The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-12-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. Is, 1888

# both parties are breaking their necks
md falling over each other in The
struggle for first position IN the race.
This statement should perhaps be quail
led with reservation excepting a
lumber of loud-mouthed Dem ocrats
Who n year ago were harping for ire
'orm." hut who now stand boldly mp |
,ud declare they will oppose all tenure
IF office measures until The offices have |
been filed with their hungry consti-
Iucnts. Among these are Senators Dan |
Voorhees, and Joe Brown, who have
been struck with visions of Democratic |
success in 1884. While n majority of
those Democratic Congressman who
have for years been croaking for reform
LEGISLATION dare not new turn their
backs on il, there is still a very strong
updercurrent among them that they
would like to see it defeated or post
poned until after the Presidential cleo
ton. Some of these arc esteemed very
astutc politicians, yet their shrewdness
would seem to be of the short-sIghted
kind. If the Democrats should by any
possibility get into power there are
several dangers TO which they would
be exposed. one of which is that the
hungry hordes of ofiice-seekers would
make such rush for the public crib
a. =
and Mortified, and be eager for an OPP.
portunity TO take the government out
of the hands of such crowd. If their
leaders were real smart they would be
glad 10 see this exhibition prevented
in the only way it could be done-by
the strictest civil-service law that can
be framed. The most sensible amend
ment to the Pend,eton bill in the Senate
is that offered by Senator Logan, direct.I
ing that examinations shall be practica
and olate only to matters which will
fairly test the relative capacity of APP
plicants TO discharge the duties of the
service into which they seek to be
appointed. OF all the superlative hum
bugs in connection with civil.service
regulations that of propoundiDR lot
of questions in astronomy and
technology to an applicant for a gov
eminent clerks hip takes the first rank.
Since tariff revision, revenue reduc-
.r~--'' '~""erroe ocrnnv an
much attention now and the question
as to what will actually be done is in
volved in so much doubt, it is interest
ing to note the views of leading men in
both houses of Congress. There is a
growing conviction among Republicans
that something ought to be done with
the tariff at this session, nor is there
any abatement of their original deter.
mination TO reduce internal taxes, pro-
Vided the Democrats will permit 1t to
be done. Senator Harrison says he
regards the creation of the Tariff Com
mission as ga confession that the tariff
needs revision"-- although great many
other people have regarded it as
scheme to avoid or postpone revision.
Mr.. Dawes is in favor of abolishing all
Internal revenue taxes, except those on
liquors, tobacco and bank circulation,
md favors OF reduction of the tariff to
he lowest possible point which will ena-
Die it together with The internal revenue,
o "furnish the requirements OF the sink
ng fund aud the strictest economy of
expenditure" He seems to
hink "lhe fl could be reduced $780,
100000 by proper adjustment between
ree raw material and duiiable manufac- |
.ures, so that America II industries would |
DC stronger for the revision Senator
Frye says that internal taxes, except
hose on spirits and tobacco, should be |
'epealed, and that "the necessity of |
ariff revision is Imperative" Repres.
'niative Kasson favors the enlargement
Of the reduction provided for by the
bending Internal Revenue bill-not,
however, 30 as to include distilled
pirits. Senator Sherman proposes
he repeal of internal taxes, except
hose on spirits, tobacco and beer.
After all the agitation for three or
our years upon the subject of new
nildln8 for the Congressional Libary
he bill brought forward by the House
library Committee has been practically
efeated. With the exception OF Mr..
of Illinois, who wants the mass
T the present collection of books burn
d up SO as TO leave room for the re-
lainder in the present library, every
ody acknowledges the pressing
ecessity of new library building. But
lere has long been suspicion of
'bbery about the proposition to buy
site east of the Capitol, and,
'hether this suspicion is just or unjust,
here is a very general feeling in Con-
ress that 1t is absurd and wasteful for
ne Government to buy land in WASH
,gton when it owns a great many
ores of public reservations, enough TO
ontain all the public buildings which
ill be required for two centuries to
ome. The two blocks of ground on
apitol Hill, upon which the committee
roposed to locate the new building,
'ere bought up some time ago by
and all the owners of neigh
oring property Joined them In the
Hort to get The building located there
an expense Of $4,000, 900 or so for
be site.
Speaking of reform, about the most
tactical case of IL insugurated here is
10 recent change in the National