The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1891-03-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.


Washington from his short hunting trip
by an act of justice that entities him to
the praise of all fair minded men. Dur
ing his absence one Albert Ordway, who
manages to make very good thing, a
SNAP" indeed, out of being brigadier
general of the National guard OF the Dis.
trict of Columbia, inGeYer of the old
Congressional Record. and the holding
of several other sinecure positions for
which kind old Uncle Sam foots the bills,
issued an official order disbanding the
two battalions of colored troops attached
to the District National guard for the
alleged reason that the appropriation
made by Congress for armory rents was
insufficient for all, and that the two
colored battalions. being unattached to
regiments. could be best spared.
! This order of course raised rumpus
in the city; it was talked of everywhere
and by everybody, and it was generally
condemned as unjust, because OF the
good record of the colored militia. As
soon as the President returned, the mat
ter was laid before him, and he at once
said: This shall not be carried out.
If it shall be shown that it is absolutely
necessary to disband portion of the Dis.
trict militia no color line shall be drawn
in selecting the commands to be
dropped. Now little Ordway, small in
size and smaller in intellect, is trying to
"explain" his action, which may be the
cause of his losing some of the "snaps"
he has enjoyed so long that he has
reached that period, almost certain to
come to men who have for years drawn
big money for nominal services, of believ.
ing that the places belong to them per-
sonally.
Attorney-Gene Miller, to whom was
referred the Presidents right to appoint
the nine United States Circuit court
judges created by the last Congress dur.
ing the recess of Congress, has rendered
an opinion in which he claims that the
President has that right. The same
question arose during the Cleveland ad-
ministration, and Solicitor General jerks
gave an opinion similar to that Just
handed the President by the Attorney
General and upon the same gro unds.
The president has not given any intima.
tion Of whether he will make the ap.
pointments now or wait until Congress
meets again, but it ia believed that he is
now considering the matter and that he
viii make definite decision in a short
time.
Treasurer Houston, who has been
more lied about than any member of the
administration, is back at his official
desk quietly attending to his business.
81 do not know" he said to-day, chow
long l shall retain my office. My resig.
nation was rendered to the President
February oath, and right here / wish to
say that it was not the result of any hard
feeling toward the President or any men,
Der Of the administ- alton, but because
wished to give up the office, which l will
gladly do as soon as my successor has
been named. Speaking of national
politics, Mr.. Houston thinks it is high
time that the Republicans were actively
organizing and working for next years
campaign.
No President ever had higher idea of
the rightful prerogatives of his position,
or was quicker to resent any invasion of
them than is Mr.. Harrison, although he
does it always in an inofi,ensve manner
Here is case in point: There is a va.
cancy in the Office of surveyor general of
Minnesota, and Col. Buckley of that
State is prominent candidate therefor.
The other day several Minnesota repre-.
sentatives, headed by Mr.. Hall, who
acted as spokesman, called on Mr. liar.
rison on behalf of Col. Buckley. After
praising that gentleman highly, Mr..
Hall closed by saying: II do not ask
you to make the appointment, for
know that it is Senatorial appoint"
meaning that it belonged to the class of
appointments usually made on the recon.
mendations of the Senators. The Presi.
dent looked at him quizzically for a mo-
ment, stepped up close to Mr.. Hall, and
placing his arm around that gentleman,
said: II beg your pardon, Mr.. Hall; it
is a Presidential appointment.
There is no doubt about where Sena.
tor Cullom stands as to the Republican
nominee next year. He had just come
from private conference with the Presi.
dent when he was asked for some politi.
cal views. He replied: 81 have Just
had talk with the man who will be
nominated by the Republican party next
year and will be elected"
1t is expected that the program for the
Presidents Pacific Coast trip will shortly
be announced. Invitations are pouring
into Washinton from cities all along the
expected route that desire the honor
of entertaining the distinguished party.
REGULAR CORRESPONDENT,