Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-04-10
Washington Letter.
(FRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
pril Let 1894

should be next considered. The friends
of the riyel special orders, all pushed
forward their pet measures. The trade
dollar retirement bill triumphed finally
and is now the pending question. From
this time forth there will be a continuous
fight for precedence among the five hum
dred bills that are reported tavorably
and are awaiting the attention of the
House. There are now seven overdue
special orders, two pending contested
election cases, and ten appropriation
bills, not to speak Of the tariff bill that
is lowering so hear. All Of these have
the parliamentary right Of way and are
likely to be called up at any moment.
Hence, even IL favored bill has a poor
chance for attention. In face Of this
cllmoring mass of work concurrent
resolution for the final adjournment
of Congress on the second Of June, has
been introduced, and referred to the
committee on Ways and Means.
Dnring the week the Senate has CIV
ell serious consideration, daily, to the
Blair bill, advocating National aid to
common schools. This is still the ques-
ton before that body and Senators
Lamar and Butler are amoug the last
orators who have contri buted forclbly
to the discussion. The admission to
the Union of the proposed new State of
Dakota was briefly discussed, and both
Houses voted relief for the Mississippi
flood sufferers. The President approx
ed at once of the action, and COM
mittee for distributing supplies, design
ated by the Secrt tary of War, is
already at work, at New Orleans and
St. Louis.
The most remarkable feature of the
Democratic Tariff caucus was the "ecls-
ion, that, though the Morrison 'bill was
supported by a vote of ia to 81 no in
dividual Member is to be bound by the
action of the majority. The Tariff de
bate will begin in about ten days
The River and Harbor bill which
will soon be reported considers only
such objects as are really of national
importance.
The sixteenth amendment has come
boldly to the front once more. The
joint resolution proposing an amend
ment to the Constitution extending the
right of suffrage to women has just been
favorably reported to the Senate from
the committee on Woman Suffrage by
Senator Palmer.
Ex-senator Dorsey has written a let
ter to Chairman Springer in which he
says he wants to testify at an early day
before Mr.. Springer's committee. lie
characterize5 the testimony Of Elk.
Postmaster General James as a pie
turesque falschood' and says he wants
"all the liars to testify" before he is
called. The Ex-senator makes serious
charges against men whose names have
not heretofore been publicly connected
with the Star Route frauds, which will
be developed in his testimony.
April, sth. 1884
Although the Senate has devoted
more than two weeks to the Educational
bill, the great and far-reaching ques.
tons which it opens up continue to fur
nish matter for debate. 1t is conceded
to be as important measure as was
ever brought before Congress in time of
peace, and'prominent jurists of the same
political faith find themselves unable to
agree on the constitutional authority
appropriating money from the National
Treasury to aid the Public schools of
the States. A large number of Sena-
tors have contributed to the debate and
most Of the speeches have been weighty
in thought and excellent in temper.
The most notable efforts of the week
were the arguments made by Senators
Pendleton, Bayard, and Morgan, each
sympathiz,ng with the object of the bill,
but opposing it on constitutional
grounds Senator Bayard said never
before had the conflict between inclina.
ton and duty been so great within him
as in this matter. Senator Beck pos
ton was that if tariff taxation were re =
moved all the States could attend to the
education of their own children. Sen.
ator Williams spoke earnestly in favor
of the bill, and Senators Hoar and Har-
rison proposed amendments to it. An
other Senator, while speaking on the
subject made the remark that although
the people Of the District of Columbia
were as well educated as the general
run of people, Congress had to deprive
everybody here of the right of suffrage