The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-12-23
Washin gton Letter.
WASHINGTON. d. g., Dec. IS, 1885.

" ASHlNdION, II. W DcC' los looo'
What Congress is likely to do one
day ahead no one can safely say. Sen
ator Sherman made a remark in re-
gard to the work of the Senate, which |
Speaker Carlisle repeated in reference
to the work of the House, and it was
that there were many possibilities but
few probabilities. Neither branch of
Congress adhered to the program
which had been marked out for it in
the early part of the week.
No one expected Tariff debate to
come off in the Senate, but everybody
was prepared for an agitation of the
question in the House on Thursday.
AS chance and circumstances would
have 1t, the Senate made Tariff speech.
es and the House decided to defer the
subject. Then Col. Morrison proposes
to ask the House to proceed to the con-
sideration of revenue bills, and the
friends of the Tariff legislation think
his motion will prevail.
A story was printed to the dffect
that the President had promised to aid
Mr.. Morrison by securing four votes
for him from the New York delega.
ton. OF course everybody knew that
the President would not do anything
of the kind. The story had its foun-
datiop in the fact that several New
York Democratic members who voted
against consideration of any tariff
measure at the last session, have since
changed their views, and will vote
with Mr.. Morrison.
II the issue cannot be evaded it is
understood that the present plan of
the Republicans in the House is to
strike off the tobacco tax S2S, 200, 900 !;
to strike off 20 per cent of the sugar
duty, $4,000, 900 to make alcohol used
in the arts and manufactures tax free,
which would strike off Sl0, ,OOO, 900 more
This would reduce the revenue $4S,.
100000 in all.
When the Senate was talking tariff
a disappointing speech was made by
Senator Dawes of Mass. His associ-
ates knew that he was trying to be re-
elected to the Senate this winter, and
as some of his constituents have views
on Tariff subjects, interest was felt in
the drift of his remarks, rather better
attention was given him than the Sen
ate usually accords to speeches. The
Senator began with platitudes which
no one cared to dispute, dwelt at length
upon the past policy Of the Reaubli-
can party, which, he said, had been to
reduce customs duties and internal
| faxes to the point nearest the needs OF
the Government criticised Secretary
Msnning's report, and finally wound
up with some sueering comments upon
the Presidents message.
Senator Beck's bill to prevent Sen
ators from acting as attorneys of rail-
roads whose interests are liable to come
before the Senate was mutilsted and
twisted out of shape in Committee by
Hoar. The way in which they evaded
ostponed, lodged and finally modi-
fled this measure, which was no warm.
ly supported by public opinion, may
be called creditable to their ingenuity
but not to their regulations for hon.
esty. And what is worse still, Sena.
tor Edmunds stood beside these man.
oeuverers, assisted by Senator Mitchell
of Oregon. The railroad Senators who
think it is all right to legislate upon
railroad matters while taking big fees
as attorneys of railroad corporations
could not stave off consideration of the
Beck bill altogether, however. and on
Wednesday it came up for debate.
The Woman Suffragists are coming
to Washington as usual to hold their
annual convention, and they have
asked for the use of the hall of the
House of Representatives on the eve.
nings of Jan. 25th, Goth and 9th. The
women want chance to be heard lit.
orally within the walls of Congress
and it is probable they will have it.
The Committee on Rules is to decide
the matter. Representative Town.
send of Illinois introduced the bill,
making the request for the hall, but"
said he. "this does not mean that i
am convert to woman suffrage"
The President made his first ap.
pearance in public since his illness at
the theater, where he saw Lawrence
Barrett in " Rienzi." The audience
included many others distinguished
in public and social life. Among
those in the boxes we noticed Speak er
Carlisle, Gems. Sherman and Sheridan
Chief Justice Waite and family, Hon.
3. S. Cox and several Senators and
Judges. Col. and Mrs. Lamont sat In
the box with Mr.. and Mrs. Cleveland,
and obstructed view Of the President,
greatly to the annoyance of hundreds
of curious eyes. Some lingering
rheumatism was appOrent in the Pres
ident's deliberate movements and
slight limb, but otherwise he looked
well. On one occasion President Ar
thur attended the theater here in ultra
English style, bringing in his foot
man to stand at his box during the
performance. On another occasion,
however he came without reserved
seat, and as there was only standing
room left, took a position in the crowd
until some friend saw and sent for
him.
The Trade Dollar.