Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-07-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., June %, 1886.


To THE South KENTUoKIAN
The house spent nearly week on
the legislative and executive appro-
priation bill, Among other changes
in the direction of economy was a re-
duction of the salary Of the Commits
sioncr of Pensions from $4,000 TO
$4,000. The latter is the amount fixed
by law, but for several years it has
been put in the appropriation bills at
$4,000. Whenever the subject of PEN
sions comes up in Congress the skirm-
ishers on both sides immediately open
fire and a general engagement be-
comes imminent. This Congress has
passed larger number of private
pension bills so far than any Congress
before, but the President is putting
his foot down firmly upon the policy
of voting the peoples money away
Unfortunately. The House, too, is
cndeavoriug to put a check on pen
sion legislation. With that object
ostensibly in view Representative
Morrison reported from the Commit
tee resolution amending the rules,
so that in the passage of general PEN
sion bills the bill may state from
what source the money shall be rails
ed to pay the pensions. 1t is said
that Mr.. Morrison advocates direct
taX-such as an income taX-for the
payment of pensions. In that way
the people will be made to feel the
onerous tax, and then demand of Con-
gress a more judicious dispensing of
pensions. Mr.. Morrison has also an
Interior object in view. He knows
that so long as such immense sums
are appropriated for pensions there
can be no reduction in the tariff. Two
days were lost in trying to get vote
on the resolution. The question came
up one day at II o'clock and the Re-
publicans began at once 10 tillibuster.
The point WAS raised that quorum
of members was not present and vot-
ing. A "call of the House" was Or
dered and it was found thatsuch was
the fact. The doors were then closed
and locked so as to keep in what
members were there, and the Ser
geant-at-Arms and his assistants sent
out in search of the absentees, with
orders to arrest them whenever found
and bring them before the bar of the
House. The required number was
not found, and So the locked in men,
bers were kept in "duramce vile" till
> o'clock, the fixed hour for adjourn
ment. The same thing was repeated
on the next day and the "call" lasted
from II to D again, so that for two
days the faithful were actually
locked inside the House chamber.
The days were monotonous because
no other business could be transacted.
The members "whiled away" the
hours in smoking, in reading news
papers and in sending out the page
for some lunch and a little "strong
tea to wash it down with. Others
availed themselves of the enforced
opportunity to get up back cores
pondence and to write friendly let
ters to useful influential constituents
at home. Signs of relief and rounds
of applause were heard when, at the
opening on the third day, it was
stated that that the consideration OF
the Civil appropriation bill set spec
tally for that day would be taken up.
The Morrison resolution will come
up again at an early day when botl
the Randall and Morrison men will
Ijoin hands and the resolution proba-
bly, be passed.
The letter of the Secretary of the
Navy TO the President of the Board
of Inspection of foreign vessels a
New York has no significant bearing
on our fishery troubles with Canada
The Secretary is merely DESTROYS O
getting list and description of the
steamers of the merchant marine tina
could be utilized in warfare in cast
of an emergency. lie is familiar.
lzing himself with all the details O.
our navy and merchant marine ser
vice, so as to impress his views upol
Congress next session. Time is only
being taken by the forelock, an(
while not much will be done for tn,
service this session, next session BIZ
things may be looked for.
The Departments are all busy re
ceiving bids and awarding contract
for furnishing necessaries to the Gov
eminent during the coming yeal
Judging from the number of bid
and the prices charged, the contract
ors still have faith in the Govern
! ments ability to meet its obligations
, All the talk about depleted Treasu
y ny has no effect in soaring offbidderI
, The money of one party appears TO b
! just as good as that of another, all
: just as much of it seems to be spen
The money appropriated for the pas
year must be spent or else turne
back into the Treasury, and rattle
than do the latter all the brussels cal
: pets are being taken up and thor
u sands Of yards of mating laid in il
: place. Uncle Sam is a good house
J. keeper, and believes in having me-
u mating every summer and new bod
. brussels and velvet carpets in the fal
> The President, with his old la
: partner, Mr.. Dissel, of Buffalo, Co
Lamont and Postmaster General V
y las, took a three days trip dow
u Chesapeake Bay last week on IL
J Government Steam Yacht Corsai
% brought over from New York for IL
:, purpose. Mrs. Cleveland staid {
I, home. III.