The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-02-28
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Feb. %, Is

The evidence thus far produced is only
a repetition of that presented before
the Citizens Committee which investi
gated the matter in Danville week
after the riot. The report of the Com
mlttee will he in accordance with Mr.,
Sherman's wishes, as the Republicans
have the msj sjority. A minority report
is predicted by MANY, and the demo-
cratic contention for its adoption will
give sherman, Malone and other
"bloody shirt" Senators an opportuni-
ty to create " campaign documents" at
the public expense. The report of the
committee will hardly reach the Sem
ate before the 1st of March, rs the ia.
vestigations here and in Mississippi
will not be concluded for another week
or more.
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.
The bill introduced in the Senate by
Mr.. Voorhees, to punish Government
employees who submit to political AS
sessments aims a blow at the worst
evil in our politics. 1t is true, as Mr..
Voorhees, says, that so long as officials
are permitted by law to hand their
money over to campaign committees,
means will be found to compel them
to do so-"voluntarily," of course.
The civil service law prohibits assess
ments, but the law is ingsniousIy,
evaded by the republicans. will give
you an instance: The late State
election in Ohio cost the republic
cans large sum of money and at
the close of the campaign the State
Committee found themselves in debt
nearly Sis. 900. Now, the Ohio Repub
| lican Association of this city is com
posed of Government officials and
clerks from Ohio, with Judge VIM.
Lawrence, the first controller of the
treasury as its president. At the re-
quest of the Ohio State Committee
Judge Lawrence called a meeting of
the Ohio Association and requested
subscriptions to liquidate the aforesaid
deficiency, and over five hundred
clerks "paid up" Burt Francisco, son
of Andy Francisco, ,editer of the Toledo
Telegram, and member of the Ohio
Association and clerk in the Gov
ernment Printing office, said to me
that when a demand came from this
source every member invariably con-
tributed money, knowing that fail
ure to do so would result in his being
"spotted." ALI the important States
have these associations and they are
officered and managed by Government
officials in high position.
The debate in the Senate on Mr..
Voorhees, resolution was not a FORUM
ate incident for all who took part in it.
In fact, it was notably unfortunate for
Mr.. Harrison, of Indiana, and a would
be President, who, giving way to i'm
pulse, uttered sentiments that would
be applauded only by that element of
his party which was supposed to have
been crushed in 1882, when the people
rose in their might to put down Hub
belism. Whether the bill will become
law cannot be surmised.
TOO HONEST IN THE HOUSE.
The various railroad companies in
terested in land grants, for the forfeit
ure of which bills are pending, seem
to have abandoned any idea of stem
ming the the tide of sentiment against
them in the House, but they hope tc
accomplish something over in the Sen
ate. The representatives of the rail.
roads say that the Senate is more
temperate body than the House, and
proceeds more judicially and less re-
gardless public sentiment in dispOs
ing of important matters. They will
make their fight before the Senate, anC
they claim that they will win bu
should they fail there, it is intimateG
, that the validity of forfeiture legisla
ton will be tested in the courts. 1t il
a well known fact that many of th,
leading Senators are financially inter
ssted in these railroad companies, anG
will do nothing inimical to their owl
purses.
EXTENSION OF THE LETTER CARRIEI
SYSTEM.
1t is now probable that all towns o
2,0OC inhabitants and over will enjo,
the convenience of letter carriers. Th,
House Committee on post Offices hav,
agreed TO report such a bill, as alst
one for the issue of special 10 cen
/ of Job 70 Lot
ter, will secure its immediate deli very
at any letter carrier office from a m
to II midnight. These two measure
r would be favorably received by tn
/, public.
SPENDING $50, O,OO0,OOO TO PROTECT
$l0,00O,0OO.
$ Mr.. MOrrison's Committee is besieg
ed by various interests antagonistic #
his tariff bill. A numi er of Louisian
. politicians are now in the city to con
D vince Morrison that the duty on suga
i ought to be retained. One of thes
J protectiOnists said to me yesterday, il
relation to the duty on sugar:
s "It is the most burdensome te
# which the American people have t
o pay. 1t is tax of $40 year on ever
family in this country. We use $780,
!, 600, 900 worth of sugar every year. @
It this amount our own sugar plantation
produce little $40, 900 worth. TIL
# # other $9O,OOO,0O0 worth is i'm ported
Y and we have to pay a tariff equal t
0 about So per cent. of its value. /
Il amounts to tax of $50, ,OOO, 900 to pre-
tect $4,000, 900 industry, and w
v could better afford to board every suga
y planter and all their laborers at tn
; Fifth Avenue Hotel. But, you see
!, we are bound to protect them, for the.
v spent their money in improving thei
d plantations and erecting refneries un
I. der an implied agreement that tn
country would protect them. and
- this democratic House don't do it, tn
republican Senate will"