The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-01-26
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.

and politics in Washington at this
season and the race will go on till
Congress and Society pass Under
the wire on the fourth of March
next and when the season will end
with great parade and an inaugu-
raj ball. Heretofore the soldiers
from the surrounding states have
been quartered in the different de-
partment buildings. These have
been closed against them and it is
proposed to give them a taste OF
the horrors of war by quartering
them in tents with plank floors
warmed by patent stoves and fur
nished with sleeping cots, folding
chairs and bath" tub.
NIX
The Presidents term in his own
right will begin at noon on the
Fourth Of March next. He will
be no longer under the sacred be-
hest of carrying out the policy Of
Mckinley, whatever that policy
may have been. But if his edge
has not been dulled by the routine
and humdrum of Office the country
may expect the liveliest administra-
tion in its history.
M*4
The most interesting episode of
the week has beeu the defense Of
Senator Mitchell by himself on the
floor of the Senate. Thirty-three
years ago this same Senator Nit.
chell was the youngest Senator and
served at that time with Morton, of
Indiana, Thurman, of Ohio, Conk.
ling, of New York, Andrew John
son, of Tennessee, mighty shades
long since dead. About two years
ago he was returned to the Senate
from Oregon and after an absence
of twenty-five years he is again on
the Senate floor, among the ghosts
of his old conlrees. He has been
charged with pushing through a
land patent, using his Senatorial
influence and getting paid therefor,
a bribe of two thousand dollars.
The evidence against him is most
positive provided a convicted and
sentenced witness can be believed.
Your correspondent heard his de-
fense which was little more than an
impassioned denial of having re-
ceived any money tor his efforts in
getting through the land claim.
His denial appears to have been
effective in convincing his friends
of his innocence but to have had no
influence over those not predisposed
in his favor.
Xxx
The sentence of Senator Burton,
of Kansas, during the last term Of
Congress and the exposure of a
number of members who had been
too active in pushing schemes
through the Post Office department
together with the case of Senator
Mitchell and Representative Her
man, of Oregon, cannot but be a
wholesome warning to our law
givers, admouishing them TO con-
fine their activities more strictly to
their legislative work; warning
them that they cannot act as at
torneys for their constituents or
friends. Everything points in the
direction of cleaner craftsmanship
and a higher and more rigid con-
struction of the duties Of the legis-
lative branches of our government.
XXX
1t will be remembered that dur
ing the recent presidential campaign
Mr.. Cortelyou, the Republican
manager, repeated more than once
that if President Roosevelt were
elected he would be elected without
pledge or promise to any man.
President Roosevelt has been
elected but it need not be assumed
that he has nothing to give his
friends or to those who worked un-
bought to secure his election.
There are many democrats holding
desirable Offices in Washington,
there are many Republicans who,
to put it mildly are unfit to hold
the offices for which they have
drawn pay for from four to twenty
four years. There has never been
a President so thoroughly acquaint-
ed with the weakness and rotten
There is more Catarrh in this