The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-01-24

franklin w, Joplin was appointed postmaster
last week ut Elzabethtown, Ky. vice Mrs. Ben
Hardin Helm. The circumstances surround
ing the case make it one of unusual interest.
Gen. Ben Hardin Helm, tho husband of Mrs.
Helm, was the commander of Orphans's Bril-
gade, and was killed at the battle of Chicka-
manga. Mrs. Helm, the Posmistress who was
removed recently, was younger sister of Mrs.
Abraham Lincoln, who was Todd. Col. Robert
Lincoln was her nephew. and when he WAS ap-
pointed Secretary of War by President Garfield
he secured his aunt's appointment as Postmis
tress at Elizabethtown. That position she held
through three administrations. Although an
effort was made to have Mrs Helm removed
during Mr.. Ccvelard's first term, it WIS not
urgently pressed and was unsuccessful.
Z Capt. Ray, United States Army, in charge of
the Shoshone Indian Agency in Wyoming. who
has spent 30 years the frontier, was in the
city last week. He says that the red man can
be made self-supporting citizen. During the
year just ended" said be- i" / had the Indians
at work on big irrigating canal, of which seven
miles have been completed. They made rs
good laborers as ever saw, and worked cheer
fully for 81 day" Such a Statement from an
intelligent and exceptionally wcli-informed
source is valuable. 1t shows that what the
Indian most needs is work not coddling. Capt.
Rays conclusion is thoroughly in harmony
with the facts developed by a recent trial of the
"outing system" at the Carlisle Training
School, and his suggestion should not be lost
sight of in the Governments future dealings
with the red man.
The old soldiers roll in the House is at
present complete. the latest accession being
Capt. James II. Shouse. of Indiana, who took
Gen. Fitch's place among the Doorkeepcrs. 1t
is the implication of the law that the places
OF Assistant Doorkeepers shall be filled only by
crippled disabled veterans. Capt. Shouse's
appointment was requested by Representative
Bretz. The new Doorkecper served four years
in the war; and lost his left arm in the battle
of Nashville. He was Sheriff of Knox County
and Mayor of yincenncs. This once more
completes the old soldiers roll. All names on
this roll those of employees. principally
Doorkeepers, retained during good behavior,
which means that they cannot be removed
except for cause.
X
The number of members of Congress who
have their speeches written by others than
themselves is more than is generally supposed.
On many occasions members who have never
aspired to speech making. and who have been
elected to Congress, have their speeches writ
ten by some one experienced, and, under
leave TO print" insert it in the Record. One
member could not muster up the courage
requisite TO stand up and make speech in
the House, so he wrote it "a really good one),
and had it printed in the Record, under the
rule granting leave to print remarks At va
rious points he inserted the words, Laughter
and applause" Great applause in tho gal
leries" and such other expressions. which
appeared 10 have been taken by the reporter.
This speech he sent in large numbers to his
admiring constituents. who at once concluded
that he was great and resolved to re-
elect him. However, some friend of his. who
was somewhat Of wag, caught on to the man
ner OF his speech-making and gave him away
to someone, and his constituents straightway
nominated aud elected another man.
4
Once two members from the same State who
could not make or write speeches. had each
delegated the writing of a speech to one of the
men at the Capitol who do ouch work, aud he
not knowing they were from the same State,
wrote the same speech for each. The two wore
duly printed in the Record. of different dates.
and copies were mailed by each member to his
State for the voters TO read. IL took the writing
of q good many letters on tho part of each
would-be orator to convince the "constitoo-
ents" that the mistake lay with the Public
Printer, and not himself
r
There is some talk among the members elected
TO the Saith Congress of discussing proposed in
vcstigaiions of the Executive Departments.
Chief among these is the Pension Office in
Indiana the Administration party attribute
their defeat to the soldier vote disaffected by
the manner Of conducting the Pension Office
since the party's succession to power. 1t is also
claimed that the Agricultural Department is
full of glaring cases of nepotism and favoritism.
The Civil Service law, it is said, has been will
fully disrcgardcd in the Treasury. and investi-
cation is proposed to ascertain how the Dockery
law reorganizing that Department has been
administered.
4
Judge Pearson. OF Ohio, is a hard. working
member. He is Chairman Of tho Committee on
Enrolled Bills. Every bill or resolution that
passes the House goes through his hauds aud
is read aud carefully examined by him. and he
sees to it that there is no mistake in the final
draft Of the bill, and then il goes to tho Senate
or to the President just it passed the House.
He sees that all the amendments which the
House makes 10 bill are inserted in the official
copy, and that necessary commas and punctua-
ton marks, upon which an important para
graph often hangs. are not lost in the shuttle
In the closing days of session. when the great
appropriation bills arc being wound up Judge
Pearson's position is not enviable one. In
fact it never is very cnviable.
Senator Faulkner is one of the hard workers
in the Senate. He is active ia all the consul-
tations and is often called to the chair of the
presiding officer, for which he has developed a
considerable talent. Genial and good natured.