Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-29
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
From our regular Correspondent.
w .s,,x,rax II n Anvil oG 1870

per manufacturers combination, which
took form in the bill Of Mr.. Townshend
for the repeal of certain duties on arti.
cles entering into the manufacture OF
paper, and which was barely repressed
when carried to vote in the House, is
daily assuming fresh strength in Con
gress. The indications are that the
tariff reiormers will make an aggressive
fight in their efforts to secure revenue
tariff in lieu of the present protective
system, as we'll as a revision of the laws
relating to internal revenue taxation.
These reformers have not strength
enough at present, in the House, to
compel the Ways and Means Committee
into any particular course beyond get
ting, say wood pulp, put on the free
list, and thus enter wedge for the de.
sired general revision of the revenue
system in the near future. But they
are determined to inaugurate bitter
contest between this and the adjourn.
ment in July, and will make things
lively for the protectionists, if not given
what they want. Their recent motion
to instruct the Ways and Means Com.
mittee to report amendments was de
feted upon a joint order, but it serves
to signify that they are in earnest, and
will use every parliamentary effort to
accomplish their ends.
The Geneva award furnishes rather a
good exemplifcation OF the old saw that
money is the root of all evil" Here
are millions of dollars put into the
Treasury by the British government, in
indemnification for certain losses by
individual Americans through Confed.
crate pirates. But everybody wants
the money, and the rub is TO find out
who shall be the lucky recipient The
insurance companies claim it, and Ger
tainly have able advocates on the Sen.
ate floor in their behalf, who, like Mr..
Carpenter present magnificent reasons
why they should be given the lions
share. BY the way, Mr.. Carpenter has,
in other Congresses, been averse to
their claims, but now he is their attor.
ney, and his argument in their support
is worthy of his reputation as Il most
brilliant lawyer. While we accept his
former views ms TO the impropriety of
giving these moneys to the insurance
companies, yet his speech this week
nearly sufiices to convince us that il
matters not which side a gifted orator
supports, it is the right and just one.
Mr.. Blaine arraigned him on his record.
and said: at is not for me to impugn
his right to change but the Senator
should not rise here and preach 10 us
in n dogmatic strain about our duty TO
follow his lead today, when on five. or
possibly six, distinct calls of the Yes
and nays, running over the period of
fourteen months, when he was in the
Senate for his first term, he voted every
time in the teeth and face of the decla.
rations which he lays down today as
his views OF national duty" The con.
test between them was an interesting
one, but Mr.. Blaine undoubtedly took
the scalp. All the other leading Scna.
tors are taking hand in the debate.
and we doubt whether n better prescn.
tation of this important question will
ever be made than that to be found in
the pages OF the Congressional Record Of
this week.
Now that the Senate has passed the
Army appropriation bill. with its mar.
shalship rider. we are anxiously awaiting
the Presidents action upon it. will he
veto? ia the leading question TO day,
but it is generally thought that he will
approve.
One of the undesirable customs of the
House Is that OF permitting a member
TO publish in the Congressional Record
an undelivcred speech, for, under il.
the most Objectionable of matter gets
spread before the country ss part of the
actual debates. In the Record of the
22nd appears poem, travesty on
poetry, covering 6 of its pages. which
purporiS to be speech Of Mr.. Downey.
the delegate from Wyoming Territory.
in support of a bil TO provide certain
paintings tor the Capitol. Downey is
sSeet.scented youth. who delights i'm
blonde. ambrosiaI curls, a pale complex
ion, and other indications OF a monde.
script eifemnscy. and we cannot imag.
inc it possible for him to offer better
evidence Of the need for his immediate
admission into Mr.. Corcoran's = luxurious
Louise Home" the palatial asylum
erected by him for INDECENT widows,
than this official 'pome," entitled the
"Immortals." Many of the Solons ex
pfess themselves "a being greatly scan.
dalized, and Mfr. Morrill, promptly in.
troduced resolution in the Senate look.
ing to the exclusion OF the objection.
able document from the permanent
C5ngressioaai Record. and Mr.. Garfield
took similar action in the House. We
think, however, It should remain there