The Press., 1884-04-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, D. C., March

The battle has begun. The democratic factions of the house of representatives caucused on the tariff bill Tuesday even- ing, and, according to prediction ''widen- ed the rift ill their lute" to more pronounc- ed discordance. Efforts were made to cre- ate the impression that all went quietly and tremendously within, but after few hours wrangle the decision was, that 8 ma- lorlty of the democratic members of the house will try to force the assage of some kind of tariff bill, and that there is large minority able to defeat such legislation, who reserved the liberty of doing so if they chose. Debate was limited to five minutes for each speaker. MT. Morrison, opened by offering a resolution endorsing his tariff reduction bill. MT. Randall said Tit did not meet the wants of his constitu- ents. MT. Reagan next supported the bill, and resolution. Here Speaker Car lisle arose as peacemaker, urging the mem- bers to avoid bitterness in the discussion and beware of a quarrel Then Gen. Back burn demanded that the acton of the cau- GUS should be binding upon all members present. Mr. Hopkins immediately offer ed resolution that no one should be bound. The debate was long upon these propositions, the arguments being dire ct- ed to the effect the measure would have In the next presidential campaign. There was no little excitement and MT. Carlisle again took the floor and waved the olive branch vigorously in the face of the oppo- sltion. He also offered re ~olution which was adopted by vote of 88 to 57 to put the tax on fruit brand1es at ten cents per gallon and repeal the tax on manufactured tobacco. ~.- -~.
 The senate continues discussion on the Blair educa tional bill as 1t comes up daily iii regular order, and tue bonded whisky ! xtension measure has been the absorbing topic ill the house the members of both branches showing that they are well post ed on the respec i've subjects. On Thurs day vote reached on the latter bill and whisky was overwhelmingly defeated. The seuate has also discussed the territo- " of Dakota, which is likely to have a Lard time getting into the Union as a state, in'as much as the question promises to be regarded as political one. An in. teresting debate on nepotism preceded the passage of a bill incr .asing the salaries o1 U. s. district judges to $5, 900 year, witt an amendment prohibiting the judges from appointing any relative within the degree of first cousin to positions in the court. The house discussed the Louisiana floods and voted against joint resolution tha $500, ,OOO, be granted to prevent the over flow of the Mississippi at New Orleans Another appeal for aId gave rise to warn debate on the subject, and secretary o war, Lincoln, suggested that $125, ,00O o the unexpended Ohio flood fund be uset ; for that purpose, which was finally votet for by both houses.
 Il i--- A number Of new measures nave Bee1 : presented to congress. tbis week. Amon| them was one providing incre 'sed facil ities for deciding upon pension claims, an 5 requiring that lawyer and surgeon b appointed in each congressional district t l examine pension claimants in person Another proposes that the patent office b { organized into an independent departmen
 under the control of commissioner of pa
 tents, aud to give him exclusive control c the building known as the patent office, bu now occupied by the department of the inte rior of which the patent office is now @ bureau
 Postal telegraphy is a vexed question now various bills and propositions being unde consideration in committee. Representiv Sumner of California made an argument i
 favor of his bill which he asserted would nc cost the government dollar as the money t
 establish postal telegraph would be raise . by the issue of bonds. He maintained tha the telegraphing of the people could be don at ten cents message, and more than clea expenses. In opposition MT. Roberts Of tn postal company, which has an offer befor the committee, said MT. Sumner was ''prac tical politician" rather than ''practical tel egrapher."
 On Thursday congress was memorialize
 by the convention of American inventors, nov in session in Cincinnati, against the passag of any act injurious to patentees. No chang in the law relating to patents is probable.