Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-04-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Senator Voorhees, and the Case
Against Mr.. Roach.
Secretary Grisham- His Smallness In.
creasing.
GFrom our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. D. O., April is, 'ss.

| WASHINGTON, d. O., April 10, '9s.
| Senator Voorhees, has doubtless Of
ten found 1t advantageous TO his cli-
ents, in his practice before the crimi-
nal courts to plead guilty and ask the
mercy of the court because of extenua-
ting circumstances, and he simply
attempted to work on the sympathies
of the Senators, as he has 30 often sue
cessfully done upon jurors In behalf
of clients he knew to be guilty, when
he so bitterly attacked Senator Hoar
for insisting that his resolution, in
structing the committee on Privileges
and Elections to enquire into the
charge of embezzlement against Sena-
tor Roach and to investigate the same
and report to the Senate II the charge
be found true, be voted upon. Mr.. Voor-
hees took an extraordinary course in
admitting his client, beg pardon, Sena-
tor Roach, to have been guilty of the
crime charged against him, and ask.
ing pardon for him because of the
blameless life he had led since he COM
mitted the crime, and because Of his
! efforts to atone for the guilty past.
This sppss; might have mad MORE eli
feet If Mr.. Roach had not returned to
Washington under circumstances that
have attached to him the suspicion Of
another crime-bribery. The position
of Butler, of South Carolina, Mills,
of Texas, and other Democratic Sena-
tors, in maintaining that the Senate
had no authority to investigate any
thing that happened before a man
was elected Senator, the power of the
State which sent him here as Sena-
tor being paramount and not be ques-
toned, is simply ridiculous stretch
of the old States rights idea; but by
the aid of king caucus the Democratic
Senators who believe the investigation
should be made-there are number
of them-were compelled to acquiesce
therein. In order to get the votes of a
sufficient number of Democratic Sena-
tors to pass resolution in caucus
against making this investigation
Senator German had to acknowledge
to his Democratic Colleagues who did
not know it that If made there was
great danger of a national scandal
being uncovered which weuld necessa-
rily be disastrous to the Democratic
party. g i9bl
When Mr.. Wannamaker was Post
master General he made ruling shut
ting out from the mails as lottery
matter all circulars issued by real
estate speculators or others, offering
to give away lots as an inducement to
purchase other lots. This week at the
instigation of Congressman Chapman,
of Michigan, Postmaster General Bis
sell reversed that ruling.
1t may be true that Mr.. Ady no valid
claim to the seat now held by Senator
Martin, of Kansas, but even If that
were an absolute certainty ii would not
have justihei the underhanded method
resorted to by Senator German to pre-
vent an honest investigation of Mar
tin . right to the seat, after the COM
mittee; on Privileges and Elections
had formally agreed to report o reso-
luton to the Senate authorizing that
investigation. After he learned that
the committee had agreed to report
that resolution Senator German went
to Senator Vance, chairman Of the
committee, and told him that the com-
mittee must not report that resolution,
but must vote, that is, Its Democratic
members must vote to reconsider the
action of the committee in ordering
the resolution reported, To the credit
Of Senator Vance and the other Demo.
crate members of the committee Cor
mans orders were not obeyed. The
resolution was reported, but 1t il
doubtful whether 1t will be acted upon
J before next. winter, as Gorman sue.
ceeded in getting it referred to the
, committee on Contingent Expenses,
, which may or may not report it bach
to the Senate ct this session. ia
Secretary Gresham is credited with .
) degree of smallness that is hard to rec
oncile with his ability, in his efforts Il
''get even" with dead man for hav
ing refused to cast his influence fol
him when he was O candidate for thu
I Presidential nomination at the Repub
, lican National convention in 1883. Il
! is said that Secretary Gresham, no
satisfied with dismissing persona
friends of the late James G. Blaine
from the State department and the di
plomatic and consular service, has &C
tually taken the trouble to ask tht
8 heads of other Departments to dismiss
!. them as fast as he can locate them.
Senator German called on Mr.. Cleve
land this week for the first time since b.
J was inaugurated, and although he dit
! not 60 to ask for patronage he va
a snubbed. He went in the capacity o
, boss of the majority Of the Senate, b
inform Mr.. Cleveland that he wantet
to adjourn tho Senate. Mr. Cleveian,
informed him that when the Senat
had finished the work for which Il wa
called together in extra session h
8 would notify 1t in the customary man
1 ner. The programme had been TO ad
= journ on Wednesday Of this week, bu
Q 1t is now expected that 1t will get ava.
I about that time next week,
The slaughter is becoming genera
= in the departments, and although th'
3 dismissals are as yet confined to th'
y chiefs of divisions and officials not il
+ the classified service, there is genera
l. feeling of uncasiness among Republi