The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-02-16
Our Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent


about the new Congressional library
building and the removal of the Naval
Monument, near the west entrance of
the Capitol grounds; discussed the
questions of Mexican land grant IL
ties; Pleuro-Pneumonia among cattle
and copyright.
Mr.. Morrison's tariff bill reached
the House early in the week. That
body spent two days in frIitless de-
bate on its new rules and parliament
AIRY procedure; defeated the propos-
ition to exclude lobbying ex-members
from the House floor; defeated, a
scheme for mingling Indignation, and
pleasure in proposed excursion to
the Arkansas Hot Springs to investi-
gate the wicked contractors and en-
JOY the baths; and listened to Repre-
sentative Bedford plead ludlcrously for
clerks to aid poor but honest Con-
gressmen to attend to public business.
The Western Press Association
memorialized Congress to reduce post
age on transient newspapers to one
cent for four ounces, and a new bill
presented in the House provides for
Furnishing by fine every person in the
District of Columbia or in any Terri
tory of the United States, who shall
advertise any lottery tickets or shares
in the sale of lottery tickets.
Among bills favorably reported
from committees this week, were sey-
eral in behalf of the working classes;
notably one from the Senate commit
tee on Education and Labor, provid
ing that eight hours shall constitute
days labor for workmen and me-
chanics in government employ, and
that laborers shall be paid per hour,
one eighth of the wages paid per day
The subject of labor reminds me of a
large mass meeting of working men
which | attended at Lincoln hall the
other night The auditorium was
crowded and the platform occupied by
representatives of various labor organ
izations. There were ringing speeches
in defense of the rights Of labor, and
a long list OF resolution were adopted.
The first speaker was Mr.. Foster OF
Boston, the widely known labor ad-
vocate In the course of his remarks,
ne said that labor saving machinery
threw ten thousand American work
men out of employment yearly. That,
though Congress had ignored the
working man, legislative bodies would
be compelled to answer the demands of
labor. He said preparations were now
being made to organize an interna-
tional labor union which would be the
most commanding body in the world,
and that the bone and muscle Of the
country would in that way meet the
organizations Of capitalists lie alleged
that all taxes were paid by the work
ing classes, and that even the thirty
six pairs OF white Kid gloves furnish
ed Senators to attend the funeral Of
one man were paid for by the horny
handed toiler. The next speaker was
Mr. Mcguire, master workman Of the
Knights of Labor of New York He
animadverted sarcastically upon pol
iticians, who, he said claimed that
laborers need no intellect, no morali-
ty nor heart; He thought Congress
ought to be numbered 50 that it can
be known when they are in their seats
attending to business.
DR.. Thomas next addressed the
meeting saying unless Congress enact
ed laws to prevent the importation of
foreign pauper labor into the United
States, revolutionary war would
shake the country. He spoke of the
campaign, and advocated the enforce
ment Of the eight hour law. Another
speaker followed, and all these re-
marks were interpreted with applause
and music by band.
The first levee of the season was
held at the White House Tuesday ey-
ening. 1t was the most notable crush
of the season and during the two
hours of its continuance nearly three
thousand people shook hands with the
President, who wore a crimson rose
bud boutonniere with his evening suit
and white kid gloves which were veil
grimmed before the hand shaking was
half over. A striking feature of the
scene, was a party of six Flathead In
dams in their bright blankets, feath-
ers. spangles and war paint, who pre-
sented vivid picture of barbarism
contemplating standardization as they
stood in line against the wall of the
Blue Room facing the receiving party.
a party of Illinois journalists came
and went during the week. in body
they saw the sights of Washington,
were banqueted by the Congressional
delegation from that State, figured IN
the Presidents reception, and visited
the tomb of Washington, in a United
States war vessel.
The town of Grinnell, Iowa, has