The Coconino sun., 1891-10-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
tFrom our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 1891.

DuSlheSs man DeIOfe ne ever entereu
politics, therefore when he tells the
public, as he did in an interview with
committee of merchants from New
York, that there are mt least fifty cus-
tom collection districts in the United
States that could be abolished without
detriment to the public service and at
an annual saving of several hundred
thousand dollars. were it not for
the politicians, his words are worthy
of the most careful consideration on
the part of the people, who are already
beginning to realize that they are the
masters, not the servants. of the poll
ticianS. Mr.. Foster is good deal of n
politician himself now, but it was the
business man, not the politician, who
spoke when he told of this absolute
and unnecessary waste of public money,
simply to provide patronage to be dis
posed of by politicians. He said Of
the districts which ought to be abol-
ished: "More than II score of these
districts are in New England alone.
Out of fourteen districts in Maine, but
four are really necessary; Massachu-
sets has eleven, and of these all but
three ought to be abolished" That is
plain language about his own depart
ment, and he was equally plain in re-
plying to the question asked by one of
the merchants, Why are they not
abolished, then?" He said; because
the politicians will not allow it to be
done. The abolishing of those districts
means the abolition of just so much
patronage, and Representatives and
Senators are more interested in in
creasing than decreasing patronage.
What an indictment that is against
Congress. This is the second time that
Mr.. Foster has dropped the role Of
politician long enough To call attention
to useless offices connected with the
Treasury Department. 1t is very
unusual thing for the head of a depart
ment to do, and something ought to be
done to save the peoples money. But
will Congress do it?
Senator Call, Of Florida. seems To
be confident that he will win in the
contest for term i'm the Senate, not
withstanding the action uf the Gov
ernor of the state in refusing to sign
his credentials, and in appointing ex-
Representative Davidson to fill the
vacancy, which he claims exists by
reason Of the failure of the legislature
to legally elect a Senator Mr.. Call
bases his confidence upon AN act which
was introduced in Congress in 1866 by
Reverdy johnson, which saws that II
majority of both branches of legisla-
ture acting rs one body may elect II
United States Senator. He claims
that eight similar cases furnish prece-
dents in his favor. The Sen ate Com
mittee on Elections, of which Senator
Hoar is chairman, will really decide
the contest, as the report it makes after
investigating will almost certainly be
adopted by the Senate, and us a major
ity Of the committee are Republicans
and both the contestants Democrats,
there will be no political complications
in the case, which promises to be de-
cided solely on its merits.
The Speakership campaign is practi-
cally at a standstill, as those members
yet unpledged-there are Il good many
of them--prefer waiting to see the re-
suit of the state elections next month
before committing themselves. At
first glance this may look queer, and
one not used to going below the politi-
cal surface might ask .'what have the |
results of the state elections to do with |
the Speaker Of the House, But those
who are familiar with the undcrcurrent !
of things political know that upon the
result of the state elections depends the
fate Of one Of the leading candidates |
for Speaker, aud every one of the can
didates will be affected one way or the |
other. For instance. the fourteen
Democratic congressman from New
England have formally decided not to
commit themselves in favor Of any
until after the state clcc-
tions. All of the uncommitted want .
to 90 To the side Of the winner, and
they recognize the fact that II will be
easier to pick the winner after the re-
suit of the state elections is known.
Away back in the days - befok de
wah /" the negroes used to sing at their
church meetings hymn with refrain
like
'.pse Mcth'ds' born and Meth'dis' bred.
An y Mctirdis' III he III Fse dead"
That ought to be popular here This