The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-09-18
LETTER.


From Our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, September II, 1891
Mr.. Harrison is, in the language Of the
sporting men playing in luck" in the
matter of patronage, and, being a very
shrewd politician, it may be set down
as certain that in the distribution OF it
he will not injure the chances OF his own
nomination. He has one cabinet posi-
ton certain, and possibly two or three
to give out, two positions on the Inter-
state Commerce Commission, with sal
aries-SS, OOO- equal to members OF the
cabinet without the responsibility,
worry and hard work attached to the
administration Of the affairs OF the
great executive departments OF the gov
ernment; there are nine lifetime posi-
tons on the bench OF the new circuit
court, one OF which is believed to be pre-
empted by Attorney General Miller, be-
sides a number OF diplomatic appoint
ments and prominent positions else
where including the Collectorshlp OF Gus
toms at New York which Fassett will re-
sign. 1t has been seldom that a presi-
dent has at one time had the dispusi-
ton OF so much patronage so late in the
term.
There was Il rumor here this week that
Representative Mills would soon write a
letter modifying his position IN regard
to the free coinage of SILVER. but it was
not generally believed. One member OF
the House said OF it: "Take my word for
it there is nothing in it. AS you know, l
am not in favor of Mills for speaker, but
1 have known him for MANY years and
believe him to be too honest a man to
change his views or pretend to do SO in
order to curry favor with anybody or
to secure any position. He has for
years been an ardent advocate OF the
free coinage OF silver and I shall be great
ly surprised if he does not remain such
to tile end. But even granting that lie
would be foolish enough to swallow mis-
honest convictions, such a course would
kill him at home, for the sentiment in
Texas is all for free coinage"
The big lawyers who practice before
the United States supreme court are
looking forward to some very rich pick
ing in the proposed suit against the Bell
company by the Western
Union Telegraph company, for the pur-
pose OF re-opening a case recently de-
cided by Judge Lowell in the United
States Court District OF Massachusetts
against the Western Union company,
the claim being that evidence will be pro-
duced to show that the Judge vas by
reason OF relatives owning stock therein,
unduly influenced in favor OF the Bell
company. This is not the first time
that judicial and executive officers OF the
United States government have been
charged of aiding, by illegal methods, the
bell company, and now it is hoped the
Western Union monopoly, which has
quite as much money to spend in find
ing out the truth as the Bell concern will
spend to conceal it, will succeed in let
ting it be known to the public, upon
which both concerns have grown bloated
by taxing the people upon millions OF
watered stock. 1t is not probable that
one OF these monpolies is one whit worse
than the other, but it is only by Sheir
fighting each other that the truth will be
found out. 1t is but another exempli-
fication OF the adage: "When rogues fall
out" etc., and it will be some sa~tisfac-
ton to see the lawyers bleed them as
they have bled the people.
The two men upon whose opinions
the CHILEAN steamer Itata was chased in
the open sea by the cruiser Charleston
Secretary Tracy and Attorney General
Miller-had the satisfaction this week,
as representatives OF the government, OF
making an agreement with the represen-
tatives OF the new Gillian government
which ends that episode without ex-
pense to this country. Under this agree
ment the Itata is to be released and the
case against her nolle pressed. and the
CHILEAN government is to pay the ex-
pense OF the Charleston's long trip.
Much regret is expressed here at the
resignation OF Judge T. NJ. Cooley, of
Michigan, chairman OF the Interstate
Commerce commission, on account OF
bad health.
It is now settled that Mr.. Blaine will
return to Washington by Oct. 1, and his
residence is o being prepared for his
family. He will find the officials of his
department in a somewhat disgruntled
condition, owing to Mr.. Harrlson's hav-
ing, for some reason, seen fit to trans
NIT his orders for the department
through Secretary Tracy instead ofcom-
m%unicating with the department direct.
This has ruffled their dignity very much.
Uncle Sans guarantee that all the
pork exported from this country shall
be pure is catching the European pow
ers. We had hardly finished rejoicing
over the action CT Germany III removing
the restrictions upon the importation
of American pork when little Denmark
took similar action, and Uncle Jerry
Rusk says France will do the same be-
fore long.