The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-04-05
Our Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent

The Democratic caucus of Tuesday
night has been the topic at the Capt.
toll to the exclusion OF almost all 9TH
er subjects. The effect of the rseolu
tions passed was interpreted largely
IN accordance with the wishes of those
discussing it SO far as there was room
tor doubt as to their meaning. By
vote of two to one the Morrison bill
was endorsed with an amendment
abolishing the tobacco taxes, and cut
ting down the tax on fruit brandy to
ten cents gallon. Hence, under this
arrangement the internal revenue sys-
TEN is to bear its share in the reduc-
ton OF taxes as well as the tariff = a
claim pressed by those who wish the
import duties kept at protection rates.
The most interesting feature of the
caucus was the stand it took on the
degree of authority claimed over the
votes of Members. A Democrat does
not read himself out of the party" by
opposing the bill The caucus decis-
ion shall not bind the individual act
ion of Democrats, except to the extent
that each may feel that he ought to
be influenced by the wish of the ma
jority of his associates. This sugges-
ton may mean much or nothing, &C
cording to the feelings of Members
The tariff will now be, so far as Dem
ocratic Members are concerned, 30
cal issue" Where they have protect
ionist constituencies they will oppose
the bill, where the people believe in free
trade they will favor it; where indif-
ference prevails, Members will be open
to conviction.
Prominent questions discussed in
Congress during the week have been
Aid to Public Schools, Whisky, Sal
aries of District Judges, and Missis-
sippi foundations. Both Houses vot-
ed to help the Louisiana food sufferers
by authorizing the Secretary of War
to use for that purpose SIS, 900 of the
unexpended balance granted for the
relief Of the victims of the Ohio over
flow. By the Senate, District Judges
got their yearly salaries increased to
five thousand dollars a year, but with
the restriction that they shall not APP
point their relatives to positions in
their courts. The bonded whisky bill
failed to pass the House by hundred
votes, and the Educational bill will
continue to be debated in the Senate
until vote is reached. Only within
the last few days has that body be-
come interested in the latter measure
and proceeded to treat it seriously. As
to its general purpose there can be but
one opinion but it is opposed on sew
eral grounds. The constitutionality of
the measure is questioned, as involv
ing the right Of the government to in
terrier in any way with the schools Of the
States Then the safety in business
point of view of intrusting large sums
of money to the States every year re-
lying only on their good faith for the
proper manner of disbursement And
for the further reason that the benefits
of the bill being based upon illiteracy
will be appropriated principally by
the Southern states. The Constitu-
tional objections could probably be OBJ
waited by amendment, but the section
al difficulty is not so easily reasoned
away. The whole country knows that
legislation has never been able to wipe
out prejudice which has once fixed
itself on a geographical line.
Almost every Member of the House
contributed to the lively debate on the
bonded whisky bill. Mr.. Randall
said it was of graver consequence than
any considered at this session. Judge
Kelly who has not spoken at length
before this since the beginning of this
Congress was melted by whisky to an
attack on the internal revenue system.
When the venerable Pennsylvania
hand concluded Mr.. Long, of Mass,
arose to make his debut in House de-
bate with a presentation of the evils of
intemperance, declaring whisky to be
the dynamite of civilization. His re-
marks were warmly applauded. Mr.,
Toilet spoke ably in favor of the bill.
Mr.. Foran briefly explained his ad-
vocacy of it. Mr.. Jordan dwelt upon
the immense revenue which the tax
on whisky brought into the Treasury.
Mr.. Hurd favored the bill in one of
his happiest efforts. Mr.. Jones of Ark
ansas spoke on the other side. Mr..
Hatch opposed the principle of the
Government lending money to any
one, especially to whisky trafficers and
Mr.. Price of Wisconsin objected to it
on business and moral grounds. Mr..
Dingley thought Congress had
gone to the utmost limit already for
the whisky interest, while Mr. Eaton
of Conn, favored the bill as wise
business measure and argued there
could be no constitutional objection to
it. Senator-elect Blackburn of Ken
lucky made the closing argument in
favor Of the bill