Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-01-03
AT THE CAPITAL.
What the Peoples Servants are Do
ing and Expect to do at
Washington.
PERSONAL AND POLITICAL GOSSIP.

OF the house committee Oh Judiciary,
who has taken very active part In the
matter of lapsed railroad land grants,
and who has declared himself in favor
of forfeitipg all unearned lands, is de-
voting the holiday recess in collecting
additional details bearing on the subject.
At the department Of the interior to-day
he ascertained that the Oregon Central
Road has constructed but very few miles
under it's grant and that it controls up
wards of one and half millions of acres
of land between Portland and Astoria,
upon which settlers are very DESTROYS of
entering. With view to throwing
this land open to settlement under the
homestead laws, Payson has pre-
pared resolution declaring the
same forfeited and hopes to have it
acted upon by the house judiciary COM
mlttee at the next meeting. In CONVEX
sation with representative of the west
tern press to-day, on the general ques-
ton of forfeiture of land grants, Payson
said indications are quite favorable for
the consideration Of the subject in the
house before the adj oUrnment of the
present session.
THE PROPOSED MEXICAN TREATY.
Mr.. Romero, the Mexican minister,
returned here from Mexico several days
ago. He said to correspondent to-
day that he was not prepared to talk
freely about the proposed reciprocity
treaty between this country and Mexico.
He would be ready, however, he said, III
few days to give all the information in
his possession about the proposed treaty
and the position which Mexico occupies
with regard to it. The cause of his
retlcence just now is the lack of infor-
nation from official sources of the ap-
pOintment of his colleague. The APP
pOintment was settled on before he left
Mexico, few days ago, but President
| Gonzales had not acted. His action was
delayed for the reason that the person is
a member of the Mexican congress, and
his appointment Just now would inter
fere with his duties. He says the ap-
| pOintment will be made as soon as the
Mexican congress adjourns, which Will
be very soon. The appointee, MIR. Ro-
nero says, is gentleman of conspicuous
ability, and is known for his progressive
and liberal ideas. He is well known in
this country, and speaks the English
language with sufficient tluency to an
swer his purpose as commissions
| Mr.. Romero says that when he reached
the Mexican capital a few weeks ago he
found very considerable opposition to
! the proposed treaty. The impression
prevailed that the United States intend
ed to seize upon this opportunity to
force upon Mexico a commercial tr eaty
that would be almost wholly advantage
Gus to the United States. Mr.. Romero
set himself to word to correct this false
impression. In fact he went to Mexico
| for that purpose. Had he remained in
Washington and permitted things to take
! their course it IS more than probable
| that commissioners would not have been
appointed, and the proposed treaty
would have dropped out of sight. Mr.
| Romero, who is anxious that the treaty
should be negotiated, because he knows
| that it will be beneficial to Mexico as
we'll as the United States, saw the dan
ger and averted it by prompt action. He
says that it is not yet determined
whether the commission will hold their
meetings IN Washington or New York.
If Gen. Grant prefers New York the
commission will meet IN that city.
5n hann THE TARIFF -eis $3.50 Y
With regard to tariff legislation, dis
| tinguished democrat, a candidate for the
speakership OF the next house and q firm
I believer in tariff for revenue only, said
| to-day: 81 think it very doubtful that
there will be any tariff legislation this
winter. The fact that committee OF
lethe senate, as well as of the house, is
preparing a tariff bill does not facilitate
matters. 1t only compicates them. No
ha hrn 1Crl1 I0o
without several weeks debate. It will take
| a good while to geta bill through the SEN
ate. The senate will pass one bill and
the house another, and there is no proba-
bility that the bills will be anywhere
near alike If the senate bill passes
first, it will come into the house and be
placed on the calendar below the house
bill, unless the senate bill is substituted
for it, of which there is no probability,
Will, when Wassed y go to the senate.
The senate will want TO stand by it's bill,
and the house will probably show the
same disposition. To harmonic the
differences between. the two houses will
be a very difficult task. There will not
be tune for great deal of tariff discus
sion. There are only eight weeks of the
session remaining, and the house has not
touched civil service reform yet or any
of the most important appropriation bills
have thought from the beginning, and
I think sonow, that Mr.. Morrill,, chair
man of the senate finance committee,
and Mr.. Kelley, chairman of the. ways
and means committee, do not want any
tariff legislation this session. I think
they have taken the right course to de-
feat such Legislation.
rr THE TOBACCO TAX.
The agitation of the question of reduc-
ing the tobacco tax has had a very
marked effect upon the revenue. It is
stated at the Office of the commissioner
of internal revenue that, while the to-
baeco tax this year until near the meet
ing Of congress yielded very consider
ably more than during the same period
last year, the falling off lately has been
so great that the revenue from the to-
bacco tax for the year will be nearly
S., 100000 less than it was last year.
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