New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1884-01-23
WASHINGTON LETTER,
WASHINGTON, D. G. Jan. is, 1884.

WASHINGTON, D. G.. Jan. 10, 1884.
In Congress the first week Of the
new year has been busy and fruit
| full. Many committees have held
meetings and done efficient work;
nearly fourteen hundred bills have
been introduced; apd there have
been general and interesting de-
bates in both Houses bearing on i'm.
portant questions, such as the cur
rency, the tariff, commerce, and
Mississippi river Improvement. The
Senate passed bill for the imme-
diate appropriation Of one million
dollars for the Mississippi River, at
the urgent request Of the river
commission, and against the pro-
test of Senator Platt OF Connect
cut, that so hast;' an action was
dangerous.
The chronic Mormon problem was
brought UP by Senator CulIom Of
Illinois, who in his address to the
Senate in regard to his bill tor re :
organizing the legislative power of
Utah, received congratulations from
both sides OF the cham ber He was
opposed by Senator Brown Of
Georgia, on constitutions al grounds,
and Senator Garland Of Arkansas,
continuing the subject, compared
the bill to the remedy Of a corn
plaster for consumption.
The discussion of the new Sen.
ate rules. afforded an indirect pre-
text for eloquence in which several
Senators, notably, Messrs, Maxey
Of Texas, Beck Of Kentucky, and
he smooth tongued, long winded
Alabama orator Mr.. Morgan, made
| records on the question of free
trade. The latter said among 9th
err things, that ''the Democratic
party would continue to refer to the
| high tariff until justice was done
the people Of the country THAT
while strikes were heard OF every
where, poverty and wreck seen ev
erywhere, and tens of thousands of
people We're imploring charity of
their rich masters, the question of
spending the peoples money seemed
to be the gravest one with legisla-
tors'''
An important feature of the week
has been the Development of the
row in the Democratic party on the
tariff, placing the party in a hope
less position in the coming Presi-
Dental campaign. Nor is there
harmony in the party on the ques.
tons of finances and currency, nor
as to the best method Of treating
the whisHey extension bill; all of
which may cause serious trouble
Ever since the opening Of the pres
ent session, the majority in the
House have been hungering for a
chance to investigate something,
no matter what Much of it's bus
inese thus far has been the intro
duction Of resolutions calling upon
officers Of the cabinet to furnish in
formation concerning this thing or
that. Nothing awful has yet be- n
brought to light by this process,
but the majority still hope for
ghastly revelations, and that the
country will then be convinced that
the immaculate Democracy looks
with horror upon all nniquity. Mr..
Springer as chairman of the com
mittee on expenditures in the De.
partment of Justice, has entered
upon an Investigation Of the affairs
of that office, although neither he
nor anyone else has found anything
to investigate.
The ratification of the CONNIE r
! clal treaty with Mexico will be dis
cussed in the Senate this week, and
as the document touches t'the only
living ISSUE it may arouse such
opposition as to lead to defeat. The
chief objection to the instrument
will be raised by the Louisiana sug-
ar interest, which fears the compe-
tition OF Mexico under treaty pro
vlding that the United States are to
admit sugar from Mexico fee Of
duty, Mexico, accordingly, is to ad F..
NIT agricultural implements, and
many other products of this coun-
try free.
Committee deliberations indicate
that railroad kings are to have no
concessions, Land grants are to be
strictly construed, and all subsidies
of this sort, where the terms have
not been faithfully complied with
are to be forfeited. The laws of traf.
tic on trunk lines are also to be
considered with view to their re-
vision in the interest of the shipper
and consumer. And as a further
check to railroads, navigable water
ways are to be improved by a |iber.
al expenditure for rivers and har.
bors. Other probabilities are that
Republican territories will be kept
out out of Congress a while longer F.:
that the Chinese must. not come;
that Mormons must go.
The shipping committee will
give a general hearing on the ship
ping questions Wednesday, and as
soon as the business Of the Appro.
priations committee will allow ex.
poets to take up bill offered by ex
Governor Dingley Of Maine, which
does away with many incidental OBJ.
stacles in the way of revlvlng the
merchant marine. The provisions
of the bill are not calculated to ex-
cite opposition, and, if vote can
be reached, will no doubt pass both
houses. Wisdom has been shown