McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-01-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. Is, 1884.

there il more uneasiness on the part OF
the tariff reformcrs and less apparent
certainty on their part as to what they
are likely to do. 1t is said that there
are at least sixty Democrats in the
House who oppose any action on the
tariff this winter, and if the Republicans
were united in opposition to it there
could be no bill passed in either branch.
But there are tariff reformers among
the Republicans and there are also
others among them who think it would
be policy to let tie Democrats agitate
the matter. Both sides are just little
'torn up" so to speak. Mr.. Morrison
is uneasy about Randall's activity, but
he tells his friends that there must be
tariff revision, and that he will find
means to make the opportunity for it.
Mr.. Converse comes back from Ohio
with the declaration that the old duty
on wool must be restored. That, he
says, is the great question in his State,
and the party cannot overlook it. Other
leading Democrats think the duty on
wool should remain as at present. There
are indications of trouble among the
Southern Members, with regard to
sugar. MFR. Morrison favored the reduc-
ton made last season. He is said to be
disposed to cut the duties still further.
There is division in the ranks on other
questions, and the outlook is unfavorable
for that harmonious action which was
predicted by the leaders three weeks ago.
The Huntington letters recently pub
lished have caused much talk and not
little uneasiness in Washington, and
have given new interest to the presence
of their author here. He usually stops
at Wizards, where he has often enter
tanned Congressional friends, but this
winter he has taken quarters at Worm
leys, where he can be more retired and
attract less attention. tits pretty well
understood what he wants here, but his
long, lank, white whiskered lieutenant,
Sheriff., comprehends the situation
pretty well and has told Mr.. Hunting
ton that he can hope for little comfort
from Congress at the present time. To
delay action, through Mr.. Cobbs COM
mittee, upon land grant matters until
the excitement has blown over is all
they are going to fight for this winter.
The inside history of this fight between
the Texas Pacific and Central Pacific
companies is not generally understood.
"Tom" Scott, with his usual genius, had
seen how to strike across the Southern
States to Texas, and thence by short !
line below the range of snow blockades
to the Pacific Ocean to San Diego. The
Central Pacific monopolists felt their
danger, and, acquiring franchise
through Arizona, ran out with all pos
sible speed what they called a Southern
Pacific road from San Francisco to meet |
and head off the Texas Pacific. They |
were using the resources gained by their
previous monopoly, and to compete with
them on anything like equal terms it
was necessary to invoke the aid of Con-
gress by guarantee of interest on
bonds. Here was where Huntington
had the inside track, for it put his lob
bies and newspapers in the attitude of
fighting against subsidies and
in favor of an "unsubsidized," road,
viz, the Southern Pacific, which really
enjoyed the benefit of previous subsidies
to the Central. So great is my conf
deuce in SCOTS ability, that I think he
would have succeeded if his health had
not broken down, and death already laid
its finger upon his energies. The Texas
Pacific never got beyond the State line,
and Huntington has carried out his
plans until, somewhat like the tradi-
tional American eagle, he dips one hand
in the Pacific at Frisco and the other in
the Chesapeake at Newport News.
Dom PEDRO.
JAMES NETT. who deliberately shot