The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-12-04
Our Washington Letter.

w ASHlNGION, ~. ", WV ""3 Ao'A'
GOSSIP ABOUT CONGRESS- AND THE EXECUTIVE.
1t is curious fact that there is very little in
terest felt in the impending session of Congress,
in the forthcoming Executive documents or the
suggestions they may contain, or in the general
political situation. The present is the sixth
consecutive winter have passed in the Capital
since leaving the army, but this is the duliest
week preceding the regular Congressional ses-
sion have known. Last winter at this time
there was regular hubbub. The revenue re-
formers were here in force this time last year.
Their clacquers among the correspondents talk
ed in the largest vein. They were going to up
set everything, and when the mountain finished
laboring it was the smallest sort of a mouse that
came forth We have not even stimulus of
this kind. Ten days or so ago it was anticipa-
ted that discussion over the presidency,
coupled with new departure of Democrats
and Conservative Republicans, seemed the one
overshadowing topic But even that is fatter
than an Illinois Furthermore stale than beer
that has stood over night. Newsmen are at
| their wits end. Except the Heralds man, who
| is new in the Washington field, none of the old
| journalists, men who scent an item or feel a
sensation, quite as quickly as hungry wolves do
| passing team or vultures know that carrion is
near,-seem to care one jot whether school
keeps or not" They are all joey Bagstocks or
| Micawbers,-s'Sly Sir, develish sly" or wait
ing for something to turn up Only one man
has used his ingenuity to summarize, in adj
vance, the Presidents message, remove Fish
from the cabinet, send Robson to Germany, or
otherwise frame a new deal for Grant Even
the probable makeup of committees fail to in
terest us. We are at sea or contented with idle
rocking on sunny shore in an anchored boat
But after all, this calm is probably only the
calm before the storm. We shall see what we
shall see. One thing is sure, and that is that
the session will be lively
IN CONGRESS.
However it is conceded that the chief ques-
tions on fiscal matters will be the debt, simpli'
fication of the tariff and revenue taxes, some
commerce and shipbuilding with ageneral at
tack by the opposition of the syndicate policy
the National banks, and the tariff generally.
MARATIME LEGISLATION.
1t looks now as if there would be adopted be
fore the session closes, two or three of the prop
ositions which Mr.. Lynch advanced in his re
port.
Ship owners and managers will without doub
get amelioration to the extent of the abolition
of compulsory pilotage, and the privilege o
buying ship stores for foreign voyages, from
bond and duty free: any harbor or port tax i'm
posed by federal law will be removed.
doubt if the ocean carrying trade will &c
anything more specific or valuable than this
1t is declared that vigorous fight will be mad
to secure either differential duties, on good
carried in American bottoms; (thus abolishin
our long time system of reciprocity3 or the es
Enlistment of a bounty on the number of az
prentices educated as seamen-which is Fer
toms plan. Neither plan will be adopted.
For shipbuilders some remission of tariff pr
visional will be made. 1t will not be accompan
ed with bountles for using American materials
3 consequently no very large remission of dutie
on iron or copper will, for such purpose, /
o | obtained.
i So far there seems less desire than formerl
v for the repeal or modification of our navigatio
f laws. SPECTATOR.