The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-04-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.

lne EepuoAicun CeuhLOFS met III eau
Gus this morning and ratified the ac-
tion Of the caucus committee in fill-
iug committee vacancies Sher.
man to the head of the foreign reIa-
tions committee and Mr.. SpOoner on
the District committee.
Mr.. Sewell, from the committee on
library, reported fsvOrably a bill for
the erection of a monument to Abra.
ham Lincoln. Mr.. Cullom said he
had the honor to introduce this bill.
It appropriated $5OO,O00 for the erec-
tion of a monument at Washington to
the memory of Mr.. Lincoln. Time,
Mr.. Cullom said, would not dim nor
lessen the glory that clustered around
the name of Lincoln. He was q man
that could not diverge from his duty,
generous and great hearted man,
full of human sympathy-"with char
ity for all, with malice toward none"
It was he who had said: II have not
Willingly planted a thorn in any mans
BOSOM" His name bad taken its
place by the side of Washington. The
bill was passed.
Mr.. Reed summed up a good deal of
the common sense of the situation
when he said Wednesday, during the
debate on the arbitration bill in the
House: ut may turn out that this
legislation will amount to but little
1t may turn out that it will amount to
much. Suppose we try it, when we
learn more, do more" The tenor of
the debate throughout showed that,
however the partakers in it might diff.
fer about details, they we're unit 10
recognizing arbitration as the key to
the whole labor problem. Great re.
forms do not mature, like fungi, in a
night. Their beginnings are often
feeble and their evolution the work of
time. As Mr.. Reed suggests, it is
worth trying even confessedly i'm.
perfect measure, and see how it works.
When its faults are apparent, they ca n
be corrected. Meanwhile, the friend
of progress will have the satisfaction
of seeing the United States govern.
ment, by the hand of Congress, set the
stamp of its approval ON arbitration
as principle. That of itself would
be great point gained.
The House ways and means com.
mlttee is still considering the Hewitt
customs administration bill. This will
be the tariff bill the committee will
endeavor to put through the House.
The tariff part of the bill has been
practically completed, and when the
administration bill is finished it will
be tackled on and the bill will be ready
to report to the House. The admin.
istration bill occupies some twenty.
eight pages and consists largely of
definitions by which the customs off
GERS are to be guided in the collections
of duties. 1t is very intricate to the
comprehension of one not familiar
with the working of the customs ser.
vice. The tariff feature of the bill
will consist of a very short free list.
This will be constructed in accordance
with Mr.. Hewitt's idea of free raw
material, with the probable exception
of iron ore. Wool will be the princi-
pal article on the free list; then will
follow lumber and salt and certain
drugs and dyes used by manufactur-
ers. In making up this list the COM
miltee has been guided by the purpose
of making the bill as strong as posi-
bic in the House without sacrificing
the great tariff reform principles.
They expect to, have the bill ready in
a short time now, and hope to get il
through the House.
Mr.. FOrsu, of Ohio, told the House
yesterday that be was no more opposed
to the bill then pending than be was
to drinking a glass of water. 1t seems
as if the gentleman might have chosen
a simile whose force would not have
been lost upon so many of bis au.
dience.
Senator Hoar wants longer sessions