The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-01-24
FrUu Regular Correspondent.
WARRINGTON LETTER
WAsHrNGroN, Jan. IL.

WARRINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Jan. IL.
Congress has yet over forty days
of life remaining. The tariff bill
in all its complications, together
with the appropriation bills, will
demand much Of this brief time.
while the bill for reduction of taxa
ton comes limping behind. 1t will
require vigilance, tact, and parlia-
mentary skill on the part of the Re-
publicans to secure the passage of
the last named measure; but, if Mr..
Pendleton and his Democratic
friends could only have been as
happy on this subject as they were
on their civil service reform hobby
horse, there would have been a bet
ter prospect for the accomplishment
Of the desired result.
The Senate in its discussion on
the tariff bill will probably not reach
q decision before the end of next
week. On the other hand, the
House Ways and Means Committee
will to day submit Chairman Kel-
ley's req ort on this question. The
latter report differs materially from
that under consideration in the Sem
ate, and in view of this early diff
ference, it is pretty safe to say that
the 4th of March will find congress
no nearer a solution of this import
ant measure. Those who are most
interested do moi want any change
in the tariff duties except such as
will be beneficial to themselves, and
they have their representatives Oh
hand to promote and guide the &C
ton of Congress. The doorkeeper
on the east side of the House of
Representatives hall, in view of the
Ways and Means Committee, can
tell to q nicely what the committee
10 doing, by the class of visitors.
One day the barbed wire men are
on hand button holeing the mem
bers as they come and 60; another
day the tobacco men n~onopollze the
time and space. Then the sugar re-
timers arrive, followed by the tin
men and the plate glass manufac-
turers.
Yesterday the ship builders and
the distillers Joined the throng per
yadiDg tho southern portion of the
building. and were on the alert To
torture the poor distracted members
of the Ways and Means Commit
tee.
The whiskey men do not find their
path one of unalloyed happiness.
Pitfalls abound, aud although the
whiskey lobby is hopeful, it is not
over confident. The representatives
from the moonshining districts do
not want to wait "a minute, and the
shrewdest members of the hiskey
interests experience great difficulty
in REFRESHING such school boy" ex-
uberance.
Nothing of more importance has
been considered at this session OF
Congress than the shipping bill,
which engaged the attention of the
House for the whole week. This
measure should not be acted upon
without profound deliberatlon, and
such cannot be obtained in the
present limited time. The fact is
apparent tina: those subjects which
are of the least public importance
receive the most public attention,
and this to the detriment of more
deserving legislation. The merchant
marine is in such a weak state that
the calm judgment and best possi-
bic discretion Of Legislators is nee
essary in the treatment OF this sub
ject. 1t is to be hoped that the ship
ping bill may tend TO the accom-
plishment OF SOME relief from our
present status on the ocean,
In face of the direct recommend
alton Of the Secretary of War against
the usual river and harbor bill for
this year. the House Committee on
Commerce has resolved to have
daily meetings and proceed to the
preparation of the customary bill.
1t must be that those members who
will be unceremoniously relegated
to their homes on the 4th of March,
wish to take a parting dip into this
annual grab bag; but it is also GER
tain that very decided opposition
will be shown in both houses of.
Congress against opening the vaults
Of the treasury to appropriate mon
ey for any present further improve
ment of the rivers and harbors-Or
rather, creeks and ponds of this
country.
Now that the Fitz john Porter
bill has passed the Senate, it might
he we'll to ascertain the prevailing
sentiment in the House. Republic
cans generally oppose the bill. A
prominent Democrat General gave
as his opinion that if the bill could
be reached it would be passed. He
added in conclusion that the bill
would never be reached, but would
be indefinitely postponed in favor
of more pressing legislation.
The idea which actuated the Gen.
ate when it passed the President.
Succession bill was that it would be
better 10 have poor legislation than
none at all. The bill is not perfect
by any means. yet it Is conceded to
he a step in the right direction. and
affords relief from very juslifiable
apprehensions on this subject