Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1894-03-01
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Timely Topics at the National Capital
Pertinently Touched Upon by Our
Regular Correspondent.

ASHlNGTON, IL. u, rep ~. 1851
| Washington has had season of quiet
ness since the passage of the Wilson bill
by the House. The Committee on Fl
nance in the Senate still labOrs with this
bill in its committee rooms, but no ont
seems able to decide just what the Com
mittee will do. The House is still pound
ing away on whatever comes up, with
the slowness that has characterized il
ever since the roll was called on tht
Wilson bill. 1t seems impossible to keep
a. quorum of the Democratic side of the
House here for any length of time, and
Mr.. Bland has had weary time of il
with his silver seigniorage bill. He mod
ified the bill to meet the views of Secre
tary Carlisle, but the Eastern opposition
to the bill has been firmly united from
| the first. 1t remains to be seen whert
the President stands. 1t will seem strange
to see the President sign Bland silver
bill. Secretary Hoke Smith has rendered
an apology to Senator Brice and Mr..
Pearson for the treatment they received
at the Interior Department, and all is
lovely again. A good many Pennsylva
ma and Ohio appointments were made
last week, and more are soon to follow.
And now after all the trouble over the
Behring Sea arbitration was supposed to
be settled for good and all, the astonish-
ing fact is disclosed that 10 penalties for
| breaking its restrictions have been pro-
vided, and that more stringent regula-
tions must be yet adopted between the
two nations. 1t is to be hoped that a
speedy settlement can be reached on this
question, and settlement that will be
lasting.
The House Committee on judiciary is
after District Judge Jenkins with sharp
stick. An investigation has been ordered
at once to look into bis action restrain
ing employees of the Northern Pacific
Railroad from quitting work. If his de-
cisiOn is to stand at law, We may we'll
conclude that the laboring man has no
rights at all. If labOring man has not
a right to quit his work, peaceably and
within the bounds OF law, then most
truly, it is time something was done.
For this decision Judge jenkins ought to
lose his official position. and it is to be
hoped that articles of impeachment will
be presented, and that he will be removed.
His constructions of law might do for
Russia, or even for England in the 18th
century, but such decision in enlight
sned America is disgrace that ought to
be punished with the just indignation
that it merits. In the great strides
made by corporations in their onward
march of power and influence, 1t would
be well for them and their creatures =
whether on the bench or before the bar
TO remember that there are rights that
working men have, and rights that the
mass of the American people will not
allow to be violated
The conviction of John Y. Mckane for
election frauds in Grayesend, New Y ork
was received here with good deal of
interest. 1t shows clearly that New
York is able to take care of these cases,
and to strike snch outrages blows that
tell. New York is afflicted with too
many bosses-in fact, it seems that no
political party can exist in New York
without bossism; and McKane was one
who was rapidly advancing along the line
OF course he was only a tool in the hands
of the others, but he violated the law,
and has been rightly convicted for the
same. 1t is with = good deal of satisfac-
tiOn that those who are advocates of
good government see such men, who
have trampled the rights of ths,people
under their feet receive their just punish
ment
President Cleveland gave the Senate as
we'll as the country. a surprise, by the
nomination of Senator White for Asso-
ciate Justice of the Supreme Bench. The
nomination was confirmed without
negative vote, without reference to the
usual committee. This is often the case
when member of the Senate is nomina-
ted to position. The selection of Sena-
tor White is no doubt a wise one lie
has been upon the Supreme Bench of the
State of Louisiana several years of his
life, and is a man well qualified for the
position. He has been member of the
Senate since 1891. Senator Hill made a |
speech in favor of confirmation, and said |
that if New York could not have the
nomination, he was glad to see the choice |
fall upon worthy man. Mr.. White |
voted for the confirmation of Mr.. Peck
man, so he cannot be classed as Hill
man. President Harrison at one time
considered the name of Mr.. White for |
this same position. This WAS at the |
time he nominated Howell Jackson in |
the place of Justice Lamar. Harrison
thought it was right to nominate Dem
ocrat to the vacancy, and White and
Jackson were the two prominent ones
mentioned. The President has to GER
tain extent come down the tree to Sena-
tor Hill in this nomination for Supreme
Judge. But he Immediately followed it
with some New York nominations that
do not make pleasant reading for the
Senator 1t seems that the battle is to
be protracted, and that the knife is still
out.
The election in Pennsylvania was a
hummer, and no mistake. Mr.. Grow
comes back into the House, which he
left as he sterp u from the Speakers chair
on March 4, 3i3, with the largest major
lty ever given to a.member of Congress.
What an eventful thirty one years has
passed since them Not solitary mem
Der of the present House was then a
member of Congress. Charlie 0'Neal,
who died a short time ago, who was
" Father of the House" at the time of
his death, took his ssat for the first time
the day that Mr.. Grow left it. Senator