Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1892 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

CONGRESS HAS BEEN SPECIALLY CONVENED TEN TIMES. Ur. Cleveland Gets 1,500 Letters a Day— The First Assistant Postmaster General and His Ax—He Controls 220,000 Places— People Who Want Offices. Extra Sessions. Washington correspondence: Ever since the election the question of a special session of Congress has been the one topic of discussion on the Democratic side of the political fence, to the exclusibn almost of probable members of Cleveland’s cabinet. The President-elect himself is, of course, the only man who can tell with certa nty now whether a special session will be convened; that is, if he has made up his mind on the subject. Everybody knows that opinions differ as to the advisability of calling Congressmen together before the usual time, a year hence, while some in favor of the scheme want, the openiug postponed until October, 1893. But whether an extra session is called or not, and no matter at what particular period of the coming year, the reason for so doing in case of a special convocation w,ll certainly be the revision of existing tariff laws. Undoubtedly the McKinley bill will come in for the first round share of attention. In any event the gathering is bound to be attended with more than the usual d< gree of political interest. Mr. Cleveland’s proclamation, if he Issues one, will be the eleventh of such a nature, and Mr. Harrison’s successor attheAVhite House will be the ninth chief executive to avail himself of the privilege of calling Congress to meet at the Capitol before tho first Monday of December. A review of the Congressional Record shows that two Presidents—Madison and Hayes—convened special sessions twice each during their administrations, and sinco the latter’s term none have taken place. Four of the ten on file had as their object some ultimate legislation relating to wars already inaugnjfafcgd or in immediate prospect, and one. that called by Jefferson, was decided upon to avert any threatened complications arising over tho purchase of Louisiana from the French, with Spain frowning upon the deal.

Tho special session fathered by John Adams in 1797 probably precluded warfare with France through the active hostile preparations then authoiized against the "tri-color” republic, but only two had any bearing upon the finaucial condition of the country. These were called by Van Buren and “Tippecanoe” Harrison, and some of the treasury laws then passed are still recognized methods of handling currency. If Mr. Cleveland listens to. the plea of the ultra tariff reformers and proclaims in their direction next spring, the extra session then called will be the third in of the United States, which may possibly consider public financial matters per se, providing, of course, the free silver business and Senator Peffer’s new sub-treasury idea are left untouched. Barring the long jump from 1813 to 1837, extra sessions have been regularly convened at Intervals of from six to fifteen years, but the last on record occurred in 1879, the middle of Hayes’ administration, and since then the Congressional law has been "long term, short term and no i-pecials,” so that the list up to date covers a period of eightythree years, from 1797 to 1879. and the filibustering which made the latter a necessity shows how tho political Darwinian theory had worked its .evoluion since the statesmen of threo-fourths of a century before legislate 1 upon giving the French a dose of retaliative medicine. A resume of the ten sessions called by Presidents sinco John Adams’ time points out the fact that three were convened by order of Republican party upholders, the one of Lincoln and the two during Hayes’ term filling that side of the roster. If Mr. Cleveland puts himself on record for number 11, the session will more than equal in financial interest those called by Van Buren and “Old Tippecanoe, ’’ while presenting a contrast to that in Madison’s first term, which had a sort of tariff tinge, because commercial relations with England and France were forbidden altogether.

Mr. Cleveland’s Mall. From now until his inauguration Mr. Cleveland’B mail, notwithstanding his recently uttered protest, will certainly average at least 1,500 letters dally. That was about the number President Harrison received from immediately after his election, and it jumped to 2,000 per diem after his arrival at tho White House. About nine-tenths of all such communications are from office-seekers. The rest mostly convey advice and suggestions, offer congratulations, and give warnings, friendly and otherwise. “Better wear a shirt of mail,” wrote one timid citizen to the present chief executive four years ago, while another gave notice of the subscriber’s intention to Dlow him up with dynamite. As is customary with them at such times, cranks of all kinds in every part of the country are now “taking pen in hand” to address the President-elect by post. No wonder he wants to seclude himself from the world until March 4.

Whenever a change of administration occurs a sort of fever for office seeking becomes epidemic among the people. For months after Mr. Cleveland comes in the time of his private secretarywill be chiefly occupied with receiving applications for places under the Government, and the ante-room at the White House yilj be crowded at all hours with Congressmen and others eager to secure plums of patronage. The “very hungry and very thirsty” will swarm upon Washington like grasshoppers upon a green vegetable patch, and the “swish” of the decapitating ax wielded by Mr. Clarkson’s successor will be continually heard in the Post Office Department. The First Assistant Postmaster General is conspicuously the man of awe and dread when a change of administration has come about. He disposes as he chooses of nearly all .of the 230,000 offices in the Postoffiee Department, which has ten times the patronage of all the other departments of the Government put together. All of these, except about toil clerks in the classified service and 3,200 Presidential postmasters, he controls, chopping off heads and filling places according to his fancy. He holds in the Hollow of his hand 65,000 postoffiees. However. 25,000 of these yield less than SIOO of salary yearly, and the incumbents in most cases will not find the loss of their positisns a great, misfortune. Already the Postoffiee Department is receiving scores of letters daily Irom such fourthclass postmasters, who are anxious to resign. One of them writes: “If I give up my postoffiee plant for SI,OOO to a Democrat, will you appoint him and will you guarantee the security of his situation during the coming four years?” While wielding the ax Mr. Clarkson’s successor will make his appointments usually in obedience to the wishes expressed by Congressmen as to the distribution of the patronage in their respective districts. With the coming in of the new administration the swarm of office-6eekers will arrive in Washington. All or them will reach here in high confidence of getting places under the Governmtnt, and nine-tenths of them will go away disappointed after eating out their

hearts with waiting: and -hope deferred. The great majority of those who do suaceed will be obliged to bo content with positions much lower in the publio service than they had expected to secure. In numerous instances individuals of some distinction who journeyed here with aspirations for posts of high honor and emolument under one administration or another have been glad to get situations finally a 3 messengers in the departments. History in this matter repeats itself every time that one political party goes out and another comes in. Those who fall, as their money runs low. drift out of the hotels into the boarding houses, finally falling back on the free lduch route. Last scene of all, which ends this sad, eventful history. Is the appeal addressed by the disappointed office-seeker to his' Congressman for a loan so pay car fare home. Undoubtedly these place hunters are mostly people of some importance where they live. But the fever for holding public office attacks them, and they abandon everything else to try for it. When they get it the glamour of the life holds them so that they are never satisfied to abandon it. Even the Congressmen who fail of re-election are eager to get back into employment as clerks in the Legislative halls where once they exercised control over the affairs of the nation.

Capital Chat. The Supervising Architect in his annual report recommends a special appropriation of $50,000 for general re pairs of the United States Custom House at Chicago. Secretary Noble has accepted the reconveyance to the United States by the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Kailroad Company of 45,000 acres of land in the Bed Kiver Valley, in North Dakota, under tho act of Aug. 5, 1892, and has issued instructions authorizing the railroad company to make indemnity selections therefore of non-mineral unoccupied lands in the States of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Idaho. The Democrats are inclined, it is now said, to let the question of the admission of New Mexico and Arizona go ever to the next Congress. Mr. Caldwell, of Ohio, is the author of a bill introduced in the House to reduce postage on first-class mail matter, except postal cards, to 1 cent per half-ounce. Justice Harlan, of the United States Supreme Court, will sail for Europe as one of the arbitrators in tho Behring Sea seal fisheries dispute, G. M. Lamberton, of Lincoln, Neb., has been selected for appointment as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, to succeed Mr. Nettleton. Mr. Cockrell, of Missouri, will undoubtedly succeed himself in the United States Senate. Members of the Interstate Commerce Commission look with seriousness upon the decision of Judge Gresham, which limits and to some extent nullifies the power of the commission. They feel that its natural sequel is an abolition of the entire commission.

A request from the Treasury Department urging Subtreasurers qlj the United States to gather in all SSOO notes issued prior to 18-10 has created some gossip in financial centers, but at the department nothing is thought of this action. Speaker Crisp, Bepresentative McMillin, and Bepresentative Catchings, who as members of the rules committee are rather looked to to shape the policy of the House, held a conference of some length in the Speaker’s room for the purpose of considering the plan and scope of an inquiry into the condition of the Treasury. It is not improbable that a caucus of the Demoeiatic members of the House will be called upon to consider the proposition embodied in bills now before the House for the change of the date of the meeting of Congress from the first Monday in December to the iirst Monday after the 4th day of March of each year. The bill which passed the Senate authorizing the construction of a oridge over the Mississippi Biver above New Orleans proposes a structure of three unbroken spans, the main span to be at least l.Ood feet Jong and the height of the superstructure above hiuh water to be fixed by the Secretary of War.