The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-03-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, March 5, 1894

Preside ent Cleveland, who has fine
sense of humor, will doubtless smile
when he returns from his hunting trip
and gets a glimpse Of bill that has
been evolved FROM the brain of Mr..
Bailey, the brilliant young Texan,
whose devotion to the Constitution has
earped him fame in the House. A
preamble to the bill recites the charges
that have been made Of the encroach-
ment Of the executive upon the
prerogatives of the legislative branch
of the government, and the bill
provides for cessation of such
encroachment by relieving Senators and
Representatives from all participation
iu the making of appointments. It
provides further that whenever the
President desires information not con-
tanned in the papers Of applicants for
Office he must get it from some one who
is DOT member of either branch of
Congress. While Mr.. Bailey's bill has
some desirable points, the country, to
say nothing Of Congress, is hardly
educated up to such high standard
yet. Congress would to be sure be
purer and more patriotic if its members
had 20 dealings with patronage, but un-
til there is decided change in human
nature Congress is not likely to deprive
its members of the privilege Of trying,
If they do not always succeed, to get
Offices for those who help them to get
into Congress.
Although it took more than two
weeks to get a voting quorum on the
foor of che House to pass Mr.. Bland 8
bill for the coinage Of the seiguiorage,
the quorum did not stay two days.
True, there is no especial need of a
quorum to consider the pension appro-
priation bill. which is now before the
House, bat that is no good reason Why
so many members should be absent
They are sent here and paid to attend
the sessions Of the House and they
should either do it or resign and allow
some one else to do it. No business
transacted by Congress is Of more
importance than the making of appro-
pria,iops, and that for pensions is the
largest cf them all.
The expressions Of pleasure from men
of all shades of politics at the news OF
the convaescence of Chairman Wilson
speak volumes for the esteem 10 which
that gentleman is held by all who know
him. He never forgets that he is
democrat of democrats, uor does ne
ever forget the courtesy due from one
gentleman to another, not even in the
midst Of the hottest political wrapgle on
the foor Of the House; hence his de-
served popularity.
Secretary Herbert's official statemen'
of his having compelled the Carnegie
Company, which has the contract to
make the steel armor for our new wal
ships to pay Sl4o, ,4S4 ~ 70 the
government, Oh account of defects IN
armor furnished last year, was not
news to those democrats who enjoy the
confidence of the Secretary, but 1t was
new departure on the part OF the
Navy Department that must have very
much surprised Mr.. Carnegie and his
associates. who have been so lone
accustomed to being able to "hx up
any charge that happened to be made
against them in connection With thei'
dealings with the government. In tact
they tried to "6x up" this matter bJ
appealing from Secretary Herbert '(
the President. but the President stooc
by the Secretary and the cash had to bf
planked down No amount of influence
can get any crooked business approved
by this administration. except 1t be
done through the counivance of some
of the holdover minor officials who are