Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-12-10

WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent)
Washington, Dec. 4th. 1886.

Washington, Dec. 4th. 1856.
| About the time this letter reaches
you the two Houses of the Forty
Ninth Congress will meet and open In
the usual way for the short busy ses-
sion. The rush Of Congressman to the
city, and of the crowd that always fol-
lows them, began yesterday, and will
continue for the next month. The in
dlcations are that there VIII be pretty
full representation of both Senators
and congressman on next Monday.
when the gavels fall simultaneously in
both ends Of the Capitol.
The question which excites the most
attention in the minds OF the members
who are coming in, is whether any
thing can or will be done with the tar
iii this winter. The high projections
lists are bound that there shah be no re-
ductlon OF purely protective duties, If
it can be prevented The reform lead
ers are as anxious that some Difference
shall be paid to the promises of the par
ty to which the majority belong. One
Of the things which the President is
credited with saying in regard to the
tariff is that it should be arranged with
reference to economic interests instead
of political conditions, that as a party
issue 1t is distractlng, and as experience
for several long and fruitless years has
shown, leads to no practical results, nor
even points out practical methods of
reform.
4 Pennsylvania member-elect of the
Flftleth Congress-, who has been here
during the week, was talking about
the surplus millions and about the prob
ability Of the Administration being a.
bic to submit d plan for their reduction.
he thinks a great deal will depend up
on what the President will say and
he thinks the President has before him
now the greatest opportunity OF his
life. ut amounts to crime" said he,
'to heap up needless taxes IN the Treas
ury IN time Of peace, and it the Presi-
dert takes a bold stand against it he
will have the country to back him."
Just at this time the President is Civ
ing the last polishing strokes to the
message with which he has been wres-
Ting for the last few weeks. He has
had very hard time with the figures
of those surplus millions. and in trying
to solve the problem for reducing those
taSes,-so hard Il time, indeed, That he
has grown nervous and irritable and
explosive over the work, to the great
Consideration CT his obsequious atten-
dants. Secretary Manning's annual re-
port will deal almost exclusively with
the surplus and the best method of re-
ducing the taxes, and it will be inter
esting to see whether he or the Presi-
dent can produce the better financial
matter.
The report OF the Postmaster Gener-
al was before the public more than u
week ago, but the report of Secretary
Endicott will not amount to anything
this year, nor will that Of the Attorney
General. Secretary Bayard will make
no report, but will represent the state
DeGartmentment by sending to Con-
gress the diplomatic dispatches Of the
year. lie is not discouraged, however,
by the indifference shown at the last
session o. Congress TO his recommen-
dations. Secretary Whitney viii ask
for five more millions this yea1 in addi-
ton to what has already been given for
new navy, and SECRETARY Lamar will
rtiterate his views on the settlement
Of the Indian problem.
lie advocates a generous policy on
the part OF the Government towards
its wards, and at the same time recon-
mends such measures as will result in
their becoming independent Of its fos-
tering care. Our Indian policy, he in
sists, is hased on considerations Of ma
tional honor and philanthropy rather
than of trade or self defence. Last
year he said the Indians as ~ race are
few, poor and harmless, and they have
a just claim for help aud protection
which should be scrupulously respect
ed.
The well worn argument that it
would be cheaper to keep the Indians
at a fashionable hotel than as they are
now dealt with, is often revived by
western people who come here. The
argument is strictly true, butthe troub-
10 lies in the fact that the United
States has no right to save money in
that way The Indians enjoy nc PRIV
ileges that are not theirs by right. and
these cannot lie taken away because
the country would make money by the
act.
T-. Lauar's report reflects q breadth
OF view and force Of expression which
give The documant;l literary value not
always TO be found in y state paper.