Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-03-20
Washington Letter.

" ROM olR Ii.Ht lAt NbhkHSIoN DENT. J
March Is, 1881.
Several prominent members Of the
Woman Suffrage Association which
held a four days convention here dur
ing the week, made addresses Saturday
before the House Judiciary committee ;
their objective point being q sixteenth
amendment to the Constitution. 1t is
noticeable that the movement has
passed in IA great measure out OF the
domain of rilicule and is met seriously
by those who have to deal with tenden-
cies Of society. The leaders show more
temperance, and discretion than in the
earlier STAGES of the agitation. The
managers arc trying to extend their or
gan!zatlon on a system that Will bring
the cause into universal notice. They
propose to enter the political field in a
solid body, and use all their resources
to defeat candidates not in sympathy
with them.
The whiskey men got the set back
they feared by the antagonism of an
appropriation bill. Great interest was
manifested in the attempt of the friends
Of the bonded whiskey bill to get that
measure before the House on Saturday.
There was no surprise when Mr.. Nor
risons move to 90 into committee Of
the whole on revenue bills was follow
ed by a motion from Mr.. Townsend
that the House go into committee on
Appropriation bills. The voting was
watched with interest, for there was an
impression that the result would test
the sense of the House not only on the
wh!skey question, but also on the abil-
ity of Chairman Randall to rally a ma
iority in case he should wish to put the
Appropriation bills in the way of the
low tariff tax reduction bill. The vote
was in favor Of taking up the Postal
Appropriation bill, 1t cannot how
ever be claimed that any issue was de.
cided by the vote. A large number OF
Democrats voted in the negative with
the Republicans, and an almost equally
large number Of Republicans with the
body of Democrats.
Delegate Game Of Utah made an ar
gument on Saturday before the Com
mittee on Territories in which he crit
icised the Edmunds and Cassidy bills
in relation to polygamy as unconstltu-
tional. lie admitted the right Of the
Government to punish polygamy rs a
crime if it desired to do so but never
theless, he said the Mormon's believed
it was right. He thought as they
helped hold California during the Mex
lean war, they deserved consideration
from the Government.
This has been an unusually interest
inc week in both ends of the Capitol,
although few questions Of universal i'll
terest or great importance have been
acted on. The House of Representa-
tives first received the long expected
Morrison Tariff bill, with the majority
and minority reports Of the Ways and
Means committee, and then debated
lengthily the Post Office Appropriation
bill, presenting the postal system IN
its various relations. Much party strife
was aroused over the proposition to
curtail the salaries of postmasters, and
other provisions Of the bill, which the
opponents Of the Appropriations COM
mittce claimed were insufficient.
Mr.. Holman Of Indiana who never
speaks without saying something to the
point, said, that in but fourteen cities
was the free delivery system selt-sus-
tanning. In all others the burden of