Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-01-17
From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington Letter,
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. Is, 's9

| pllcallOnS toSelnef WIN the apprOprlalioI
bills will demand much of this brief time
while the bill for reduction of taxation
comes limping behind. 1t will require
vigilance. tact. and parliamentary skill OF
the part of the republicans to secure thu
passage of the last named measure; but.
if Mr.. Pendeton and his democratic
friends could only have been as happy or
this subject as they were on their civil
service reform hobby horse, there would
have been better prospect for the accom-
pIishment of the desired result.
The Senate in its discussion on the tariff
will probably not reach decision
before the end of next week. On the other
hand, the House ways and means com.
miltee will to-day submit Chairman
Kelley's report on this question. The
latter report differs materially from that
under consi Iteration in the Senate. and in
view of this early difference, it is pretty
safe TO say that the 4th of March will find
congress no nearer solution of this
important measure. Those who are most
interested do not want any change in the
tariff duties except such as will be
beneficial to themselves, and they have
their representatives on hand to promote
and guide the action of congress. The
door keeper on the east side of the House
Of Representatives hall, in view of the
ways and means committee, can tell to a
nicely what the committee is doing by the
class of visitors. One day the barbed
wire men are on hand button. boiling the
members rs they come and go; another
day the tobacco men monopollze the time
ard space. Then the sugar refiners arrive,
followed by the tin men and the plate
glass manufacturers.
Yesterday the ship builders and the
distllers joined the throng pervading the
southern portion of the building, and
we're on the alert to torture the poor
distracted members of the ways and
means committee.
The whisky men do not find their path
one of I'm slloyed happiness. Pitfalls
ab und and although the whisky lobby
is hopeful, it is not over confident. The
representatives from the moonshining
districts do not want to wait minute
and the shrewdest members of the
whisky interests experience great
difficulty in REFRESHING such "school boy"
Nothing of more Importance has been
considered at this session of congress than
he shipping bill, which engaged the
attention ofthe House for the whole week. |
This measure should not be acted upon
without profound deliberation, and such |
cannot be obtained in the present limited |
lime. The fact is apparent that those
subjects which are of the least public |
Importance receive the most public atten-
ion, and this 10 the detriment of more
deserving legislation. The merchant
marine is in such weak state that the
calm judgment and best possible discretion
If legislators is necessary in the treatment
If this subject. 1t is to be hoped that the
shipping bill may tend to the accomplish
nent of some relief from our present
tatus on the ocean.
In face of the direct recommendation OF
he secretary of war against the usual
liver and harbor bill for this year, the
louise committee on commerce has
esovcd to have daily meetings and pro-
eed 10 the preparation of the customary
ill. 1t must be, that those members who
ill be uncerimoniously relegated to their
ONES on the 18th of March, wish to take
parting dip into this annual grab bag;
ut it is also certain that very decided
pposition will be shown in both houses 8
congress against opening the vaults of a
he treasury to appropriate money for any
resent further improvement of the rivers q
nd harbors-or rather, creeks and ponds G
this country. f
Now that the Fitz John Porter bill has G
used the Senate, it might be we'll to r
certain the prevailing sentiment in the b
ouse. Republicans generally oppose v
e bill. A prominent democratic general u
I'VE as his opinion that if the bill could Fl
reached it would be ased. He added a
conclusion that the bill would never Il
reached, but would be indefinitely o
siponed in favor of mole pressing legs- o.
ton. II
The idea which actuated the Senate "
len it passed the president succession g
u was that it would be better to have g
or legislation than none at all. The
i IS no. perfect by any means. yet it is a,
needed to he step in the right direc. re
m and affords relief from very justifia. III
Z apprehensions on this subject. 70 70