The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1893-10-20
Washington Letter.


WASHINGTON, ID. c., Oct. Il, 1855
Senator Voorhees, began his attempt to
force a vote on his bill for the uncondi-
tional report of the purchasing clause of
the Sherman silver law on Wednesday,
hv compelling the Senate to remain in
continuous session. 1t was clear from the
beginning that the margin over and
above quorem, which the fol ON ers Of
Mr.. Voorhees, were compelled 10 keep on
the floor constantly, WAS entirely too
small, even if half of them were not
Republicans who had not pledged them
selves to any extra efforts. to give any
reasonable hope Of firing out the oppon-
ents of the bill, who could get all the
rest they needed, as they only kept two
or three Senators on the floor at "A time.
ore to speak and the others to demand
call of the Senate whenever the num-
Der present fell below quorum. That
being the situation ii seems to your cor
RESPONDENT that the only real reason for
holding this continuous session Is to
convince those outside Of Congress who
have been So strenuously insisting upon
unconditional repeal Of the imPoSSibility
of securing unconditional repeal, and Of
the necessity for a compromise. There
was some talk earlier in the week Of ad-
jOurning Congress if the continued ses-
sion of the Senate failed to reach a vote,
but the idea was not popular with the
Senators, and it looks now as though
some disposition will certainly be made
of the silver question before there is an
adjournment, and that will be a compro-
mise which can be accepted without any
sacrifice of principle 10y all the Demo
cratic Senators, although Senator Noor-
hees is very positive in saying that he
will take no part in compromise.
Every body in Washington knew that
the number of what are usually spoken
of as ''oihce- holding families, the mem
beTS of which were never known TO
engage in any other employment than
working for the Government. was con
siderable, but no one dreamed its actual
extent until Representative DocEery
this week presented to the House a par
tial report of the joint committee which
is investigating departmental methods
and work. More than 1000 families have
two or more members in office, and
some rs many rs seven, eight and nine.
More than half of the L, ,599 United
States employees in this city are furnish
ed by these 1000 families, and yet there
is rule against the employment of two
members of the same family. No one
was more surprised at the figures in this
report than were the heads of the de
partments, and it can be stated to
certainty that they will not wait for the
legislation To reduce the number of one
family employees in their respective de
partments. To put it in popular Ian
guage, these families have had a snap
for long time and will now be made 10
step down and out and give other people
"A chance.
The 90 majority by which the House
passed the Tucker bill for the repeal of
the Federal election laws, promptly mt
the time designated for taking the vote
when the bill was first taken up, was
great disappointment to the Republicans
who had been persistent in circulating
false stories about the existence OF Dem
ocratic dissatisfaction with the bill and
the difficulty there would be in getting
a Democratic quorum on the floor when
the time came to vote. Every Demo
cratic member of the House who was in
Washington voted for the bill, and none
were absent except from unavoidable
causes. The Democrats of the House
believe in doing business and doing it
promptly, and their records up to this
time have been uneXcelled.
Representative McCreary's bill proposed
an extension of SIX months in the time
within which Chinese in this country
may register, and other notifications in
the Geary Chinese exclusion act. is now
being considered 10y the House. where
it has been given the right of way until
disposed of. This bill, which Represent
ative McCreary told the House was" in
the interest of civilization and human
ity, Is the result of a request of the
Chinese government made of Secretary
Gresham by the new Chinese minister,
who promised that all of the Cinnamon
now in the United States should register
if the time was extended.
Senators and Representatives seem
very much in earnest about providing
for the erection of new Government
Printing Office, and fresh efforts are
being made to determine upon the loca-
ton of a site therefor. 1t l. certainly to
be hoped that the present efforts will
succeed. y new building is a necessity.
There is not one word of truth in the
sensational story sent out from here
early this week saying that Secretary
Gresham had asked Postmaster General
BiSsell to reinstate a dismissed RepubIi
can postoflice Official, stationed in Ohio,
and had been refused. NJ