West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1893-10-05
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NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Our Weekly Letter from the Home Of
"Uncie SAM"
Special Correspondents OF the Argus.
WASHINGTON, d. c.,

WASHINGTON, ~. ",
Sept. 30, 1898.
Senators Voorhees,, German and
Palmer, at different times this week
took occasion to defend President
Cleveland from the newspaper
charge. which Senator Stewart mis-
takenly dignlfied by reading in the
Senate, Of attempting by the use of
patronage to control the legislative
branches Of the government. OF
course everybody In Washington
knows as well as these three Scna-
tors do that President Cleveland
needs no defense, but there may be
people elsewhere who are liable to
be misled by constant reiteration Of
the charge. When Senator Palmer
told Senator Stewart that il he
would name one Senator who had
been controlled by the President
through patronage he would gladly
join him in getting resolution
pissed providing for an iuvestiga-
ton, Senator Stewart did not nlme
Senator. Why? Simply because
he knew of none. Senator Cor.
mans few remarks on the subject
covered she case fully. He said !:
81 am not the mouthpicce Of the
President. His patronage l know
nothing of or care nothing for. i
neither have it nor want it. No
President has ever been so careful
to avoid the appearance of distrib,
uting patronage for his own ends.
He has scarcely done his party JUS
tice."
Everybody has heard of that fire.
quently mentioned article, "Sena-
torial courtesy" but with all. due
respect to the eminent and dignified
gentlemen who compose the U. S.
Senate it must be said that ..Sena-
torial discourtesy" more truly
applies to the numerous "tifs"
between Senators which have been
such feature Of the debate this
week. Space forbids their enumer-
alton, but one specimen will give a
general idea of all of them. Sena-
tor Wolcott referred TO Senators
German and Aldrich as steerers of
the Senators who favor the Voorhees,
repeal bill, and told of their having
decided to begin next week holding
twclve-hour sessions of the Senate.
Senator German in reply said /:
"This is the first time that | have
ever known o Senator or his agents
to listen at the committee room
doors to tell the Senate of the pri-
vate conferences OF Senator's on any
! snoJect Whatever.
~
Tie ultimate fate of the Voor-
hees bill is still very much in doubt.
Cloture is two edged weapon, and
although its present adoption would
be OF great benefit to the Democrat
ic party it is not probable that Sen
ator Platts resolution will even BIZ
reported back from the committed
on Rules, to which it was referred
and without cloture there is small
I, probability that the bill will ever b,
voted upon without the consent o.
its opponents. Can that consent
be obtained ? That is a question
that only the future can answer
but Senators have confidence thai
it will be obtaiEed through move
ment now on foot among Demo
cratic Senators who favor the bill
This movement coutemplates geb
ting the consent of the opponent
Of the bill TO the taking OF a vote il
exchange for the promise Of enough
votes to make the passage of a silvci
bill, something on tho order Of Sen
ator Faulkner's proposed amend
ment 10 tbe Voorhees, bill, a Ger
tainty immediately after tho Voor.
heees bill is passed.
Tho House began the debate OF
the Tucker bill for the repeal OF
the Federal election laws according
to programme, and so far IL hal
been.conducted upon Constitutions
grounds, although It may get dow
to partizansliip any hour. Although
81 will not alter or postpone tn,
result, the order under which tn,
House ia acting making October 9TH