San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-05-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular corrcspondeni,l

WASHINGTON, AprlI, Il, ioof'
The first skirmish in the tariff
battle in the House scored victory
for the Morrison forces, though the
motion to consider the bill only
passed by a majority of two votes.
But in politics it is eminently true
that nothing succeeds like success,
and it is argued that while bare
majority of two means nothing in
itself in the House, the moral effect
of this vote on the tariff will be con-
II Mr.. Randall had won
the fight by even small margin, he
would have showed his power 80
plainly as to leave no doubt of his
leadership. That he failed, although
by a very little, it is believed by some
will hurt his prestige. The first
fruits of the vote to take up the Nor
rison tariff bill appeared in the shape
of list of ninoty-two members who
have notified Chairman Cox that they
wish to deliver speeches on the sub
ject. This will open the food gates
from the Capitol to the Government
printing Office, and the employees OF
the latter establishment will enjoy a
prosperous spring. The Coagress'on-
al Record will swell out of all proper
ton, and tons OF talk will be printed
and dumped on the country at large.
Then, after oil, the bill may posi-
bly, be amputated at the neck by the
passage of o motion to strike out
the enacting clause; or be adopted
in o more or less altered shape and
then hung up to die of neglect in the
Senate, But certainly no person at
this stage can definitely forecast the
fate of tariff legislation for the ses-
sion. For long time there have
been rumors floating about among
Democratic congressman Of some
attempt which it was said would be
made to harmonize the factions war
ring on the tariff question. And it
now turns out that the offer of o
compromise was actually made to
Messrs. Morrison and Carlisle, in
which, according to my informant,
Mr.. Randall concurred The prop
osition was that if the Morrison
horizontal reduction were abandoned
they would support O bill reducing
duties wherever they ought to be
reduced, and ut the same time taking
off the tax on tobacco and native
brandies. But the tariff reform
leaders intimated that while they
might have entertained this PROPOSE
ton had it come sooner, they felt
compelled to reject it becauseit came
too late. They said it would take
months to prepare such q bill and
bring it to vote in the House. There
are, however, those who think that
compromise might be arranged pend
ing the debate Oh the Morrison bill,
which is sure to last several weeks,
ard that comparatively simple bill,
taking off the tobacco tax and that
on fruit spirits, charging the free
list, and making reductions in a num-
Der of the tariff schedules could get q
larger vote in the House than Mr.,
Morrison's bill can.
The Senate was active the past
week. Commencing with the Naval
appropriation bill, which it increased
Sc, 523, $3.50, measures were passed in
quick order. 1t would seem that the
Senate has Of late years become the
business member Of the federal
legislature, and that the House, ss a
law-making machine, has completely
broken down. The Senator III the
course Of a session usually manages
10 turn of q fair amount of work in
spite Of it, besetting san Of ycTDosity,
but the House seems less conscien-
touG. Il Is now only the latter part
Of April, and tic members of the
Lover House already TAX wIstally
Of adjournment though scarcely q
single subject of aeu0is imPortancs
On whieh legitimate diaorurca 81