The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-01-13
WASHINGTON LETTER
WashlNcroN, Jan. 9, 1898.


Butler. While speaking in favor of
the National Quarantine bill Mr..
Chandler made a few remarks about
the relations existing between
Secretary Foster and other Treasury
officials and the North German LLOYD
Steamship Co, the agents of which
have been in Washington since the
session began for the purpose of pre-
venting legislation for the suspension
of emigration. He also had some
thing spicy to say about the courtesies
extended by the me Steamship Co.
to the prominent newspaper men who
compose the Grldron Club. Here
are the exact words of his arraignment
OF Secretary Foster and Assistant
Sec. Spaulding, and many consider it
strong enough to call for an investi-
gatiNn. If it isn't true Chandler
should apologize; # it is true Foster
should be impeached. "rhis North
German Lloyd Steamship Co.," said
Senator Chandler in his speech, lis the
favorite route for the Secretary of the
Treasury and the Asst. Sec. of the
Treasury and the Commissioner
OF immigration and other Treasury
officials when they go abroad, and the
Company is very kind to them. 1t
always gives them the best of ac.
commodations, and if they find them
selves lacking money when they are on
the other side and Congress has been
Negligent in providing the means for
their transit and their support over
there, 1t loans them money" 1t is
very evident from Mr.. Chandler's
PLAIN and unmlstakable language thathe
believes the republican officials whose
duty 1t is to enforce the present i'm
migration law have been bribed by
this Steamship Co. to neglect their
sworn duties. and that he thinks some
prominent Washington correspondents
are IN the same boat. The speech has
caused great sensation in Washing
ton, and that class of newspaper
correspondents entirely too numer-
ous-who make a practice of placing
themselves under obligations for
favors received from any who choose
to offer them, are highly indignant :;
but all the same it is fact that no
correspondent is apt to write dis
agreeable things, even though he
knows them to be true, about those he
is under Obligations to. That speech
hits a good many of them in a tender
spot, and 1t hurts. Some papers will
not allow their correspondents here to
accept costly courtesies, and the soon-
er they all get on that basis the better
for all concerned.
The House is not losing any time
with the Appropriation bill. Since
the reassembling of Congress it has
disposed of two of them-Fortificat.
ion, and the District of Columbia.
The House Ways and Means Com
mlttee expect to get that statement
from Secretary Foster of the condition
of the Treasury up to and including
December 81. some time this week.
After much persuasion Mr.. Harri-
son issued an order extending the
classified Civil Service to the Letter
carriers at all free delivery Offices,
but declined to include Bureau and
Division chief in the Government De-
partments, or printers in the Govern
ment Printing Office. 1t is expected
that this order will keep between 5000
and 5000 republicans in office under
the democratic administration, but
If Mr.. Cleveland is prompt in dis
placing republican post masters the
example of the republicans In dealing
with the Hallway mail clerks at the be-
ginning of the Harrison administrat.
ION c9n be followed and few thousand
democrats be put in before the Civil
Service Commission holds examina-
ton and prepares its list of eligibles.
The House Committee which las
been engaged for several months in
investigating the Reading Coal Com,
bine has completed the taking of
testimony and is now at work on its re-
port. 1t is believed that the Com
mlttee will report that the main
allegations concerning the combine
have been fully substantiated by the
evidence taken; also that the Consti-
tutional right of Congress to legsate
on the subject will be affirmed, and that
certain legislation, probably in the
shape of an amendment to the Inter
state Commerce Law, will be recon-
mended.
The Worlds Fair people are after
another appropriation from Congress.
This time the amount wanted exceeds
$625 25,ooo-$485,4oo for judges, $ao,-
900 for stenographers, $4,000 for de
fciencies in the payment of salaries
and the expenses of the National
Commission, and $oS,Ioo for ex-
penses of the board of lady managers.
The general. impression in Congress
| ic thar the am Duntc ara tnn larUe and