The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-07-22
WASHINGTON LETTER
WAsHTNGroN, July 1880

Mr.. Harrison is finding out that the
candidate who attempts to run his
campaign according to his own will,
without regard to the opinion of all
the men who have been regarded as
party leaders, and to make every one
else connected with the campaign but
humble agents to carry out his orders
without asking questions or making
suggestions is big contract. The
brainey men who go into politics will
not consent to become any mans
lackeys. That is why Mr.. Harrison
had SO much trouble in getting a
chairman for the republican National
committee, and finally had to take
Carter, who was almost entirely mn
kown outside of Montana previous to
the Minneapolis convention, and was
probably willing to accept Mr. Harri-
sons conditions.
Col Oates, chairman of the
House committee which went to
Homestead to investigate the labor
trouble at the Carnegie works, says
the committee will make a report the
latter part of this week of their visit to
Homestead. 1t is not positively
known what the nature of that report
will be, but it is believed that the
committee will take the ground that
the strike Of Carnegie's men is not a
matter for Congressional interference.
and that it will ask for authority to
continue the investigation of the Pink
erton detective system during the
recess.
The report Of the Pension Office
investigation. recommending Raum's
dismissal will be taken up in the
House this week, and if quorum Of
democrats can be kept on the floor it
will be approved by the House.
Those who saw the purchase of
site for a new Government Printing
Office postponed by the Fifty.frst
Congress through the Vaccinations of
that very expert lobbyist, ex-senator
Malone, Of Virginia, because the
committee on the selection of sit
would not approve piece of ground
owned by him, entirely unsuited for the
purpose, were somewhat surprised to
see same tactics succeed in accom-
plishing another postponement for the
same reason, and still more surprised
to see such prominent democratic
Senators as Vest, OF Missouri, Butler
of South Carolina, and Blackburn, of
Kentucky acting in Mahone's interest
and getting the credit of having their
votes controlled by him. Senator
Cameron, of Pennsylvania, has been
from the first one of Mahone's most
active agents on the floor of the SEN
ate, but that surprised no body, as he
is generally credited with keeping his
seat in the Senate for no other pur.
pose then to look after legislation
affecting interests-principally Wash
ington real estate in which he has
money invested.
Public opinion has upset one Of the
corrupt bargains by which John c.
New, secured the nomination of Mr..
Harrison at Minneapolis. The nom-
ination of the negro, William ID. Crum
to be Postmaster, at Charleston,
South Carolina, which he practically
admitted to the Senate postoffice
committee was given him as the price
of his vote for the nomination of Mr..
Harrison, has been Withdrawn, be-
cause republican members of that
committee told Mr.. Harrison that
after Crum's statement and those Of
other and more reputable witnesses
they would not vote for his confrma-
tion. The South Carolina delegation
in Congrss did good work in bringing
out the fact in this disgraceful barter
and sale Of such an important Federal
Office, and not few republican Sena.
tors were glad of the exposure, al
though they did not care to make it
themselves.
Representative Bailey, of Texas,
has been looking up precedents con-
cerning the drawing Of salary for the
time they are absent by membrs Of
Congress. He says that previous to
the war the law providing for a de-
duction of pay when members were
absent from any other cause than sick.
ness was strictly enforced, and he
dose not understand why it should
constantly be violated now. He
says one member of the present
House has drawn $1,000 In salary and
been present just three days, and he
thinks that is too high rate of pay
for any Congressman.
Only three appropriation bills now
remain to be finally acted upon; unless
the numerous and costly Senate
amendments to the sundry civil bill
shall bring about n dead lock. Con-