Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-02-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From Our Regular Correspondent)

HAslIINGToN, d. G. Jan'y. 20, 1898.
The Fifty-second congress may die
in a senatorial deadlock unprecedented
in the annals Of congress. If Mr.. Uar-
rison follows the advise that is now
being given him by prominent members
OF his party and nOminateS Il republi-
can as successor to the late Justice
Lamer. u. S. supreme court is in
theory, if not in fact Il non-partisan
body, and the death of Justice Lamer
leaves only two men-Chief Justice
Fuller and Justice Field-on it's bench
who were democrats before their :,p.
poiptments thereto: after man takes
his seat upon that bench he is not SUP
posed to have any politics, but the
democratic party knows to it's cost
what mistaken idea that is. 1t is
only justice to the people whose in
terests are constantly at stake in ques-
tions coming before this court that it's
membership should be as nearly di-
vided between the political parties as
possible, and for that reason the dem
ocratlc senators are supposed to resort
to every honorable method to prevent
the addition of a republican to the
other six already sitting Oh the bench.
and if Mr.. Harrison nominates re-
publican to the vacancy they will, if
they can, dead lock the senate, even if
it results in hanging up all legislation
and forcing an extra session of con-
gress. In view Of Mr.. Harrison s early
retirement and the fact that the new
justice cannot take his seat until after
President Cieveland's term begins. it
would be only common decency for Mr..
Cleveland to fill, and if it were not for
the pressure that is being brought to
bear upon him by his party associates
it is believed that he would adopt that
manly course. Should he nominate
Attorney General Miller, who has
been his personal preference for every
vacancy in the court that has occurred
during his term, it is believed that re-
publican senators would be glad to
see the nomination rejected. The
greatest danger lies in the nomination
of some republican like ex-senator
Spooner, whose personal popularity
with democratic senators might pre-
vent their voting against his confir-
nation.
Secretary Fosters report on the con-
dition Of the treasury and his estimate
of the probable receipts and expendi-
lures for the remainder of this and for
the next financial year is at last in the
house ways and means committee. 1t
is far from satisfactory as it is known
that the surplus which he figures out
is obtained by failing to deduct liabili-
ties amounting to $4,000, 900, which
will have to be met in the period cover
ed by his estimates, and there may be
more yet. That the committee is now
at work trying to find out, and MIR.
Foster will probably have to undergo
rigid cross ss-examination.
An amusing episode took place IN
the House one morning this week, just
before the session began. Chief Wolfe
of the Palorse tribe of Washington In
dians IN all the glory of a red blanket
and red paint. was taking in the sights.
After StrOllins around the hall for
awhile he walked up to tho Speakers
chair and takinga seat therein calmly
surveyed the members who were in
their seats reading newspapers or
writing letters. While he was sitting
there witty member remarked:
"That's the first savage who has occu-
pied the Speakers chair since Reed va
Gated it," Reed was sitting near by
and heard the remark, and he joined
in the laugh which followed.