The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-01-13
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Congressional Proceedings and Other Mat
ters of Interest at the National Capital.
WASHINGTON, D. c., January 6, 1882.

WASHINGTON, D. c., January 8, 1882
EDITOR CHIEF:
While the Fitz John Porter Issue ha
received earnest pressure in the Senate
the House has been dilatorily attcndin.
to the enormous amount of work befor,
that body. With the exception of til,
Army Appropriation bill, nothing bu
minor important bills has been con
sidered in the House. Even with til.
Army bill, and time as precious rs it is
the House could not refrain frem indulg
ing in clap-trap political "reminiscences
Mr.. Hewitt Of New York started tho bal
a-rolling" by accusing the Republicans
of purposely cutting down appropriations
with the view of leaving deficiencies al
the close of the year to be supplied by
the next Democratic Congress. Finally
Mr.. Cox of New York, with abortive wit
shocked the best sense of the House by
referring in bis speech to the Guiteau
doggerel, "Pm going to tho Lordy.'
While the Republicans Missed him, and
the Democrats were rather inclined to
blush for him, not one could see the
application for the so-ca1led wit. Mr.
Reed III concluding the debate on the
| bill, referred to the speech of two Messrs.
Randall and Cox) of the most prominent
candidates for the next Speakership and
said if their remarks were intended to
bring in votes for the Speakership then
he would like to hear from tho remaining
candidates for that position
OF the three days debate In tho Senate
on the Ftz John Porter bill, MIR. Logan
of Illinois devoted all but one-half of a
! 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:
dictiveness against Porter. but presented
his array of facts, obtained from evidence
in the case. He spoke as if he under
stood it, and thut is more than can be
said of those who vote for the bill. The
supporters of this measure tried to bring
it mp yesterday, but it was finally laid
aside to be considered ono week hence.
The passage Of the Pendleton Civil
Service bill through the House yesterday
without amendment was surprise to all
and disappointment to half hundred
sons of thunder who had prepared
speeches on the subject. The bill will
doubtless receive the Presidents sigma
ture and Mr.. Pendleton feels that he has
made an immense stride towards the
White House; but there's many q slip"
The whiskey mon are rejoicing with
exceeding joy; they won a decided
victory in the Senate en- Thursday, and
they expect to have equal success in the
House. 1t 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
Son ate, adding to the large number
already ON hand, for a constitutional
amendment to prohibit the manufacture
and sale of intoxicating liquors. Not
withstanding these petitions which are
continually submitted to both houses,
Congress Dies not heed them, but goes
oil let islating for the wlliskey interests.
An illustration Of this fact is found in
the whiskey bond bill which has just
passed the Senate. Indeed, the incon-
sistency of some members Of Congress is
apparent from the way they present
petitions against liqnor, and then vote
directly to help the interests Of liqnor
men.
The Ways and Means Committee of
the House is working away and taking
pains enough to make very perfect
tariff list; but there is danger that revi-
sion of the tariff will not revise, that
after looking at rice flour with n micro
scope and giving cotton manufactures a
new classification, the appraisers will
still go Oh nsing their old copies of
Heyfs Imports with no reason in la W
for not doing so.
AS it generally does in everything else,
the Senate got ahead Of the House on
tariff legislation, for in tho Senate yes
tsrday Mr.. Morrill, reported from the
finance committee the bill for the revi-
sion of the tariff, and the bill was imme-
diately sent 10 the printer. The general
tenor Of the bill is a 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, fer tho latter
body will now await the printing of the
Senate bill, SO as to obtain points to
gnide the House in any future action.
The reduction Of the public debt for
the month of December amounted to
almost $500, 900, making the decrease
for the first half of the fiscal year more
than ssl 100000. The large decrease
in the past month is accounted for by u
remarkable decrease in tue ordinary ex-
penditures. The Secretary of the Trea-
sury estimates the surplus for the year
at s12O,0oO,000.
The House on Thursday passed the
Army Appropriation bill.
Yours, SENTINEL.
When physicians have made use of prescrip-
ton for years in their private practice with
certain success. it is duty they owe to man.