The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-02-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, ID. c.,
Feb. ID. 1881

quietly forming an extra sesslcn.-
They recognize the fact that a revi-
sion must SOON come and believe that
their interests would fare better now
than when the gathering storm
against extreme protection and mon
opoly has obtained greater Roadway.
If the next congress should not meet
until December it may assemble I'M
der the pressure of general and sc
we're Industrial distress. If it does
it may be compelled by public and
general outcries for relief to adopt a
new tariff with so low a range OF du-
ties as would, these gentlemen be-
lieve, materially reduce teir fat pro-
fits and dividends. This position
has been assumed sub rosa since the
failure on the part of the republicans
to pass the legislative appropriation
bill without debate under a suspen-
sion of the rules in order to provide
for the application of the previous
question to the pending tariff bill.
This attempt was not the source of
much philadelphia to that side of
the house as the good sense of all
disinterested thinking persons con-
denim it. 1t may be safely said that
a great appropriation bill ought new
er to be passed without examination
and debate. 1t may be that this bill
contains less matter to provoke de-
bate than such bills usually contain,
but one of its paragraphs may be
mentioned as containing provisions
which ought to be discussed for the
enlightenment Of congress. The bill
provides for the continuance in Office
of the large force of clerks granted
last year for expediting the adjudica-
ton and payment of pension claims.
1t has recently been shown that the
payments in the three months before
these clerkSaGct at work amounted
to $24, DOC, 600, while in the follow
ing months they amounted to only
$4,000, 900. The reasons for this
condition of things may be good, but
congress and the people have a right
to an explanation of them. and the
passage Of the bill without debate
would allow none. The annual cost
of these additional clerks is more
than 81, $780, 00.
The most interesting and impress
i've speech yet heard in the senate
during the present session upon the
tariff bill was made on Wednesday
by Mr.. Lamar, of Mississippi, and
it was heard with deserved attention
by the democratic senators nearly
all of whom we're in their seats, while
the republican senators rather con
spicuously abandoned their places
and soughtthe comforts of the cloak
roo-. Mr.. Lamar is not a frequent
speaker. During the last session he
was absent a great deal of the time
kept at home by the illness of his
wife or himself. Since the meeting
of congress, in December, he has not
been well, and he vas scarcely strong
enough when he began to venture
safely upon the task of delivering Q
two hours speech. His reputation
is that of a student Of public affairs
He has a confirmed aversion to be
ing compelled to speak SO frequently
that he shall be forever repeating
trite common places. When he does
speak at length ne can always be.re
lied upon to say something thought
full. The speech on this occasion
was voted by political friends and
opponents alike q very able and tell
ing effort. The manuscript of the
deliberately prepared argument b,
started in to make was laid aside
and only touched at intervals. II
one instance he jumped twenty-five
pages, and substituted for the writ
ten matter an hours eXtemporaneou:
talk.
Secretary Folger is q good dea
J upset by Mr.. Perry Belmont's cruel
ly direct charges against his ap
praisers. After a few such exposure:
as will result from the facts collect
ed by Mr.. Belmont. the country vii
perhaps wake up to the knowledg,
that the whole treasury department
needs overhauling. The treasury
has grown disproportionately will
the other branches of the govern
ment. There is not such a tremen
dous difference between the state
war and navy departments of 1874;
and 1883 as to the amount of bust
ness transacted, but the treasur,
meanwhile has increased enormous
ly and the machinery has become
over-burdened, antiquated and in
adequate. Secretary Folger no doub
wishes that some of the numerou:
and troublesome bureaus could bt
allowed to cut loose from him ant
set up housekeeping for themselves
The bureau of statistics is exceed
ingly valuable; so much so that sen
ators and congressman are in th'
habit of sending % reunited messen
ger galloping down there for all kind:
of inform alton from the averag,
number of OSCILLATIONS of the plan
ent down to the necessary relation
between q wink and a drink. The
chief of the bureau, Mr.. Nimmo
sends them off happy with dead load:
of statistics, and has come to regard
himself about the most importan'
individual in existence.
All the recently defeated senators
have been here during the last week
also some of their newly elected sue
cessors. 1t is q little curious to note
the not altogether new fact that cap
ital rather than brains and fitness
constitute the distinguishing qualifi
cations of the successful candidates
Mr.. Window goes about rather de
pressed. 1t has been said that Mr.
Blaine takes a large share of the
credit of his defeat because Window
refused to let Blaine have his votes
at Chicago, but l do not know how
much interest the late plumed knight
took in the matter. 1t would hard
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