The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-03-22
Our Washington Letter.
( From our Regular Correspondent
March 18th 1884

Ihe SENATE has spent much time
this week in secret sessions, the result
of which has been the ratification of
the reciprocity treaty with Mexico by
two thirds vote. Neither geographic
cal nor political lines were drawn in
this decision, the main contest being
over the admission of sugar from Mex
leo free OF duty. OF course the Lou
isiana Senators opposed the treaty
warmly, but those from Texas, and
the Mississippi favored it. The Up
per House also had under considera-
ton the subject of furnishing by pub
lie methods information on economic
questions through the establishment of
a bureau of labor statistics. The pro-
position to consolidate such bureau
with the Department of the Interior
aroused the opposition of Senator In
gals, who claimed that the duties of
the Secretary of that department were
already inordinate, and that it was not
advisable to add to them through an
attempt at economy. The head of
that Department has charge of the
public lands of the United States, of
Indian affairs, of the Pension system,
of Patents of Education, of Railroads,
of the Geographical survey of the
country, and its Census. The Kansas
Senator held that the affairs of many
kingdom, ancient, and modern haye
been less important, and less momen-
tous than those now administered BY
the Secretary OF the Interior. Sena-
to" Van Wyck took the position that
such a collection of statistics would
never be read, and complained that
an expensive commission or bureau
was the universal panacea for every
feeling that required attention in this
country. He said it was true labor
required something it did not have,
but that something was relief from
taxation, some protection to save it
from paying into the Treasury of the
United States the same amount Of
money that Gould or Vanderbilt pays
Senator Blair defined the proper sub
ject- matter Of the Investigations of a
bureau of labor statistics to be what
ever appertains to the laborer under
the conditions of American life, what
ever is nscessary for the amelioration
of his condition physically, socially,
morally, and Intellectually.
In the House Of Representatives the
tariff and post office bills have been
prominent features of the week. The
long expected measure to reduce I'm
port Duties and War Tariff Taxes was
reported by Chairman Morrison Oh
| Tuesday, together with report pre-
pared by him in behalf of the majority,
and one by Mr. Mckinley, represent
ing the views of the Ways and Means
committee. The division was on strict
party lines, eight Democrats signing
Mr.. Morrison's report and five lepub-
licans that of Mr.. Mckinley.
The Post Office appropriation bill
has been lengthiIy discussed and is
still under consideration. The debate
has been strongly favored with party
venom; the Republicans contending
for liberal amount for postmasters
salaries, and the railway mail service,
while accusing the Democrats of in
excuseable parsimony. The latter
urge economy and maintain that the
record of the other side has been one
of indiscriminate prodiagaIity.
A bill to establish a uniform system
of bankruptcy throughout the United
States is the next important measure
to come up in the Senate. 1t is called
the Lowell bill, and has been APPROX
ed by the National Board of Trade.
Another bill of universal interest one
that will soon occupy the attention of
that body is one providing national
aid for state schools, and it is certain
to be exhaustively discussed. The
recent astonishing Interpretation of
the constitution by the Senate in ne
Mcpherson bill as to the powe, of
Congress over the currency has great
ly augmented the Importance of pop
ular education, for it has thrown into
politics great question with which
the unlearned cannot safely grapple.
Delegate Caine of Utah continued
an argument this week before the
! HOUSE Ol 1IO
complained of the conduct of the pre-
sent Governor of Utah, whose real de-
sire, he said was not to stop polygamy,
but to bring about conflicts between
the people there in order to plumber
them. Susan B. Anthony, and other
woman suffragists were present, who
said their only interest in the Terri
tory was that woman should not be
Disseminated against if any olsen
reimbursement was made.
1t is related that Wendell Phillips
met a minister of the gospel in slavery
times.
"What is your purpose in this agi-
tation, Mr.. Phillips" asked the divine.