The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1884-04-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From otr regular correspondent. }
WASHINGTON, March. 18th. 1881.

ut the timo designated for taking up
tho Fitz John Porter bill, In tho Sem
ate or Wednesday, Senator Logan
would make another annual speech
In opposition. Spectators, largely
composed OF society ladies, filed every
seat In the galleries except part OF the
space upholstered in blue, which Is
dedicated to diplomatic dignity.
Many friends of Senator Logan and
family were present. But those who
came to hear the swarthy, fat, un-
grammatical Illinois orator, went
away disappointed. lie remained
silent. The Republican Senator from
New jersey, who has charge OF the
bill pleaded for Porter's vindIcation,
and was followed by Senator Wilson,
OF Iowa, who opposed the bill. On
Thursday the new Nebraska Senator
Mr.. Manderson had the floor for the
Porter bill hour, and made his de-
but In an argument against Gen. Por-
ter's claims. On Thursday the Por-
ter bill passed the Senate. The Sen
ate In executive session ratified the
commercial treaty with Mexico, and
1t was a notable coincidence that II
was done almost simultaneously with
the completion OF the railroad which
brings the Mexican capital Into COM
munIcation with the great trade cen
ters OF the United States.
The tariff issue has been formally
made up by the Introduction OF the
Morrison bill, and the presentation
OF the majority, and minority reports.
The former explains that the measure
Is expected to relieve tho people of
unnecessary taxation by decreasing
the revenues $3l, 100000. The mi
nority dissent from these views and
claim that the tariff legislation OF last
winter placed the rates as low as Is
consistent with due regard for the
protection of tho manufacturer and
the welfare of the laboring classes.
During the consideration of the
Post Office appropriation bill which Is
now pending la tho House of Repre-
sentatives, Congressman Townsend
OF Illinois gave tho Republicans some
effective thrusts that they could not
return. lie was aroused 10 war by
the remark OF Mr.. Skinner that the
Appropriation committee was parsi-
monious and niggardly, and that the
provisions OF the bill would cripple
the efficiency CT the mail service Mr..
Townsend had alluded 10 Inadequate
appropriatiousinade by tho last Re
publican Congress whereupon Mr..
Horr OF Michigan admonished the
Democrats not TO initiate the blunders.
but the virtues and beauties of the
Republican party. DIR. Townshend
said that no political organization
ever existed in any civilized coun try
that had record reeking with more
corruption than tho Republican party
has made In tho last fifteen years.
No party ever was so utterly desti-
tute OF political virtues, so unfaiihfuI
TO public trusts, 50 prolific In false pre-
tense and hypocricy. Here Mr.. Bel.
ford arose 10 interrupt the orator, but
the latter requested the gentleman
from Colorado to cont ain himself, and
continuing his attack, said no Amer
lean citizen could read the record oi
the Republican party without Grim
soaing with shame and humiliation
for his country. He recited, Chase,
Sumner, Seward, Andrew Johnson,
Lyman Trumbull, and others as brave
leaders, who had led the party to vic
tory, and who, when itfwas convert
ed into a spoils hunting clique, aban :
doned 1t and affiliated with the Dem
ocratic party, the only political or
ganizltion that had patriotic aims,
and sought to administer the Govern
ment In the interests of the people.
He alluded to the thriving Of the star
route contractors as one of the sad
dest episodes OF any mal-adminlstra-
tion to the Credit MobiIer band, the
post trader plunderers, the whisky
ring, as we'll as many other raids on
the Treasury to tho crimes of thai
party against the sacred rights oi
suffrage its debauching Of the bal
lot box, and its never to be pardoned
sin of deprlving the nation of its right
fully elected President, by fraud,
| perjury, and forgery. He closed by
saying with such damnnig record
the party prates of its virtues"
| The Senate has been talking about
establishing a Bureau of Labor Stat
istics, and has also given some atten-
ton to the pleuro-pneumonia bill,
but without result In either case. Il
must not be supposed that the foreign
grievances of the American hog have
been lost sight of, because he has moi
been so prominently before the pub
lie of late. His demands are still 6
subject for earnest deliberation in the
l 2nnafo onnanniIkno On Roroinn rola-