The National tribune., 1892-05-05

! Some of the leading Democrats Of the House
are now OF the opinion that the rules Of the 5lst
! Congress- against which so much was said while
they were in operation, were not quite as bad
as they were represented to be. The cause of
| this change of opinion was tho obstruction of
business last week by the small Republican
minority, who blocked the wheels of legislation
whenever tho majority undertook to pass a
measure they did not like. They were able to
accomplish this by retaining from voting, thus
creating no quorum. There are great many
members of Congress absent Just now looking
after their political fences, and besides this the
Washington Jockey Clubs races arc taking
place at their track Mt Benning's, where the
| Sergeant at Arms OF the House went when
| call of the House was ordered, he evidently
| knowing the sporting proclivities of some of
| the Congressman. Mr.. Blount, of Georgia, who
! has charge of the Diplomatic appropriation bill,
when n call of the House had been ordered sew
| eral times on Thursday, April %. got mad aud
! offered a resolution reyoking all leaves of abb
sence except for Providential causes. One
member desired Mr.. Blount to define "Provi-
Dental cause" but Mr.. Blount viewed the mat
A roll call shows that there arc 66 Democrats
now absent from the House, and Just half that
many Republicans 1t is proposed to remedy
| this matter as soon possible, and members
will be ordered to attend as soon as word can
| be got to them.
Another one OF the amusing scenes which
always take place after a call of the House is
made, and the Scrgeant-at- Arms is sent out
after members who are absent without leave,
occurred on Friday, April 20. On Thursday
the session was frittered away by the Republi-
cans refusing to vote, there not being Demo
Gratis enough present to make quorum. The
Sergeant was sent out to look for alb
sentees, and he hired all the hacks in sight and
started for the racc-track at Bcnnings Before
he returned the House had adjourned, and he
paroled his prisoners until the next morning,
when they were brought to the bar Of the
House. The Sergeant at Arms reported that
he had been rnishcd list of 10 members who
were absent without leave, some of whom he
had been unable to find, as they were out of
the city. The others were ranged before the
Speaker, and began making their excuses,
some of them being decidedly witty. One men,
Der admitted that he had committed the great
est Of all crimes that of being caught, and
another pleaded guilty to being absent cores
ponding with his old soldier constituents who
were clamoring for pension legislation, while
but one was honest enough to acknowledge that
he had been to the races All were excused,
however and, az it was rainy day, a sufficient
number of Democrats were present to continue
work. Notwithstanding the fact that the day
before all leaves of absence were revoked, the
usual large number of leaves were granted with
out single protest.
Theodore Roosevelt of the Civil Service
Commission, promises when he goes on the
stand before the House Investigating Commit
tee, which will shortly begin to in yestigato
why removals were not made in the Baltimore
Pos:oiice after he (Roosevet) had reported that
the Postmaster at that place, and his subordi-
mates, were engaged in political work, that he
will give Postmaster General Wanamaker a
lively showing up. Mr.. Roosevelt says Gen.
Wanamaker pigeonholed his report and &C.
ccptcd one made by Postoflics Inspectors
which vindicated the Baltimore officials, and
for this he will give the Postmaster General
roasting as tho Investigating Commit
tee call him to the witness.stand.
80
The House Committee on Railways and
Canals ordered favorable report the bill
introduced by Representative Dalzell, OF Penn
sylvania, appropriating $40, 600 for survey of
route for ship canal to connect the waters of
Lake Erie and the Ohio River. The bill au-
thorizcs the Secretary Of War to appoint a |
board OF three officers of tho Engineer Corps Of |
the Army, whose duty it shall be to select and |
survey the most suitable location. and estimate |
the cost OF construction Of ship canal from |
point near Erie, on Lake Eric, with point on |
the Ohio River at or near Pttsburg. Pa.
"a
And the end Is not yet, for tho House Of
Representatives now propose to investigate the |
Rock Creek National Park scheme. A short |
time ago the President approved the awards
made by the Park Commission for property |
taken by condemnation for the proposed park. |
One day last week number Of Washington |
lawyers headed by Judge Jere Wilson, APP
peared before the subcommittee of the Appro-
priation Committee and made argument asking |
that the Committee take action which would |
insure the suspension of all proceedings in the
appropriation bill for the benefit OF Rock Creek |
Park, until further action is taken by Congress.
The Committee decided to report resolution
7 O I9Yeserv