Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1883-02-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondence
WAsHISaTDN. Feb. a rs

Wiiiie Inc tarlH lobby has grown in
until /, exceeds any here
stree the flash old subsidy and credit
nobller days. The whisky lobby, the
railroad lobby, the navy lobby, and
other Hobbies that have been offensive
ly active since the meeting Of Con
gress. are thrown into the shade b,
this powerful and rich continuation. |
he cry Is reechoed along the curri-
doris from the Senate to the House IF
Representatives. that the "busiiess OF
the country" demands the paternal
care OF Congress, though as Congress
man 5ntterworth said on the fl ,or OF
the House concerning some Of these
Infant industries" for which whole
people must be taxed; their entire pro
ducts could be peddled through the
c"nntry by twenty Russian refugees
1t is possible that the result of the
whole matter will he bill concocted
by committee of Conference Consist
ing Of two republicans and one demo.
crat on the part Of the Senate and two
republicans and one democrat in the
House. Four men will finally deter
mine the details OF the measure, if any
measure there is to be. The bill which
the ways and means comm ttee. under
the lead al that arch protectionist
Judge Kelley, wish to force through
the House is measure to reduce the
revenue, bnt not to relieve the burdens
of the people. This is the essence of
the whole thing. That class of pro-
tectionists who care nothing for the
burdens laid upon the people at large,
50 that few specially favored indus
tries continue to be fostered, make a
great show Of reducing imports which
are not appreciably felt, while they
hold on to others which press with
iron weight.
Counsel" as the lobbyists now call
themselves, disseminate with great
4 viger he idea that a tariff bill will b.
passed, for belief in this by those wlt
are concerned is money in their peck.
cts. 1t is questionable, however
whether the lobby is of much benefi
nowadays, as, in consequence of thu
bright light which is thrown on Con
lgressional action, individual and gen
eral, through the medium of the press
Senators and members have becom,
quite chary of needing any sugges
ltions or representations emanatins
from that source. But the lobby will
not admit its decline, and claims a
, much power and Influence as ever
member of the lobby approached tn
> ,ther day gentleman largely inter
ested in pending Legislation, proffere'
his services, and protested to be in
= combination which controlled ninel
9 votes. The gentleman was somewha
q IMMERSED in the ways of Washington
!. but he was not green enough to swa
4 low such a statement as this, and h
declined with thanks.
!. Though a bill has been reported f;
" vorably by the House naval committe
to place the notorious colored Cor
! gresham Smalls on the retired list
the. navy, with the rank of Captain,
% do not think the bill will pass. Whe
j.. the war broke out Smalls was a slav
/. and in 1862 while acting as pilot
:, the steamer Planter, in Charlest,
- Harbor, belonging to the confederate
ran the steamer outside and deliver,
"a her to the blockading forces. For tn
\ service SmaIls was commissioned
=, pilot in the United States service, al
:. continued as such until after the we
:, During the palmy days Of carpe
bagism in South Carolina he receiv