The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular Correspondents
WASHINGTON, ID, g.. January 9. 1884.

WASHINGTON, ID. C., January o, 1883.
While the Fitz John Porter issue has
received earnest pressure IN the Senate,
the House has been dilatorily attending
to the enormous amount Of work before
that body. With the exception of the
Army Appropriation Bill, nothing but
minor important bills has been consid-
cred in the House. Even with the Army
bill, and time az precious as it is, the
House could not refrain from indulging
in clap-trap political "reminiscences. Mr..
Hewitt, of n. ", "started the ball Il
rolling" by accusing the Republicans
OF purposely cutting down appropria-
tons with the view Of leaving deticien.
cics at the close of the year to be sup
piled by the next Democratic Congress
Finally Mr.. Cox of N. V, with abortive
wit, shocked the best sense of the House
by referring in his speech to the Guitcau
doggerel " I'm going to the Lordy."
While the Republicans Kissed him, and
. the Democrats were rather inclined to
blush for him, no one could see the APP
plication for the so-called wit. Mr..
Reed, of Maine, in concluding the de-
bate on the bill, referred to the speech
OF two (M.ssrs. Randall and Cox of the
most prominent candidates for the next
Speakership and said if their remarks
We're intended to bring IN votes for the
Speakcrship then he would like to hear
from the remaining candidates for that
position.
Of the three days debate in the Senate
on the Fitz John Porter Bill, Mr.. Logan
OF Ills, devoted all but one half Of u
day to his speech antagonistic to Porter.
Much has been written of this speech,
but little can be said against it. Mr..
Logan did not show any personal vim
dlctiveness against Porter, but presented
his array of facts, obtained from evid.
ence in the case. He spoke as if he
understood it, and that is more than can
be said of those who vote tor the bill.
The supporters Of this measure tried to
bring it up Yesterday, but it was finally
laid aside to be considered one week
hence.
The passage of the Pendleton Civil
Service bill through the House yester-
day without amendment was a surprise
to all and disappointment to half a
hundred sons of thunder who had pre-
pared speeches on the subject. The
bill will doubtless receive the Presidents
signature and Mr.. Pendleton feels that
he has made an immense stride towards
the White House. Bat there's many
a slip y
The whiskey men are rejoicing with
exceeding joy; they won decided VIC
tory in the Senate on Thursday, and they
expect to have equal success in the
House. It is believed and feared that
they will have the support Of many
members who have been counted upon
to oppose them.
Several petitions were presented in
the Senate adding to the large number
already on hand, for constitutional
amendment to prohibit the manufacture
and sale of intoxicating liquors. Not.
withstanding these petitions which are
continually submitted to both houses,
Congress does not heed them, but goes
on legislating for the whiskey interests.
An illustration of the fact is found in the
whiskey bond bill which has just passed
the Senate. Indeed, the inconsistency
OF some members of Congress is ap-
parent from the way they present petit
lions against liquor, and then vote di-
rectly to help the interests Of liquor
men.
The Ways and Means committee of
the House is working away and taking
pains enough to make a very perfect
tariff list; but there is danger that revi.
sion of the tariff will not revise that
after looking at rice-flour with micro
scope and giving cotton manufactures a
new classification, the appraisers will
still go on using their old copies Of
L" Heyl's Imports" with no reason in
Law for not doing so.
AS it generally does in everything
else, the Senate got ahead of the House
on tariff Legislation, for IN the Senate
yesterday Mr.. Morrill, reported from the
finance committee the bill for the revi-
sion of the tariff, and the bill was i'm
mediately sent to the printer. The
general tenor of the bill is revision in
nearly every branch OF commerce. 1t is
thought that the early action of the
Senate will prevent the House from
overworking itself on the tariff question,
for the latter body will now. await the
printing of the Senate bill, so as to oh.
tain points to guide the House in any fu.
ture action.