Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 April 1890 — WASHINGTON LETTER. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON LETTER.

A BUDGET OF GOS'IF FROM THE NATION’S CAPITAL. Enlarging the National Museum Building—A Tribute to Ex-Speaker Randall— Ingalls’ Estimate of Allison—Republicans Agree Upon a Policy on tbe Silver Question. [SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.] Washington, April 21, 1890. Perhaps the death of no statesman has' so stirred the heart of the \\ nshington public as the demise of Hon. Samuel J. Randall, after a continued -service in the Honse of Representatives for thirty years. He was the most conspicuous figure on the floors of Congress for more than twenty years, and was tbe acknowledged leader of his party upon the floor. It is said of him that he was a man of most wonderful i elf-control and iron will. This was displayed to a large degree during the last Congress, when almost his solid party was arrayed against him on the tariff question, and notwithstanding the gigantic efforts of the whole administration to bring him over. Only future history will tell the almost superhuman struggles Mr. Randall endured during this period, audof the disappo.ntments brought upon him by his own party administration,unwilling as it was to heap them upon him. His judgment upon all questions was only formed after mature deliberation, and a position once taken no power on earth could change. Representative Roger Q. Mills, one of the strongest opponents in the laet Congress of Randall’s tariff ideas, thus feelingly and earnestly speaks of the deceased statesman: “Of unimpeachable integrity and a natural born leader. He had more of the elements of leadership than any man I overcame in contact with. Nothing but his views on the tariff could have pievented him from being the leader of the Democratic party. If it had not been for that he would have been nominated for President in 1876, and,” said Mr. Mills, with emphass, “he would have been elected aud seated, for he would have asserted his rights. But when he believed his opinions were right be would never change them, no matter what might happen. When our tariff Fill was up I pleaded with him, urged aud beg>ed him to make some concessions and compromise, but he believed he wr<s right and could not be moved. When his whole party, exc pt Sowdea and one or two others, came over he still held out and would not move. That was tls only thing in which we differed.” • *• * * Unless the Honse of Representatives concludes to disagree with the actio i of the Senate, the great National Museum building will be doubled in size, a bill appropriating $500,000 for th it purpose having pussed the latter body. This addition gives fifteen more exhibition halls and i.n available floor space of 200,000 square feet. The lack of room at the present time is a serious drawback to one of the grandest instituiions of the kind in the world. No visitor leaves Washington without seeing the magnificent collection here. It contains object lessons iu natural history dating backward for a thousand ye trs, aoid onee seen is never jorgotten. * * 4* There is a disposition, rapidly .growing in the Senate to change the rules governing debates. There are two reasons why such a proposition will find favor in the eyes of the Senators themselves and the country at large. The proposed change is to limit the time allowed for debate on each question. As it now is discussions, sometimes on trivial questions, run on for days. Beyond this, these discussions are confined to half a dozen Senators on each side of the chamber. There seems to be a recognition or assent to-the saying that a Senator is to “say nothing, but saw wood,” until he has served two or more terms. But few men have had the daring to break this rule. Indeel, Turpie, of Indiana, and Spooner, of Wisconsin, are the only ones I can call to mind who-have lad the audacity to trample on this precedent with impunity and afterward maintain their position. So that a rule limiting the time of debate ou all questions will be hailed with delight by the younger branch of Senators, and they are 1 y far in the majority. * A prominent men in public life who- is making remarkably little noise this se<sion is Allison, of 10-wa. Many of his friends and a good many who are not particularly friendly to- him are wondering what is keeping him so- quiet. But this reminds me that there is a saying in Washington that you can’t tell very much what Allison is doing bv what he says about it. He is one of the closest but most effective workersirn Congress. Some years ago an important piece of legislation came up. before the Senate which Ingalls had determined to oppose. The measure passed and then it came to light, that Allison had engineered the whole thing through. Frank G. Carpenter, an old newspaper correspondent, in »n interview with Ingalls asked him what he thought of Allison. "He’s the slickest man in the Senate,” replied Ingalls; “you could put his two hundred pounds into hob-nailed clogs and drive at a ten-mile pace over a cordu oy road and he wouldn’t make as much noise ns atomeat slipping across a Tuikishcarpet after a canary bird.” * * J* The proposition of Mr. Wannmaker to have the Government take charge of the telegraph service of the country is securing the unqualified indorsement of hundreds of laLor organizations throughout the country as well as an immense number of country newspapers. The Rostmaster General’s personal mail is a sight to look at, being 1 rger than any of the other Cabinet offices, He keeps a clerk for no other purpose than to open and dispose of letters and newspapers containing matter relating to the Government telegraph system. \S ithont attempting to discuss the feasibility of Mr. Wanamaker’s plan, it is at all events seemingly a most popular one. 4c 4c Representative Mudd, the successful contestant in the case of Mudd vs. Compton for a seat in Congress from a Maryland district, is already becoming initiated into the trials and tribulations of his new position. A coppersmith from Mudd’s district, recently discharged from the Navy Department, appealed to him for reinstatement. Receiving a discouraging reply he began to abuse the member most unmercifully. Mudd “hauled

off," as it were, aud struck at him, but the blow fell short, when they both clinched, and for a few minutes had a razzle-dazzle, rough and tumble sort of a time. The amusement was interrupted by the Capitol police. m Several prominent Congressmen who have been sending out printed copies of speeches are much troubled over various and sundry squibs, appearing in opposition papers, intimating that the speeches were never delivered, but simply ordered printed. A few years ago it was the custom of a member to rite in his seat and state that he bad a few remarks which he desired printed in the record, and it was so ordered. This practice was so absurd that during the Fortv-nin h CongTesa the rule was abrogated, and now nothing can go into the record that is not publicly proclaimed in open session. Therefore the statement that speeches are printed and sent out without being delivered is calculated to deceive the dear constituent. * Notwithstanding that Washington City is over one hundred years old and has almost two hundred thousand inhabitants, her first experience in the way of cable street-cars dateß from last week. During the first day over 15,000 people were carried np and down Seventh street, and the pavements on both sides were crowded with as many thousands more all the afternoon. The cable-cars proved as much of a curiosity as a circus in a Nebraska village. 4c 4c Tho salary and. allowance division of the Postoffice Department is now engaged in the readjustment of the salaries of Postmasters throughout the country for the coming year. These salaries are enlarged or reduced according to- the increase or diminution of the receipts of the office for the fisoal year. Examinations thus far made indicate' an incrense in an astonishingly large per cent, of the offices, especially in the Western States. * * The celebrated N eagle habeas corpus case from California has been finally disposed of by the Unitea States Supreme Court. The judgment of the Circuit Court holding that the killing of Judge Terry by Marshal Neagle was performed while in the line of duty, and that therefore he could not be he'd punishable for the act, was affirmed. The cise was vigoionsly contested by the ablest counsel on both sides. A lengthy opinion was rendered by Justice Miller. * jlc 4c The District of Columbia enjoys the undisputed po session of about seventyfive thousand colored people. tin Wednesday last at least halt of this number dressed up in their best suit of clothes and joined in a grand parade and celebration in honor of Emancipation Day. The gaudy uniforms of colored mil tia and numberless br .ss bands had entire possession of the city. Indeed, white faces on Pennsylvania avenue from sunrise to sunset on the great negro holiday were few nnd far between. * 4c 4c The War Department has been notified that war is likely to breakout at any time between the Cheyenne Indians in Montana and the settlers. The agent has telegraphed the Secretary that there is great danger of a bloody outbreak, and calls for troops to aid in suppressing it. Secretary Proctor announces that the policy of his department shall be so rigid toward outbreaking tribes of Indians that he hopes to put an end to Indian wars forever, but, at the same lime, ho will accord full protection in all their righ 1 s. 4c 4r The House Committee on Printing has authorized a favorable report on a resolution to publish 10,000 copies of a com?ilation of the inaugural addresses of the residents of the United States from George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, inclusive, for the first century of Presidential inaugurations, with authenticated incidents connected therewith, biographical sketches of the Presidents from official sources, together with steel plate portraits of the Presidents, steelplate illustrations of the Capitol and White House. Tnis book will be a handsome addition to anv library. *4t 4c * The Senate Republican caucus committee, after a long and heated discussion, reached the following conclusions on the silver question; 1. That the Secretary of the Treasury shall buy 4,500,000 ounces of silver bullion monthly and issue notes in payment for the same, the notes to be redeemable in bullion or lawful money. 2 That national banks shall be allowed to issue notes to the full par value of the bonds deposited to secure their redemption, which would add 10 per cent, to the national bank currency. 3. That the hundred millions retained in the Treasury for the redemption of treasury notes be put into circulation. A similar House committee also met and agreed upon a policy not very different fypm the above. A long and exciting debate is expected’ to occur as soon as this subject is brought up for action in.

Congress.

JAS. C. MOODY.