The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-04-29
Washington, Letter.



(From Our Regular Correspondent.l |
WASHINGTON. d. c., April "A. 1880.
The tariff agitation aroused by the
paper manufacturers combinations,
Townsend for the repeal of certain du-
lies on articles entering into the man
usacture of paper: and which was bare
ly repressed when carried to vote in
the House, is daily assuming fresh
strength in Congress. The Indications
are that the tariff reformers will make
an aggressive fight in their efforts to
secure revenue tariff in lieu of the
present protective system, as well as a
revision Of the laws relating to inter-
nal revenue taxations. These reform
'ers have not strength enough at pres
ent, In the House, to compel the Ways
and Means Committee into any partic-
ular' course beyond getting, say wood
pulp put on the free list, and thus en-
ter wedge for the desired general re-
vision of the revenue system in the
near future. But they are determined
to inaugurate bitter contest between
this and the adjournment in July, and
will make things lively for the pro-
tectionists, if not given what they
want. Their recent motion to instruct
the Ways and Means Committee to
report amendments was defeated upon
joint order, but it serves to signify
that they are in earnest, and will use
every parliamentary effort to accom-
plish their ends.
The Geneva award furnishes rather
good exemplification of the old saw
that IS money is the root of all evil"
Here are millions of dollars put into
the Treasury by the British govern
ment, in ,indemnification for certain
losses by individualA mericans through
Confederate pirates. But everybody
wants the money, and the rub is to
find out who shall be the lucky recipi-
ents.. The insurance companies claim
it, and certainly have able advocates
on the Senate floor in their behalf,
who, like Mr.. Carpenter, present mag
nificent 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 staunch attorney, and his
argument in their support is worthy of
his reputation as a. most brilliant law
yer. While we accept his former
views as to the impropriety of giving
these moneys to the insurance COM
panies, yet his. speech this week near
ly suffices to convince us that it mat
ters not which side gifted orator sup
ports, it is the right and just one. Mr..
Blaine arraigned him on his record,
and said: cit is not for me to impugn
his right to change; but the Senator
should not rise here and preach to us
follow his lead to-day, when on five, or
possibly six, distinct calls of the yeas
and'nays, running over the period of
fourteen months, when he was in the
Senate for his first term, he voted eve
ry time in the teeth and face of the
declarations which he lays down to-
day as his views of national duty"
The contest between them was an in
teresting one, but Mr.. Blaine undoubt-
edly took the scalp. All the other
leading Senators are taking hand iu
the debate, and we doubt whether a
better presentation of this important
question will ever be made than that
to be found in the pages of the Con-
gressional Record of this week.
Now that the Senate has passed the
Army appropriation bill, with it's mar
shalship rider, we are anxiously await
ing the Presidents. action upon it.
Will he veto? ? is the leading question
to-day, but it is generally thought he
will approve. ,.ss
One of the undesirable customs of
the. House is that of permitting a
member to publish in the Congression-
al Record an undelivered speech, for,
under it, the most Objectionable of
matter gets spread before the country
as part of the actual debates. In the
the Record of the 22nd appears a poem,
Il travesty Oh poetry, covering Is of its
pages. which purports to be a speech of
Mr.iDoWney. the delegate from Wyo-
ming Territory, in support offs bill to
provide certain paintings for the Capt.
toi. .Downey is a sweet-scented youth,
who delights i'll blonde, ambrosial
curIs, a pale complexion, and other in-
dications of a nondescript effeminacy,
and we cannot imagine it possible for
him to offer better evidence of the need
for his immediate admission into Mr..
Corcoran's luxurious - Louise Home =
the palatiai asylum erected by him for
'ihdigeht widows, than this official
'pome," entitled the ImmortaIs."
Many Of the solons express themselves
as being greatly scandalized, and Mr..
Morrill, promptly introduced a resolu
ton excluding it from the permanent
Congressional Record, and Mr.. Gar
field took similar action in the House.
We think, however, itshould remain
there as monument to the memory of
Downey, the immortalized poetieal
spooney of Congress, who has written
for himself what Dogberry wanted 9TH
ers to write him. --..- .:...
One of the Indian delegations here
is being put in new role. The In
dams are invited as guests into the par
Iors of our citizens, and portion of
the evenings entertainments consists
in listening to Indian songs, some of
which are accompanied with dances in
true aboriginal style.
The site for the new Naval Observa-
tory has not, as yet, been selected,