The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-04-04


ity of some of the Oldest and most experienced
Senators and Congressman, that the Congress
which had just closed had been distinguished for
its close aDpl cation TO work. There had been no
waste Of time; not even teen a single adjourn
mens over from Friday TO Monday, owing 10 the
short session. and fri quently both House and
Senate had been engaged throughout the whole
day and far into the night.
The Shoe and Leather Reporter, publica-
ton devoted to business, entirely non-parti-
san, and conducted with marked ability, re-
fers to the Forty-seventh Congress as follows:
1t is an unwelcome duty to pronounce an elegy
when the body that lies beneath the pail awakens
no tender, nor even respectful memories. 1t
would be pslpable sffectation to express Esen-'
timent of regret over the demise of the Forty-sev
enth Congress. 1t requires, indeed. q spirit of
charitable forbearance to refrain from something
like bitterness In reviewing its history. Whether
we turn our attention to its positive or its mega
tive faults-to Its sins of omission or of commits
sion, the record is equally repulsive. In
the matter Of its beginning the Fortyseyenth Con-
gress was very much like the great majority OF
those that have preceded It. There were the same
delays in getting into actual motion, the same
dswdling and frittering away of time the same
short sessions and long holidays, the same inter
minable procession of speeches, that are deliv-
cred but not listened to, printed but not read;
the same oblations upon tho altar OF buncombe,
in the form of resolutions that supplemental
and propositions that are imprecticable. Thus
the winter passed away, and spring was well nigh
over before anything done except in the way
OF special legislation for the benefit Of individ-
uals or corporations. In the expiring
hours of its existence this dilatory body was
seized with a spasm of industry that prevented
the short session from being wholly abortive. A
tariff bill carried through at the last moment
by the help of Joint Committee of Conference.
which is so much of q tumble that nobody can
tell whether it will reduce or increase the reve-
nue.. 1t taxes materials to extent which
is defiant OF the principles OF political economy,
and will necessarily have an injurious effect
upon labor.
Reporter does not have q very exalted
opinion OF the Forty-seventh Congress, and
it may be asserted that there is not bust
ness publication in the land which does not
take equally strong grounds against Senator
Harrison's estimate of that body. Senator
Harrison was evidently greatly embarrassed
by his two or three immense packets of
correspondence" Emerson once wrote:
Earth proudly wears the Parthenon
AS the best gem upon her zone;
And morning 0pes with haste her lids
To gaze upon the pyramids"
II is safe to wager something nice, if En-
erson had lived to see those 1.-TWO or three
immense packets" of Senator Harrison's
- H. a..
Earth proudly wears her Harrison,
Whose packets. beyond com paYison.
Would make the morning smile and smile,
When peeplng at the wondrous pile.
Still, the Senator found time to say that
the tariff bill, which passed the Senate and
the House, did not satisfy all the people, and
that the fact was not surprising" Notwith
standing, the Senator thought it was good
thing and would reduce taxes about $40, OOO.-
600, but just how the reduction would be
brought about for the benefit of laboring
men, the Senator did not pretend 10 say,
even if he knew. Mr.. W. 2. Fishback, one
Of Senator Harrison's distinguished Repub-
lican constituents, does not agree with Sena-
tor Harrison; on the contrary. Mr.. Fish
back takes the Democratic view of the tariff
Dllls anu III uAd Opcl 1tttcE " IcCllc,
which might just as well have been address
ed to Senator Harrison, criticises as follows:
Who was IL that insisted 20 per cent ad
valorem tax on soap, 20 per cent. on tanbark.
twenty five cents gallon on linseed OIL Is TO 80
per cent on brown earthenware and crockery, 80
per cent on slate pencils, four cents pound on
horseshoe nails. 40 per cent. on hand-saws. rs
per cent on knitting. darning and sewing
needles, heavy tax on boards lath and
shingles, two and a half to three cents
per pound on sugar and eight cents
on a gallon Of molasses. and a heavy tax on
a garment Of WOOL cotton. linen or leather.
which a poor man must wear? You
tax his shoes, his stockings. the needle that
knits his socds. his drawers. his shirt. his
salt which cures his bacon, but refund the tax If
the sailed meat is sent abroad to be consumed by
foreigners. Now, If these taxes are necessary
they should be imposed without fear and they
would be borne without murmur But the
people have sense enough TO see that they are
unnecess airy and oppressive. Worse than this, 1t
is morally certain that most of these taxes are
i'm posed at the suggestion IL not the dictation, OF
rich men who maintain a powerful lobby at the
National Capital The effect OF such legislation
is to make the rich richer and the poor poorer.
Can the Republican party live on its reminis-
cences while it continues to perpetrate such folly
and wickedness7
1t will be observed that Mr.. Fishback's
open letter is almost as Immense" as Sens-
tor HarrisOn's two or three packets of cor
respondence,' but, strange to say, our es-
teemed contemporaries, the Journal and the
Times, have failed to see Mr. Fishbacks
open letter. AS the matter stands, it is de-
cidedly interesting, particularly for Demo
Gratis. We shall doubtless take occasion to
refer to Senator Harrison's tariff record
again. though at this writing we are disposed
to give him time to dispose of his ''two or
three immense packets of correspondence.
GUARDING GARFIELD'S TOMB.
The remains of James A. Garfield, late
President, repose in Lake View Cemetery.
We believe the body of the distinguished
man has been embalmed. 1t Is under lock
and KEY. It would seem to be within the
province of mechanical skill, with the aid
of granite and iron, to make the resting
Mace of the dead President secure from