Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-04-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Written and compiled for the HERALI

politics of the administration have
but the Americanism which was
such conspicuous feature of the last
is no with less pronounced
in the present one. as was shown by the
vigorous and prompt action taken several
days ago in demanding apologies and
reparatiOD from Peru and Turkey for fail
ure of citizens of those countries to respect
the American flag and the property of
American citizens. The popularity of a
vigorous maintenance of American rights
abroad is questionable, and it indicates
very plainly that America is to occupy a
much higher place in the estimation OF
foreign nations, which as a rule rec
ognizs nothing but courage backed up by
force, IN the future than it has in the
past, without regard to the politics OF the
administration that happens to be In
power.
theoretically most people agree that
nepotism is bad thing, but practically
the members Of all the political parties
arelguilty of it when they have a chance
Here Is a partial list, written from mem
DRY, of those guilty of it in the last adj
ministration and Compress: President
Harrison, brother; Blaine, brother and
two sons; Attorney General Miller his
son; Assistant Sec. (now Cow Crounse,
q son; Treasurer Nebecker, son Ssna
tors Dawes and Blair, sons; Senator
Dolph, a son-in-law; Speaker Crisp,
son; Representatives Springer, son;
Enloe, a son; Stump (now Commissioner
of Immigration), a son Peel, a son (;
Wise, brother; Reilly, a son Tillman,
a son; Bankhead, son; Catchings,
son /; Henderson, of ILL.,, a son, and
Youmans, a son. And the following in
the present Administration and Senate,
the House not being yet organized Vice
President Stevenson, son Sec. Carlisle,
a son Senators Pugh, son Morgan, a
son; Smith, a son Vance a son Voorhees,,
a son Harris, a son PETER a daughter; ;
Blackburn, a son; Daniel son Jones, of
Ark, a son Squire, sen; Gallinger,
son and Blodgett, son. These, mind
you, are only important positions. Doubt
less there are many moro relatives OF
officials occupying minor positions on the
government payroll. What one does
others will do; hence the necessity for a
law against nepotism.
Ex-Congressman Cox. of North Care
lima, who has been elected secretary of
the Senate, but who will not assume the
duties of that Office until Congress meets
again. is a staunch advocate of the general
ADOPTION of civil service reform in all
branches of the government service in
actual practice as we'll as IN theory. That
he honestly believes in the idea was
shown few years ago when he gave up
what would have been certain renOmi-
nation and election to Congress rather
than demonstrate himself to be spoils-
man. as was required by his constituents.
Speaking of tho Secretary of the Senate,
some years ago tie late H. j. Ramsdell,
then one of the most prominent Washing
ington correspondents, was asked what
were the duties of the Secretary of the
Senate. "Why, simply to be a gentleman
at all times, and to brighten the dull
moments of idling Senator's" was his re-
ply.
Senator Voorhees, has offered a resolution,
which was referred to the committee on
Interstate Commerce. that may have an
important bearing upon tho rights of
organized labor, if adopted by the Senate.
She resolution after setting forth in the
preamble the recent decisions of u. 5.
judges, instructs the interstate Com
nerce committee to inquire into the mat
ter, and to report to the Senate what ae-
ton may be necessary for the better pro-
lection of the laboring people in their
natural and lnalienabls rights and Tor
their greater security from the encroach-
ments of corporation power.
The movement for the election OF Sena-
tors by the direct vote of the people, which
was not long ago very lightly regarded,
has assumed such proportions that ITS OPP
ponents have begun to fight it. The war
upon it is being led by Senator Hoar, who
offered last week resolution declaring it
inexpedient to propose a constitutional
amendment for the popular election of
Senators, and who made a really able
argument in favor of the resolution, al
though it probably did not change the
mind of a single Senator.
It's expected that the extra session OF
the Senate will end this week, although
it will, of course, depend upon President
Cleveland, as the Senate cannot adjourn
until he notifies it that he has no further
to make; but that it IS
understood he will do in few days, as
nearly all of the important foreign nOmi-
nations have been made. There is much !
doubt about the confirmation of the
of Mr.. Eckels Of H., to be
Comptroller of the Currency, because of
the objections raised by Senators ON &C
count of his lack of experience in banking
affairs. The Comptroller hes direct
charge of the National Banks, and the
Senators think should be a man thorough
ly conversant with banking methods
Mr.. Eckels was confirmed Wedles-
lay.
Strikers Given More Than They