The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-01-26
Washington Letter.
from our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Jan. "A, lSs


from our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Jan. A. 1884.
The first week in congress after the
Christmas holidays was marked by the
presentation OF n large number OF bills
! Important progress was made with work
in the various committees. Some speeches
relating TO the tari # were delivered IN the
senate. Senator Cullom, Of Illinois, m sde
an aulI-po!ygamy speech upon which he
was heartily congratulated by both demo.
cratic ami republican senators. = bill was
passed appropriatins $1,000, 600 for the
Improvement Of the Mississippi river. In
the debate on The Mississippi river hill
Senator Plumb, OF Kansas, threw gu. a
suggestion that may be worth considering.
He thinks there should not only te con.
Itinuous lines OF lerees on both sides, but
that they should be surmounted by rail
roads to keep them In repair
Senator HIll, of Colorado, has suggested
a bill f1- the erection Of buildings by the
United States government in every town,
city and village with & population Of not
less than one thousand The scheme Is &
heroic remedy foy the reiIet OF the obese
and dyspeptIc L. ). Treasury. Putting
the cost Of q convenient and substantial
building, including land, at an average Of
ten thousand dollars, the bill calls for An
Expenditure of about twenty millions Of
dollars. No money could be more wisely
expended. More than the interest on such
O sum is now disbursed for rent, anu in a
large number OF places the post Office &C
commodations are shabby and inconvcni-
ent, and derogatory to the character Of the
government. Wherever the Federal Gov
eminent comes in contact with the people,
not only should the official be respectable,
but his surroundings such as To inspire
and secure the respect oil the people
Other senators and representatives have
introduced bills providing for the erection
of large number Of public buildings IN
different parts of the country. Senator
Morgan, Of Alabama remarked 10 a
speech lag: week: We have now reached a
point when We have rich government,
and DOOR people. While the people are
crying out for relief from TAXATION, con.
gressmen are taxing their ingenuity 10 find
WAYS and means 10 spend their surplus
revenues.
| The commerce committee have at one,
tackled Chairman Reagan's favorilc meas
! ure, the interstate commerce bill, and Sc
apart week from January Gath for a de-
| bate npnr Is merits Is outside parties
TIE railroad men vii tie heard first, anC
linen pcr-rnS whose interests are antaFnn!s
lur II The r1sd,. These discussions hav,
! in Tie pGs, hICugl, fir, tclas3 talent To tb,
lccmmittce rooms, sni been Oi cduca,ioDa
service to the country, II barren thus far II
Legislation. The railroads put forward
Their hes. Spokesman, such ~ Nj. NC
Ycagu for the Pennsylvania, MIR. De!'ev
for the Central, Commissioner Fink ant
| MIR. blanchard; while The antraiiroaC
forces are gen,rrlly led BY Mr.. Thurhcf
Thus far the railroad have succeeded II
pos,poninc MI Legislation dlstastciu! L
;hcm iha, Judge Reagan proposes; la
I,ha, gentleman does not lose heart, anI
with greater freedom IN committee and
sympathetic House he may be able shi
winter to send his long delayed bill TO tn
lSenste. lls chances there, however, ar
not very good.
There has been much talk during III
week Of dlscord III the democratic ranks
bu, on many points there is substantial &C
cord, aud on some Of those points lis poll
lev has been clearly iorshadowed. II
altogether improbable tina, the affirmative
IIccisls,ion asked for by the nationa! bank
will bn GRANTED, or that the coinage oi sil
yer dollars will be stopped. Appropria
I,ions will be cut down TO the lowest no'ch
M snprcpr,ation for new ships ut war o
for an increase of The naval force Will b
made 4 vigorous effort will he made Il
revive American commercial shipping
Little mercy will be shown TO railroad cor
,,r.,,ops There will be literal con
s,rc,,op @, land grants, and where the
terms O. the grant have not been ngldil
complied with they will be forfeited. IN
laws of ustt:c or trunk lines will be re
,,se,, N the ,n,eres, OF the shipper ant
copscmer. And as further check u
railroads., uavigsble rivers are 70 Dc I'm
nrny., .p,,,heral appropriations sse t.
-. as Lsr.,s. III, GipIomIi,