The weekly sentinel., 1886-12-23
AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Tariff Agitation--Woman Suffragists
--Senator Beck's Bill-The Presi-
dent at the Opera.

Tariff Agitation--Woman SufIragists
Senator Beck's BilI-The Presi-
dent at the Opera.
WASHINGTON, Dec, 20-What
Congress is likely to do one day ahead
no enc can safely say. Senator Sherman
made a remark in regard 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 arrang-
ed for it in the early part of the week.
No one expected Il 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
haveit 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
consideration OF revenue bills, and the
friends of tha Tariff legislation think
his motion will prevail Il 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 S20,000000; to strike off 20 per
cent of the sugar duty S10,000,000 to
make alcohol used in the the arts and
manufactures tax free, which would
strike of S10,000,000 more This would
reduce the revenue $40, 100000 in all.
When the Senate was talking Tariff
! A, Nv
Senator Dawes, of Massachusetts. His
associates knew that he was trying to
be reelected 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, and
rather better attention was given him
than the Senate usually accords to
speeches. The Senator began with
platitudes which no one cared to dis
pute, dwelt at length upon the past
policy of the Republican party which,
he said, had been to reduce customs,
duties, and internal taxes to the point
nearest the needs of the Government !;
criticised Secretary Manning's report,
aud finally wonnd up with some sneer-
ing comments upon the message.
Senator Beck's bill to prevent Sen
ators from acting as attorneys of rail
roads whose interest are liable to come
before the Senate was mutilated and
twisted out of shape in Committee by
such experts as Senators Evarts and
Hoar. The way in which they evad-
ed, postponed, lodged and finally
modified this masure, which was so
warmly supported by public opinion,
may be called creditable to their in
genuity, but not to their regulations
for honesty. And what is worse still,
Senator Edmunds stood beside these
manoeuvers, assisted by Senator Mitch
ell, of Oregon The railroad Senators
who think it is all right to legislate
upon railroad matters while taking
big fees as attorneys for railroad cor
poration, could not stave off consider
ton of the Beck bill altogether, how
ever, and on Wednesday it came up
for debate.
The Womans Suffragists are coming
to Washington as usual to hold their
annual convention and they have ask
ed for the use of hall of the House Of
Representatives on the evening O.
January 25th, 26th, and 9th. The
women want chance to be heard lit
orally within the walls of Congress
and it is propable they will have it
The Committe on Rules is to decide
the matter. Representative Town
, send, of Illinois, introduced the bill
, making the request for the Hall, But
, said he, 8" this does not mean that [ an
convert to woman suffrage"
| The President made his first ap
} appearance in public since his Hines
e at the theatre where he saw Lawrence
: Barrett in "Rienzi." The audianc
. included many others, distinguished
: in public and social life. Among thes
f in the boxes were noticed Speake
Carlisle, Gems. Sherman and Sheidan
r Chief Justice Waite and family, Hon
r S. S. Cox and several Senators anC
e Judges. Col. and Mrs. Lamont sat IL
r the box with the President and Mrs
r Cleveladd, and obstructed view G
S the president greatly to the annoyanc
of hundreds of curious eyes. Som
; lingering rheumatism was apparent il
t the Presidents deliberate movement
!. and slight limp, but otherwise he lool
n ed WE'LL On one occasion Presiden
il Arthur attended the theatre here i
" ultra English style, bringing in hi
h footman to stand at his box durin
Y the performance. Oh another occasio
e however, he came WITHOUT reserve
e seat, and as there was only standin
n room left, took a position in the crow
! until some friend some friend saw an