
Featherston.
Iowa has again returned Mr..
Allison to the Senate. When his
election became known here he
was the recipient of the congratu-
lations Of Republicans and Demo-
Gratis alike. Floral contributions
were numerous, and this being
one of the few occasions when