The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-01-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our regular Correspondence

WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, January 10, 1884.
Business continues to crowd upon
Congress-. Many important measures
have been introduced during the week,
as well as many of u purely local and
personal nature, that may be called Pc
titions rather than Legislative PROPOSE.
tons. Relief appeals have been SO
numerous since the opening Of the SEES.
sion, and take up SO much Of the time
OF Congress by the reading OF their IT,
tie, and reference, that complaint has
been made Of the nuisance, and in the
future such documents are likely to be
relegated without a hearing to the box
provided for them.
Both branches of Congress have been
discussing the Mississippi river i'm.
provement. A bill appropriating one
million dollars has been passed and will
become law when signed by the Pres
ident. There have been lively discus
sions in the Senate on the right OF the
American hog which will utter another
determined grunt for Abundance into
the ports otIthe effete monarchies across
the water. The half dozen or more
bills that have already been introduced
in Congress for the vindicatiOn of the
hog IN Europe, mainly contemplate re.
taliatory measures, such as to prohibit
wines and other articles Of commerce
that are largely sold to American buy
ers by countries that refuse to allow
American meats to be sold III their
markets, on the pretense that they are
unwhOlesome. Now, the agricul tural
committees of the Senate and House are
preparing a bill for the creation of a
board of expert inspectors, who shall
examine all meats that are to he ship
ped to foreign markets, placing upon
each package government stamp. Ger.
tifying to the condition of the contents.
1t is claimed that refusal on the part
of foreign governments to admit to
their ports meats bearing the official
stamp, will constitute violation of
treaty obligations, and that the Ameri.
can government can then adopt strin
gent measures to protect its commerce
Senator Logan made strong speech in
favor of an immediate retaliatory poll.
cy and Messrs. Vest and Ingalls, advo.
Gated rigid governmental inspection.
Among other Senators who took part
in the discussion were Senators Nc
Pherson, Maxey, Van Wyck, Miller.
and Anthony.
The Senate also listened to u long
speech from Senator Hill Of Colorado
on his bill favoring government pos.
tai telegraph. If the possibilities OF
the scheme, as sketched by the speaker,
are ever realized the subject will be-
come an urgent and practical one. He
thought it probable that further i'm.
provements in telegraphy will provide
for the transmission of messages by wire
as cheaply as Is now done by steam,
and In that case, the post Office will be
stripped Of its most important business.
Every letter not requiring secrecy can
be sent by telegraph. 1t Is not expect
ed any legislation bearing on the mat
ter will be held this winter, but debates
on the merits of the proposition will be
of service in educating public senti-
ment. Apropos Of postal matters, it is
yet too early to see the full effect of the
reduction in postal rates, but from the
returns thus far made the falling off in
revenue is inconsiderable. If after
thorough test, the reduction still leaves
the post Office department self-sustain-
ing the movement for one cent local
postage, an increased allowance OF
weight for letter rate, will be strength
ened.
With closed doors, the Senate has
given much time this week to the Mex
lean reciprocity treaty, which will most
likely fail Of ratification. 1t is chiefly
opposed by the sugar producers OF
Louisiana who fear the competition of
Mexico, under the provisions of treaty
for free sugar.