Arizona weekly citizen., 1884-04-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
A Summary of the News OT the
 Week.
The Tariff BilI-Work LaggInE--BiIl
 Passed-General Gossip.
om our regular Correspondent.l
WAsHrYarnS. Anril & 1ss4

WAsHISGrON, April <, loSA
 Although the Senate has devoted more than two weeks to the educational bill, the great and far-reacEing ques- tions which it opens up continue 10 fur nish matter for debate. It IS conceded to be as important a measure ss was ever brought before Congress in time of peace, and prominent jurists of the same political faith, find themselves un- able to agree on the constitutional au- thority for appropriating money from the national treasury to aid the public schools of the States. A large number of Senators have contributed to the de bate, and most of the speeches have been weighty in thought and excellent in temper. The most notable efforts of the week were the arguments made by Senators Peldleton. Bayard and MOr- gan, each sympat1lZlng with the object of the bill, but opposing 1t on cOnstitu- tiOnal grounds. Senator Bayari said that never before had the conflict be- tween inclination and duty been SD great within him Gs ID this matter. Senator Beck's position was that if tariff taxa ton were removed all the States could attend to the education of their own children. Senator Williams spoke earn estly in favor of the bill, and Senators HOar and Harrison proposed amend ments to 1t. Another Senator, while speaking on the subject, made the re- sl.rA .Ns.4 . AG.H District of Columbia were as well edu- cated as the general run of people, Con- gress had to deprive everybody here of the right of suffrage in order 10 prevent the negroes from running all local inter ests. To-day Senator Hale wanted to displace the educational bill in order to take up the naval appropriation, but Senator Blair expressed the hope that the Senate would consider his measure as important as any other, and plead that it be disposed of so that the House of Represent tatives might take action on It before the final adjournment
 The Senate passed several bills with out debate during the week Among them was the House bill making it a felony for a person falsely to pretend to be an officer of the United States gcv- ernment. Ihe penalty prescribed IS a fine of not more than S1,000, or imPris- onment not longer than three years. \ bill was pres ented for the establishment of a bureau of silk culture, and the State board of silk culture of California petitioned Congress for that purpose.
 In the House Cf Representatives a cOmmendab.e move was made on Satur- day through a resolution offered by NIT. Buckner, oi Missouri, providing that after the middle of April the hour for the daily meeting of the House shall be r o'clock, instead of l2 as heretofore. Congress is so far behind with the ses- siOn's work that it may well put in another business hour.
 Three important measures passed the House during the week. They were the bill to retire the trade dollar, and the Indian and agricultural appropriations, each of winch gave rise to come inter esting debate. Another question briefly discussed was the expediencY Of legisla- tion to prevent the manufacture ot adulterated food; and still another was the employment of additional force for folding the campaign documents that are soon to flood the country. Some private bills were disposed of ; eighteen pension bills were passed. and the last measure taken up was the bill forfeltlng the Oregon Central railroad grant. in volviug over a million acres. There being no action the matter went over to be debated further
 The local Republicans are all active now in their quadrenni8l contest over the election of delegates to the National convention. There k also a little agita- tion iu Dem ocratic ranks over the matter of their delegates but not half of the excitement that prevails n Republican quarters. The reason for this difference is that the District Republican delegates vote in the convention, while the Dem ocrstic delegates are only allowed seats as honorary lockers on. The two Dis trict votes are therefore of considerable importance, and the partisans of differ ent Presidential candidates are working hard to secure their men
 President Arthur is not neglected these days socially, politically or official ly. Daily be has steady stream of visitors, and on Saturday. besides recelv- ing q number of private personal friends, he had calls from eight Senators, one ex- Senator, ten Representatives, and one Cabinet officer. The most notable feat ure at a reunion of a military order the other evening was,the appearance of General Grant, who hobbled h on crutches and responded to toast in a manner that showed what time and practice nay do for orstOry. He looks much older than when he left the White House eight years ago.