The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1884-12-20
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

No Tariff Bill this Session-Mr. Randall
going soutT-Tl,e Dupont Statue-Inger-
soils Fee in the Star Route Case.
| WASHINGTON, D. c., December Is. 1884.
EDITOR CHIEF:
The question of interest in Washington
now is the Spanish treaty submitted by
Minister Foster. As has already been gen.
orally published, the terms of this treaty
are such that it's confirmation would reduce
the tariff on tobacco fifty per cent. and ON
sugar in a similarly radical manner. While
the Senate has not yet reached discussion
of the treaty, its merits have been pretty
thoroughly debated by the Senators and
members individually, and it is evident the
measure will encounter very strong oppo-
sition. The President, the Secretary of
State and Minister Foster have presented
their arguments in its favor, but the bust
ness interests involved have replied with
vigor. The House also is inclined to treat
the matter coldly. The Democrats, as a
party, are not disposed to let Republican
administration deal thus peremptoriIy with
tariff revision, and a very strong element
of the Repub leans object very decidedly to
any such reciprocity. These are all strong
protectionists, and it is generally under
stood that Mr.. Blaine is inspiring the op-
1 position on that score. Besides all this,
there is spirit of angry resentment on the
part of many members of the House of
Representatives at what they term an in
fringement of their prerogatives, claiming
that the Executive is practically usurping
the functions of the legislative power. So,
altogether, according to present indications
the prospects of the treatv-or for that
matter of any of the treaties-are not par
tieularly bright.
1 understand that Messrs. Morrison,
Mills, Blount and the Speaker have decided
| that there shall be no tariff bill reported
| from the Ways and Means Committee this
session. Mr.. Morrison wants to test the
sentiments of the new members elected to
the next House before urging the question
again. He hopes then to pass bill of his
| own creation instead of pressing Mr.. Hew-
| tits measure. 1t is said that the revenue
| reformers will have unquestionable control
of the new House, and it is asserted by Mr..
| Morrison's friends that the Republicans of
Missouri and other States where the anti
protection sentiment is strong have pledged
themselves to support a bill to reduce du-
ties.
The announcement is made that Mr..
Randall will soon start on trip to the
West and South. He will go as far south
as Birmingham, Ala, and will visit Attain
ia, Nashville, Louisville and other cities.
His wife will accompany him, and he is
booked for number of speeches. There
is no special occasion or event at any of the
cities to call Mr.. Randall there. 1t is given
out that he merely takes aavantage of the
recess to meet his Southern friends who
have repeatedly invited him to do SO, but it
may be that the astute Samuel is laying his
wires for some Southern delegations in the
convention of '68, or, getting nearer the
present time, for votes for the Speakership
of the next Congress-.
The statue of Dupont which is now in
place will be unveiled with appropriate GER
emonies on the Goth inst. Senator Bayard
will be the orator of the occasion. The
statue is considered very creditable work.
1t bears very striking likeness to the Of
icer COMMUNICATED, and makes a notable
addition to the art treasures of the Capital.
The figure is of heroic size, in bronze, and
the subject is represented standing upon
the deck of his vessel, with his head uncov-
cred and raised, as if gazing at vessel in
the distance. In both hands he holds BIZ
nocular, which has just been lowered from
his eyes, the action being followed by an
intent-gaze with the naked eye. The sculp-
tor was Mr.. Launt Thompson of Philadel-
phia, and the cost of the statue was $4,000
and of the pedestal and preparations $500.
The President cannot make it convenient
to go to New Orleans and declare the grand
Exposition open, so he has decided to per-
form the ceremony by telegraph. Instru-
ments will be placed in the East room of
the White House, and at the proper hour
an executive order to let her go'' will be
promulgated.
Mr.. Arthur has again taken up his resi-
denee at the White House. He has not oc
cupied his cottage at the Soldiers Home
since his New York friends came on to
Washington to consult him with reference
to the Senatorship.
It seems that the absurd story going the
rounds about Dorsey having given 500, OoO
to Bob Ingersoll as his fee in the star route
trial, was made out of whole cloth. asked
an intimate friend of Dorsey about the
matter and he told me that there was ct a
word of truth in it. The fact is that Dor
sey never paid Ingersoll a, cent for all the
work he did for him. Colonel IngersoIl,
by the way, has returned to Washington
with fresh stock of highly irreligious talk
He has delivered about fifty lectures during
the past two months, and his net profit
from these talks is considerably over S25,-
COO. Yours truly, ALERT.
The Sunday editions of the New Orleans
Picayune and Times Democrat have batch
of Donaldsonville society notes as one of
their regular features, which are read with
no little interest here. The society de-
partment of the Pic. at one time the sub