The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-02-11
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
A Dull Week i'm Congress-The West Point
Bill-Mor rison's Tariff Bill---Springer's
Constitutional Amendment against Spe-
ciaI Legislation--The Washington Lobby.
FROM our own correspondent.


ciaI Legisiation--The Washington Lobby.
From Our Own Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 1876.
This has been dull week in Con-
gress. There has been no Harry with
his beaver on to rise from the ground,
like feathered Mercury, to turn and
wind fiery Pegasus and witch the world
with noble Workmanship. Nothing of
the kind, Shakespeare or no Shakes
peare. No fiery Hotspur of the North,
no infammatory anybody of the South
has pitched into things generally, and
"the t'other side" particularly, for a
week. Things have gone on as smoothly
as river in the dog-days, and men
begin to wonder what got them into
such q state of excitement only week or
two ago. In another week or so, when
another flame of debate shall burst forth
and set the House on fire, so TO say,
these same people will wonder how it
all came about that this week they were
so dull and uninterested. 1t is always
so at this metropolis. 1t is either down
in the depths of dreary dullness or up
to the very top of excitement. In this
fact may be found the reason that so
many purely sensational rumors and
stories originate here. Half the time
there is plenty to telegraph about and to
write about, while as to the other
half there is little but routine
matters in Congress or in the
departments. SO unreasonable "news-
paper men" land there are several here)
call upon their imaginations for their
facts, and their imaginations being vivid,
their "news" is uncommonly lively.
The only manufacture which is at all
noted at Washington is the manufacture
of news, as aforesaid. And "theres
millions in it, there's millions in it..
The only bill of general nature passed
by the House was the Military Academy
Appropriation bill. AS it passed that
body, it is a considerable reduction on
the estimates made by the War Depart
ment and on the expenses of the last
fiscal year. There being a wide differ
ence of opinion as to the propriety of
some of the reductions, it is believed
the Senate will amend the bill in several
particulars.
MIR. MORRISON'S TARIFF BILL.
Mr.. Morrison, of Illinois, early in the
week introduced bill greatly changing
the tariff, which is destined to call forth
long and earnest discussion both in Con
gress and in the country. Mr.. Morri-
son, as Chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee, is the leader of the House in
a measure of this kind, and the policy
which he proposes to adopt is, therefore,
q matter of interest to the whole public.
The bill was referred to his committee,
and will, no doubt, be adopted, substan-
TALLY as prepared by him, by the COM
mittee.
The bill is not :" a sweeping measure.
1t does not propose to wipe out the tariff.
The more important reductions pro-
posed are : Pig iron, from 81 to SIS per
ton railroad iron from $14 80 $40 per
ton steel from q to II cents per pound
the duties on coarse manufactured cot
ton goods are reduced one-half on finer
cotton goods one-fifth on cotton yarns
and thread, 30 per cent; the reduction
on woods and wooden goods is large,
averaging more than 80 per cent. The
free list is considerably extended, among
the more important items being coal and
all articles used in wool manufacture.
Tea and coffee, Xow on the free list, are
required to pay duty of 10 and 4 cents
per pound respectively.
may say that the free list embraces
great many articles which produce but
little revenue, and in the manufacture
or production of which but few persons
are engaged. Throughout the bill Mr..
M orrison has tried to substitute specific
for al valorem duties. The bill. if
passed, would be notable simplifcation
Of the present tariff, which is the result
Of large number of acts of Congress,
passed at different times and under va
rious exigencies, and under which per-
picking questions are constantly arising |
70 the botheration of merchants and of !
Treasury officials. It's essential idea is
% modify the protective policy and to
make beginning in reducing the tariff
% a revenue basis. Mr.. Morrison and
friends of the bill claim that while
ts effect would be TO reduce the bur-
lens of the people it would increase the
evenues of government. 1t may safely
De predicted that the bill will call forth
! long discussion between the protective
nd free trade school Of thinkers. Opin-
on here is much divided upon its prob
BILE fate in Congress. 1t is generally
believed that the House will pass it, but
Is fate III the Senate is considered de-
idedly problematical.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CoNsTI-
TUITION.
The House occupied one day of the
Teek in a debate on resolution propos. |