The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1894-02-22
.rors undoubtedly. but the spirit which '
nominated and elected him still sur
wives.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
POSTS Regular Correspondent
WAsu1ssroy, FEB. 10, 1874.

POSTS Regular Correspondent,
WAsu1saroy, FEB. i9, 1o!4.
Editor Post: >,
| Once more the cry of"no quorum
hassfor several days tied the House
hand aud foot, while at the time.there
have been many more than a.quorum
Of members sitting in their seats put
only those voting who favored the
nending legislation-Represcntativ
BANDS bill for the coinage of the
seigniorage in the Treasury. Ih1s
NAV be craftsmanship, but, regard
less of the merits or dement's of the
bill under discussion, it strikes most
unpreiudiced people as childs play.
It is not pretended that the tlllbus-
tering is INDUCED in with the hope
of defeating the bill, as it is gener-
allv admitted that tho bill will pass
fby substantial majority as soon as
it's friends can get quorum OF their
own on the floor. Here then are sew
cral days absolutely wasted for no
I other reason than just to delay the
massage of a bill certain in the end to
pass. Meanwhile the statement IS
made by those in authority that I'M
less Congress provides money in some
other way Secretary Carlisle will an
nounce another issue of bonds be-
fore the first of July. The number
of people who question the wisdom OF
Mr.. Reeds method, when he was
Speaker, of counting those present
and not voting, in order to make a
quorum, grows fewer wsek by week.
It is every mans privilege to favor
or oppose any measure, but no man
should have the right to prevent the
House doing business by refusing to
vote when in his seat. Congressman
are elected to legislate, not to block
legislation. The rule of the MAORI
tv is the terory upon which this gov
eminent was founded, but i'll the
House the majority no longer rules,
except when large enough to constl-
tute its own quorum. .
There was hitch in tho tariff
program in the Senate last week
The bill was not reported to the FL
nance committee, although it was
stated on Monday that it would be-
It is again stated to day that the
bill will certainly be reported to the
committee this week. Tho reports
of changes are SO contradictory that
it would be waste of space to men,e
ton them.
Senator Pugh, of Alabama, has
taken high rank asa phropet in Sen
atorial circles since the rejection of
the nomination eff Mr.. Peckham for
that Supreme Court vacancy. Sew
eral days before the vote was taken
Senator Pugh stated that the nomi
nation would certainly be rejected
and that the majority against Peck
ham would be from seven to nine.
When tile vote was taken it was 81
to IL against confirmation. The
vote for confirmation was % Demo
Gratis, s Republicans and l Populist
Kyle; while that against confirma
ton was Is Democrats, "a Republi-
cans and 2 populists The admins
tration made extraordinary efforts to
secure Mr.. Peckham's confirm alton
and it's members arc corresponding Y
disappointed. a factor in the defeat
of Mr.. Peckham was tho presence in
Washington Of the attorneys for a
number of big railroad corporations
which have suits pending before the
Supreme Court, and their open
efforts to secure his confirmation.
/ Some very shrewd tactics are be
ing used to work up sentiment in
Congress in favor of abrogating all
existing treaties with what are
known as the FIVE civilized tribes of
Indians and the admission of Indian
Territory as a seperate State or as a
part of Oklahoma. The fact that
there are more white people than
Indians in the Territory is made the
most of; but nothing is said of the
fact that these whites went there of
their own free will, knowing that
the Indian laws Of the Territory
you'd not allow them to become
citizens. The Dawes Commission,
appointed by President Cleveland to
negotiate with these Indians with a
view to their abandoning their tribal
relations, dividing their land in sew
crafty, ETC., ETC., is helping those who
are working the State idea, by tel
ling the Indians that whether they
agree or not Congress is going to
legislate them into citizens and theil
territory into a State No woader
an Indian, now in Washington, said
when he heard that statement:
"Thon why was the Commission APP
pointed? Is it not negotiation
when one side is given no choice as
to what must be agreed to-"
Here is bit of history concerning
| the issue Of bonds In February,
1898, Secretary Foster sent what is
known as q "rgsh" order for the en-
craving of new bond plates to the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing,
but before the plates were entirely