The Portland daily press., 1884-01-12
WASHINGTON.
The Division i'm the Democra,ic M,

Ehe Division i'm the Democratic Ranks.
The Hous- Democrats have arrived at the
parllDgof the ways, and do not know which
way 10 turn There was an adjournment over
till Monday, nominaly TO enable the comnit-
tees to have more time to perfect measures, al
though the FitZ john Porter bill is ready, aud
1t is subject upon which there will be much
ak. There had been talk of a caucus, but no
caucus was announced. AS the TWO factions
IN the Democratic party appro tsh the tar fl
questioa, their paths seem to more widely di.
verge. Mr.. Morrison has proceeded 30 far in
the ways and means committee as to appoint
bis subcommittee, but that settles nothing as
to the tariff, for it was decided that the tariff
IS so great question that it should be consid-
srsd in the committee of the WHOLE From
tn6 1nfurmat conferences in the wavs and
means comml tee, it is apparent that the DEM
ocrat members consider the tariff question 10
party sense, possibly of much greater mo-
ment than they did during the SpeakarsI,i.,3
Campaign. Mr.. Morrison is not only opposed
by the Republicans, but he has two sets of
opinions among the Democrats ON the commits
tee, notwithstan nding the fact that it was as
sctned that but one of the factions in the De-
moctacy was represented on the committee
Mr. Hurd, Tor instance, will not be SATISFIED
4 b anything but proposition to thoroug hly
revise the tariff. Mr.. Mills more nearly agrees
Win him than he does with any one else Mr.
Hewitt, TN the contrary, is decidedly rot 10
favor OF complete revision of the tariff now,
and as stated that IL is not necessary or wise
to do that, when the tariff was revised after
fashion within year. He is at The same
time convinced that letter writing will not sat
isfy the demands of his party that something
shall be done.
Ii the rumors as to Mr.. Hewitt's political
ambitlon are true, he may be straight be-
twixt two. The Ways and Means COMMITTEE
according to accepted gossip, has two Demo-
era 1c Preside ntial Standardization and
Hewitt. Morrison stands on his own plat
form, that of positive reduction along the
whole list, which he hopes TO effect without
disturbing the business interests. Hewitt
seems to seek to sta I'd IN platform which is
cross between that of Morrison aud that OF
Randall. He wishes free trade, bul not the
tree trade OF the Frank Hurd school The
Democratic member of the Ways and Means
Commiltee are engaged in preliminary skir-
m1Sh on Presidential platform-making.
Trying to Read Randall Out of fhe Party.
There is another element of disturbance.
The divisions referred TO are among those who
are IN favor of some revision of the tsr. f. 1t
is not to be forgotten that Mr.. Randall had 81
votes in caucus, and that those votes are likel,
10 be cast pretty solidiy with him upon auy
proposition respecting the tariff Yet there
Ras heel. talk IN circles very near TO the Speak
or OF ''reading Randall Of the party
Yes" Sal one of RaDdall's peafesS--fsfriigrdg
tonight, they are even talking Of reading
Randall out OF the party, and the men who are
doing II are tue men who Were prominent in
heir Efforts TO take the South out OF the
Union. They are defsing the platforms Of
onlo, prglula, New Jersey and other Dem
ocratlc States. Gov. Brown of T, ,nnessee said.
when they elected Car isle: we have elected
Speaker and lost the Presidency and We
nave done 1t. With such signs of discomfort
among the Democrats as this the House has
adjourned over until Monday to reflect.
Postal Matters.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1l.-At meeting of the
nnkksR Rft 1staI4 4faer AZ.
Mr.. Money was authorized 10 report 10 the
House favorable action on the bill making all
puollc r ads and highways post routes and
giving the Postmaster General power to estab-
Ilsh postal service whenever, in his Judgment.
tbe public welfare required it.
The bills of Messrs Anderson and Snmnar
relative to the postal telegraph, were referred
To the su6-conmlttee having in charge that
SUBJECT Mr.. Bingham, member of the suu-
com nittee, says no action towards formula
ing bill will be- taken for ten days or more,
During the iuterim an effort will be made to
secure data upon which the sub-committe
may work.
Another Bond Call.
The Secretary of the Treasury will probably
issue Call for $10,000.000 three per cent
bonds tomorrow.
Senate Combinations.
The Senate today confirmed the following
nominations:
Alfred Il. jacques, to be postmaster at Will
ton, N. II.
Joseph Z. Jones, to be assistant appraiser
for the district of Boston.
Miscellaneous.
force pump In the United States tug Nav
flower, at the Washington navy yard, burst
Wednesday evening, and the vessel sunk. She
.now lies with ouly her smoke-stack and pilot
house exposed.
Chief Engineer Melville was before the
Greely Relief Board today for the purpose OF
correcting his testimony and making some sd-
dil1onal suggestion as to the fitting out of the
proposed re ief expedition.
Representative Morse's bill, providing for
the purchase of patented ballot boxes at S25
each, for precincts at the election of con-
gressmen was acted upon unfavorably.
All the members were present at the Cabinet
meeting today. Considerable routine business
was transacted, but no questions Of imp ortance
were considered.
The Secretary of the Treasure has decided
that wraps shall pay duty of 80 per cent ad
valorem under the provisions of the new tariff
relating to spun silk and not duty as manu-
factured slk.
Secretary Folger has directed revision to
be made of customs regulations issued in 1874
with view to preparation of new set OF
regulations more in accordance with the new
tariff