The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-04-13
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 8, 1877

WEAKNESS LONG DRAWN OUT.
mean the tariff debate. After ten days of
general (full of generalities, too) debate, the
chairman succeeded on Friday last in putting
curb on the lcng-winded parliamentary
spouters. But week has passed, and the
committee of the whole has managed to con-
slider six pages out of fity-that being the
number in the printed bill. At this rate it will
take eight weeks to debate the details. The
time SO far has been spent over ten, coffee,
sugar and cotton cloths. Salt and iron are to
come, and where shall we all be when the
wrangle is ended? Some of our Democratic
friends, and their allies in Republican ranks
the revenue tariff people-such as Allison and
others-seem to have adopted Bentons
policy. "Old Bullion" once said that
"ding-dong" was the most forcible ex-
| preston in the English language. he
| testified to his belief by always ding-dopg-
ing at his favorite schemes For instance he
made it a practice for many years to make at
least five speeches every Congress in favor of
the abrogation of duties on salt. He always
made one or more speeches on behalf of the
Pacific Railroad. Now, Marshall, Cox, Fer
nando Wood and - Allison, are copying af-
ter-a long way after-Col. Benton in harping
steadily on one idea-that of the peoples be-
ing plundered by protectionist manufacturers.
In this chorus, Marshall of Illinois takes high
tragedy; Sunset Cox plays buffo; "Fernandy'
the gra re and dgnifed role.
Testing aside, though, the debate on this
question, has been both practical and inter-
| esting. Men showing their larger tamil
| iarty with the country's business interests,
| aud proving that lawyer even acting as a
| representative may at last begin to see that
there is something else in legislation besides
splitting hairs over fine but Indifferent points
of Interpretation. It is probable the tariff bill
will consume two weeks more and then the
bills reported by Mr.. Lynchs committee will
be taken up. In all probability the tariff as
reported, will pass the House without material
alteration. What its fate will be in the Senate
seems difficult to prognosticate.
REVIVAL OF NAVIGATION INTERESTS
Every day proves that the public attention
is being more closely turned to this question.
Nothing proves this more conclusively than
the remarkable activity all at once displayed
by the committees on commerce and others
In Congress, who until the work was
done and the attention of the country was
aroused by the hard labor of Others never even
condescended to discuss the questions involv-
ed. 1t is rather ungracious, as it seems to me,
for committees, either on Commerce" "Ways
and Means" or what not to interfere by patch
work measures, which reach nowhere, hide no
nakedness, remedy no evils or misfortune but
seek only to palliate, not eradicate, with the
comprehensive plans proposed by committee
which has at least the merit Of having made
careful and painstaking investigation, before
those plans have the chance to obtain a full
discussion. Yet this is what is being DONE
Senator Chandler is making himslf espec,
tally active in opposition. His position is
singular one, when viewed alone by the light
of that excessive Anglo-phobia, which made
the Senator almost laughing stock. His
principal fugle man and source of information,
in the projected effort to de-nationalize our
American marine, is certain we'll known
Copperhead ship-builder, whose phamphlets,
pad for probably by the gold of the Clyde
builders, have been turned out at the rate of
about one month for several months past
This captain-"R ingbolt," ash he sometimes
styles himself, is declared to have been pro.
nounced opponent of the war, and a bitter
writer against the policy adopted by Mr.. Lin
coin, financial and political. Part of the time
ne resides in Boston, but most of it on the
OIyde in Glasgow. The assertion is made that
ne Is In the pay of that interest Whether he
is or not it is not denied that this friend of
senator Chandler was, and probably now is, a
Pronounced Copperhead. 1t is also well
known that English gold has been and is being
freely used to procure legislation which shall
secure to the Clyde, Mersey, Tyne, Wear, Tees
ana Thames, the monopoly of iron ship build
ing for the United States as well as the rest Of
the world. 1t is but a few months ago since
the manager of an important steam ship pro-
Ject was offered $4,000 by an attorney repre-
senting the Messrs. Laird, of Birkenhead, to
abandon and thereby cause the defeat of the
project which was intrusted to his charge.
1t is worthy of notice, however, that not
only is the condition of our external COM
merce attracting most attention, but that the
specific measures proposed by the special COM
mittee are growing in favor with Congress and
the people,
SAN DOMINGO.
This project does not seem to lose by the de-
lay. 1t is deemed certain that the joint reso-
luton which Gen. Butler has prepared and
tried to offer yesterday, providing for annexa-
ton by that means, is favorably fregarded.
A joint resolution will certainly pass the
House, and if not smothered by reference, will
stand good chance with the Senate also.
WORD TO THE WISE.
Whose runs may read" the significance of
this little item about the Main(e) chance. q. S.
Marshal Marble of your State has been here |
recently. His object was to obtain instructions |
as to the appointment of his assistants for the |
taking of the Census. In other States, Mar |
shals usually take the recommendations |