Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-12-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
rWritten and comp,led for the HERALp.

Written and compiled for the HERALD
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec. 14.-The Pres
ident has rendered the Democratic vacan-
CIV on the Interstate Commerce Commls-
sion to Representative Culberston, OF
Texas, and he has accepted it and VIII
tender his resignation as a member of the
House of Representatives, at once. 1t is
expected that other important nomina-
tions will 90 TO the Senate this week, but,
owing to the large number Of nominations
made since the 4th of Marcel, but few OF
which have yet gone TO the Senate, the
chances are that the President will decide
to send in no more nominations until after
the Christmas recess. Assistant Secretary
Grants designation as acting secretary of
War holds good until January 3, so there
will be no inconvenience If The new Sec
rotary of War is not nominated until
after the recess.
Speaker Crisp is apparently not making
much Roadway In satisfying the lndlvid-
ual expectations of the big Democratic
majority in the matter of chairmanshps
and assignments to committees, although
he has devoted his time 50 continuously
to listening to what the members have TO
say, since his election, that he is said to
be so completely tagged out that it will
be neces sary for him to leave Washington
and 60 to some secluded place, in order to
make the selections without interruption
or interference. The craftsmanship of the
Committee on Appropriations was tender
ed to Representative Forney, OF Alabama,
but it was done merely as.an honor to the
gentleman, who was the senior Democrat
ic member of the Committee during the
last Congress, as it was known before
hand that, owing to his age, he would
not care to assume the hard work which
necessarily falls to the head &C that Com
mittee. 1t is expected that Holman, of
Indiana, more popularity known as the
great obiector," will be chairman of that
Committee.
The greatest struggle seems to be for
the Craftsmanship of the Ways and Means
Committee. 1t is conceded that this
position ought to be rendered to Mr..
Mills, but Mr.. Crisp, it is SAID, fears that
Mills might accept it if he offered 1t to
him, and mp to this time he mas not done
so. Springer wants this place very much,
and it is believed that Mr.. Crisp is in
clined to give it to him, as he and Spring
er are of one mind about what should be
the Democratic policy in regard to the
tariff, while Mr.. Mills differs with them.
1t is expected that the number of this
Committee will be increased to fifteen
and Republican representation thereon
be reduced to five.
Tire House is doing nothing, and will
probably continue at 1t until the Commit
tees are announced. 1t adjourned from
Wednesday until Saturday, and on that
day, alter the announcement of the COM
mittee on accounts-Rysk, of Indiana
Cooper, of Iudiana Dckerson, OF Ken
tucky: Moses, of South Carolina Seerly,
of Iowa Pearson, of OHIO; Qnackenbush,
of New York Griswold, of Pennsylvania,
and Cutting, of California, and the Com
mittee OIL Mileage-Castle, of Minnesota
Crawford, of North Carolina; Kendall, OF
Kentucky; Caldwell, of Ohio, and FLICK,
of Iowa--It adjourned until Wednesday
of this week. The members could not
draw their mileage until the two commit
tees were appointed.
The Senate will finish the re-arrange-
ment of its committees this week ana
NAV do little work before tie Holidays,
but it is probable that the greater portion
of it will consist of confirming the Presl-
Dental appointments made since the last
Congress adjourned
Senator Plumb says 1t is his purpose to
press his resolution for the removal OF
Gen. Grants remains to Arlington, and
that he will do so solely because he thinks
that Washington is the proper place and
that he believes the sentiment of the
country Is Overwhelmingly in favor OF
the removal and the erection of nation
al monument, to be paid for by the Gov
eminent. He says the fact that New York
has or has not raised sufficient money for
fitting monument has not Influenced
him at all.
The question of whether Railroad COM
panies have the right to issue free passes,
under the Interstate Commerce law, has
been a source of more or less worry to the
Department of Justice, and Attorney
General Miller has made up his mind to
have a suit brought against one OF the
New England roads, in New Hampshire
for the purpose of having the courts final
ly settle the question.
Bills for the free coinage Of silver have
been introduced by Senators Plumb and
Stewart, and bills for One-cent letter
postage by Senators Cullum and Mitchell,
while Senators Mitchell and Turpie have
both introduced bills providing for Con
stitutional amendment tor the election
of United States Senators by direct vote.
Secretary Foster continues to improve,
but it will be some weeks before he can
resume his duties.