Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1884-01-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent. I

A'" puA
.tf. ........ JANUARY, 10, 1884.
! The first week in Congress after
the Christmas holidays was marked
by the presentation Of large num-
ber of bills. Important progress
was made with work in the various
committees. Some speeches relat-
ing to the tariff were delivered in the
Senate. Senator Cullom, of Illinois,
made an anti-poligamy speech, upon
which he was heartily congratulated
by hoth Democratic and Republican
Senators. A bill was passed appro-
priatlng 81, ,00O, 900 for the improve
ments Of the Mississippi River. In
the debate on the Mississippi River
bill Senator Plumb, Of Kansas, threw
out suggestion that may he worth
considering. He thinks there should
not only be continuous lines Of
levees on both sides, but that they
should be surmounted by railroads
to keep them in repair.
Senator Hill, Of Colorado, has sug-
gested bill for the erection of build
ings by the U. S. Government In ev-
cry town, city and q village with a
population of not less than one
thousand. The scheme is heroic
remedy for the relief Of the obese
and dyspeptic U. s. Treasury. Put
ting the cost Of a convenient and
substantial building, including land,
at an average of $4,000. The bill
calls for an expenditure of about
$50, 900, 900. No money could be
more wisely expended. More than
the interest On such a sum Is now
disbursed for rent, and in a large
number of places the post-office ac-
commodations are shabby and incon-
venient and derogatory to the char
acter Of the government. Wherever
the Federal Government comes IN
contact with the people not only.
should the official be respectable,
but his surroundings such as to in
spire and secure the respect Of the
people. Other Senators and Repre-
sentatives have introduced bills pro-
viding for the erection of a large
number of public buildings in differ
ent parts of the country.
Senator Morgan, of Alabama, re-
marked in q speech last week: eve
have now reached q point when We
have rich government and a poor
people. While the people are cry
ing out for relief from taxation, Con-
gressmen are taxing THEN ingenuity
to fpd ways aud means to spend
surplus revenues. a.,1
The Commerce Committee, have at
once tackled Chairman Reagan's IA
vorite measure, the interstate COM
merce bill, and set aparta a week from
January "a for debate nPen its
merits by outside parties The rail-
road men will be heard first, and
then persons whose interest are ans
tagonistic to the roads, These dis
cussions have, in the past, brought
first-class talent to the. committee
rooms, and been of educational ser
vice to the country, If barren thus
far in legislation. The railroads put
forward their best spokesman, such
as Mr.. McYeagh for the Pennsylyia !;
Mr.. Depew, for the Central; Com
missioner Fink and Mr.. Blanchard,
while the anti-railroad forces are led
generally by. Mr.. Thurber. Thus
far the railroads have succeeded In
postRoulpg all legislation distasteful
to them that Judge Reaganproposes !;
but that gentleman does not lose
heart, and with greater freedom in
committee and sympathetic House
he may be able, this winter, to send
his long delayed bill to the Senate.
Its chances there, however are not
very good. ass nsaa3lfgsQ eaaog
There has been much talk during
the week of dlscord in the Demo-
cratic ranks, but on many points
there is substantial accord, and on
soIne OF those points its policy has
been clearly foreshadowed.i Itlris
altogether improbable thatthe affirm
ative lesrislatiou naked far bxt the ssa.