The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-03-03
Washington Letter.
ala.
W.sT,no TON, D. G., Feb. 10, 1888.

debate in the Horse OH tue thri" pii Ma
been written verbsstip N the Congress'on-
al Record; 1t has been criticised from
standpoints as varicss ~ 'he interests
which II touches, bus shere Is al occui'
history of Legislation that win never DC
published until the recosding aoAei iur
nishes the copy. Many nssm bers Of Con
gress know this, bu, they think the pub, i
cation will be too lato to affect their polii'.
cal fortune. II is believed that the MAORI
ty in the House has abandoned all in,en-
ton OF passing tariff bill this session,
from The fact that the Ways and Means
Committee have directed their chairman
to move to suspend the rules to-day and
pass bill to reduce Internal revenue tax
alton that will accord with bill for the
same purpose now pending in the Senate.
If the Democrats wish to do so they can
with about fifty tariff reform Republicans
pass the Senate tariff bill and it begins to
look as though this may be done.
A bill has been passed by the House ad-
ding one hour to the days labor for half
the year in all the Government offices. II
this measure can be enofrced It Will be
equivalent to the addition OF about 5000
clerks to the number already employed
and it will no. cost the Government . cent.
But how to make them work, that is the
question. would suggest that it he for
hidden to bring novels or newspapers into
any of the Government Offices, and that
conversation on all subjects, not actually
necessary to the business OF the
office, be prohibited 1t these rules had
been observed the passage of the addition
al hour bill would never have been
thought of. There is 40 honest, well in
formed man but knows that the present
clerical force could do all the work at their
desks by working steadily three hours i
day. And no honest, well informed man
but knows they have always failed to do 1t
by idlng gCssipiag and reading novels
the greater part of the time they are in Of
flee. The Government clerk considers
this imposition Of an additional hour 8
great hardship, but he has brought 1t on
himself, BY neglect of work. The work
got behind, and the Chiefs Of bureau, dear
SIMPLE souls, could think Of no remedy
but to get more clerks. 50 they said to
Congress: I'VE pray you give us some
more clerks" But Mr. Cannon, to whom
the request was referred, replied by the
J passage OF bill, give Us more work with
the clerks you already have" If Mr..
Cannon will turn Democrat he shall have
my support for the presidency OF the
United States.
Some precious hours were wasted last
week in eulogies over recently deceased
member OF Congress- This Is an ancient
custom and, believe, - common IN the
n Legislative bodies Of other countries, bu' il
Is entirely useless and senseless, and there
d. is disposition expressed by many mem
, bers and senators to either discontinue the
i observance or to enact that all funeral ora
Q lions shall be delivered at n special called
session ON Sunday. The Post Office De-
lpartment Is now draped IN black in honor
of Elk 2. NJ. General Marshall Jewell
This is another official custom that might
be- more honored in the breach than in the
observance, especially as il furnishes the
3 employees of the Department with an en-
=, cusc for holiday on the day of. the iune-
ra Of the deceased Cabinet Officer. Great
. men must die, but It IL not necessary 10
| put aside the affairs Of the whole people
of the United States for a day, or even for
an hour because death has reduced .hc
r number Of their hired men by one.
Secretary OF the Navy Chandler mas
] been trying 10 have the Revenue Vessels
a and service turned over to tle Navy De-
!. partment, (thia service is now under the
g control of the Secretary Of the Treasury,
but Secretary Folgcr argues against it and
appears to have The better of the argu-
D men, From statistics it appears that the
e vessels of the revenue marine, IN the
! course of the last ten years, have sailed
n 10000 miles, boarded and examined
Y 2Si, 900 vessels, seized 81 600 vessels for vi
! oations of law, assisted 800 vessels II
= distress, and saved TAI lives.
4 Although the amount OF work performed
!, has steadily increased from year to year
t the annual cost of the service has steadily
decreased from 81 $4,000 in 1868 to SSi6,
1000 in 1882 In seventeen years the Navy
II hes dwindled from 61j vessels tU 1879 yes
s se!s of all classes, although more thai
u $50 600 900 have been expended every yea
n for its maintenance. There are n TIT
:. Navy $50 officers not required 70 utlic.
+ the ships, who draw annually IN saIarle
nearly S2,008,000. In view Of such facts
= the reasons for The proposed transte
Ne should be carefully examined.
- ----------
GrIggs's GlYceslne 5aive
II The best on earth can be truly sud -
l. Griggs's Glycerne Saiye, which i sure eur
n f., cuts, bruises, scaids, burns, wounds, sn'
=, Ill, snr.u .psftiNaIy curp milo.