The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-03-13
FRIDAY, MARCH 18th 1891.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

GU Win having all ONtl supply OF
backbone, but he has just given indis-
putable evidence that he can be stub
born when he desires to be. Some
time before Congress adjourned he
nominated James H. Beatty to be
United States District Judge for
Idaho, but owing to the active oppo-
sition of the two Idaho Senators and
other republicans the Senate adjourned
without acting on the nomination.
Now Mr.. Harrison has appointed Mr..
Beatty to be Judge, and he will sit on
the bench until the Senate meets
again, even if his nomination should
then be rejected. Another exhibition
of the obstinacy of Mr.. Harrison was
his going off to-day on a weeks hunt
ing trip instead of settling the ques-
ton of who shall be the nine judges
of the United States Circuit court,
provided for under the new law. which
he was urged to do by many members
of his party, who do not wish to leave
until this matter is settled. 1t is
thought that it was to get away from
this gang that Mr.. Harrison went on
this hunting trip, but it will do him no
good, for these fellows will never leave
here until these prizes are distributed.
Believing that it would be but JUS
tice to have the democratic party rep
resented in these appointments,
number Of prominent democrats have
decided to present the name of Repre-
sentative Culberson. of Texas. to Mr..
Harrison. Mr.. Culberson is recog-
nized as one of the ablest lawyers in
Congress, but his friends say that he
would resign if appointed to the
bench, as the judicial duties would be
more congenial. It is not probable,
however, that Mr.. Harrison will give
the democrats even one Of the nine
new judges.
Representative Sayer, of Texas, who
has to a large extent taken the i'm
portant place SO long and SO ably
filled by the late Representative Sam
uel ]. Randall in the House commit
tee on Appropriations, has made
statement showing the amount appro-
priated by the Fifty First Congress to
be IN excess of one billion and six
million dollars. Stop a moment and
think of that immense amount of
money. He also suggested a practi-
cal way to reform the expenditures of
the government that is worthy of care
ful consideration by the new demo-
cratic House. He thinks there should
be one committee of not less than
fifteen members upon the expendi-
lures of the Government instead of
separate committee for each depart
ment as it is now.
Mr.. Sayers says in advocacy of this
change sit is fact which cannot
be disputed that no single one of the
several committees upon the expendi-
lures in the departments has within
the last three Congresses ever investi-
gated the expenditure of any depart
ment and reported the result of their
investigation to the House. In truth,
these committees have rarely ever
held even single sitting during any
Congress, and the consequence has
been that nothing has resulted to the
House from their organization. If
general committee Of fifteen were Or
ganlzed, possessing the same dignity
and enjoying the same powers and
privileges as the committee on Ways
and Means and the committee on Ap-
proprlatlons, it cannot be doubted
that such committee would be able
to furnish the House with such infor-
nation and advice as would lead to a
very great reduction of expenditures
and thorough reform in the admins
tratlon OF the public service. What
do the House and the country know
OF the expenditures under the several
laws making indefinite appropriations?
The expenditures and methods of ad.
mlnisration under these permanent
appropriation acts are practically un-
known to Congress. What do Con
gress and the country know about the
internal administration of the Pension
Office, the Patent OAice, and Bureau
OF Internal Revenue and the several
bureaus OF the War and Navy depart
ment"?
Mr.. Sayers has another good idea
too, that should not be overlooked.
He thinks the House should
elect permanent chairman
CT the committee Of the whole and
the committee OF the whole on the
state Of the Union. In speaking of
this he said; sit has been a notice
able fact that these chairmen have
been appointed by the Speaker, from
time to time, at the instance of the
gentlemen whose bills were to be con-
sidsred, and very often it has been