Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-02-14
From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, ID. c., Feb. 10, e

WaSnlnglOu, ~. ~, IcD' w. oo'
Among the long-headed protection
lists here, both in congress and in the
lobby, are quite number who, now
that the passage of tariff bill before
March 4th is impossible, are quietly
forming an extra session. They rec
ognize the fact that q revision must
soon come and believe that their inter-
ests would fare better now than when
the gathering storm against extreme
protection and monopoly has obtained
greater Roadway. If the next congress
should not meet until December it may
assemble under the pressure of general
and severe industrial distress. If it
does it may be compelled by public and
general entries for relief to adopt a
new tariff with so low range of duties
as would. these gentlemen believe, ma
terially reduce their lat profits and div
idends. This position has been as
sumod sub rosa since the failure on the
part of the republicans to pass the leg
islative appropriation bill without de-
bate under a suspension 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 political capital 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 never to
be passed without examination and de-
bate. 1t may be that this bill contains
less matter to provoke debate 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 eXpedit-
ing the adjudication and payment of
pension claims. 1t has recently been
shown that the payments in the three
months before these clerks got at work
amounted to S2l 100000. while in the
following months they amounted to
only $l0.00O,000. The reasons for
this condition of things may be good,
but congress and the people have
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. 100000.
The most interesting and impressive
speech yet heard in the senate during
the present session upon the tariff bill
was made on Wednesday by Mr.. La
mar. of Mississippi, and it was heard
with deserved attention by the demo-
cratic senator's, nearly all of whom
were in their seats, while the republi-
can senators rather conspicuously aban-
doned their places and sought the COM
forts of the cloak room. Mr.. Lamar
is not frequent speaker. During the
last session he was absent great deal
OF the time-kept at home by the i'll
ness of his wife or himself. Since the
meeting of congress, in December, he
has not been well, and he was scarcely
strong enough when he began to VEN
ture safely upon the task of delivering
d two hours speech. His reputation
is that OF student of public affairs.
lie has confirmed aversion to being
compelled to speak so frequently that
he shall be forever repeating trite COM
mon places. When he does speak at
length he can always be relied upon to
say Somethin. thoughtful. The speech
on this occasion was voted by political
friends and opponents alike very able
and telling effort.
Secretary Folger is good deal up
set by Mr.. Perre Belmont's cruelty d.
rect charges against its appraisers.
After few such exposures as will re-
suit from the facts collected by Mr..
Belmont the country will perhaps wake
up to the knowledge that the whole
treasury department needs overhauling.
The treasury has grown disproportion-
ately with the other branches of the
government. There is not such tre-
mendous difference between the state,
war and navy departments of 1043
and 1888 as to the amount of business
transacted, but the treasury meanwhile
mas increased enormously and the ma
chinery has become over-burdened, an.
tiquated and inadequate. Secretary
Folger no doubt wishes that some of
the numerous and troublesome bureaus
could be allowed to cut loose from him
and set up housekeeping for themselves.
The bureau of statistics is exceedingly |
valuable, SO much SO that senators and
congressman are in the habit of send
ing mounted messenger galloping
down there for all kinds of informa-
ton from the average number of occul-
tations Of the planets down to the nee
essary relation between wink and q
drink. The chief of the bereau, Mr..
Ninmo, sends them off happy with