The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-04-10
Our Washington Letter.
Special to the Democratic Press:
WASHINGTON, April 5, 1884


the tug of war. The conferees on the
part of the Senate will be Logan, Hale,
and Beck; for the House, Randall,
and Calkins. These are all
fighting men, and they will be tena-
cious of their positions. Hale will in
sist strenuously on the incorporation
of his bill as part of the Naval Appro-
priation bill, and will-be strenuously
opposed by Randall.
The Senate has already approved the
Hale bill by a large nlaJast CO and it is
now strengthened by the special mes
sage of the President urging the ap-
preparation to increase our naval force.
The Democratic majority in the House
is almost to man determined to give
Chandler no money to spend and hence
the deadlock may be obstinate.
The Naval Appropriation bill as
amended by the Senate will also be
without any legislation affecting the
personnel of the service. 1t will prob
ably be reported to the Senate next
Monday.
THE RIVER AND HARBOR BILL
The outline of the River and Harbor
Appropriation bill has at last been
completed and aggregates in the neigh
borhood of $l1 100000 to be divided
among the Mississippi, Missouri and
Ohio Rivers, and at the Atlantic, Pa
cific and Gulf harbors. Hearings have
been given to those in the interest of
the various localities needing or claim
ing improvement and others will APP
pear, the committee exercising its
judgment in allowances. 1t is expect
ed that the bill will be reported about
the 10th of April, up to which time
additions, notifications or changes
may be made. The estimate submit
ted by the Chief of Engineers for the
| next fiscal year was upwards of $780,
600, 900, but Secretary Lincoln made a
separate estimate, cutting the amount
down to about SIS, 100000.
THE RESULTS OF THE CAUCUS.
The Democratic caucus on the Nor
rison Tariff bill was more in the ma
ture of conference, as the determin-
ton of the majority was wisely not
made binding upon all present. 1t
had the good result of at least showing
what strength could be collected under
the bill as reported. That Mr.. Ran
dali was able to command fifty-seven
votes out of total of one hundred and
eighty-one is very significant, because
Mr.. Randall will also be supported by
a majority of the Republicans, among
whom he properly belongs on this tar
iff issue. But strength was shown be.
fore Mr.. Morrison or Mr.. Carlisle haS
made any CONCESSIONS, SO that it can
not be taken as conclusive.
PROBABLE REPEAL OF THE WHISKY
AND TOBACCO TAX.
1t is something to know that the
bill will in all likelihood be debated
and be subject to amendment. 1t i!
hardly probable that the Randall wing
will kill the bill before any debate cal
be had upon it. Yet these very privi
leges may result in defeating the OBJ
jects of the measure and accomplishing
something which was not at first en-
, tertaiDed by its supporters, and, stand
ing alone would not be entertained
the repeal of the taxes on brandy ant
. tobacco. 1t should be remembers,
that the law of March, 1888, took OF
twenty five million dollars year from
the revenue derived from tobacco. ant
this is a far greater reduction of bur
den i'm proportion than was effected Ol
all the tariff schedules.
FURTHER CONCESSIONS WILL BE MAD
1t is now about an even chance tina
/ further concessions must be made il
order to secure the passage of q bill il
the House. Then will come q Senat
in which the Republicans have ma
jority, aud in which the tariff has al
ready been discussed with meager re
suits for reform; finally, Republican
President who has shown great pres
ence of mind by advocating both tari1
reform and anti-tariff reform. 1t
quite conundrum Us to what chance
3 Mr.. Morrison has, anyway. But, afte
all, the main thing is to keep the sub
ject before the the people, discuss
j and so educate the voters on the prir
ciples involved, and this Mr.. Morriso
will assist in doing.
. sARGEA NT's TRANSLATION.
Sergeant has been trans ferred to S
! Petersburg for telling the truth an
shaming the German hog. He ais
s consorted with those under the ban {
! Bismarc's displeasnre. The immed
ately exciting cause was his famou
I! letter to the State Department On th
) pork question, in which, with quit
undiplOmatic freshness, he substantial
, ly charged Bismarck with lying |
saying he barred out our pork for sar
itary reasons, when in reality it ws
from wish to protect the home pre-
ducer. Then Sergeant did not spea
German and was not a scholar, Nc
yet a very elegant gentleman. /
short, Bismarck resented the use (
Germany as a convenience to pay
political debt by pensioning off p'
litical hack. The pork controvers
gave the Chancellor his opportunit,
and he used it for all it was worth.
Sargent now goes to a less puncti
oushzeOurt, and has not so trying
background, as his predecessors at 8
Petersburg have not been noted i,
9 : literary ability or craftsmanship. o.
. at least was recalled in disgrace fl
imprudent letter writing, and this ia
coupled with his own experience. wi
have a tendency to make him pruden
Mr.. Frelinghuysen telegraphed
Mr.. Sargent that the President a
proved entirely of his course i'm Il
Lasker business, and that the transit