Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-12-18
WASHINGTON TT
From OR Regular Correspondent.

WAH1NGToS, Dec. 4, 1886.
About the time this letter reaches you
the two houses of the forty-ninth congress
will-meet %andsopen in the usual way for
the short. busy session. The rush of con-
gressmen to the city, and of the crowd
that always follows them, began yesterday,
and will continue for the next month.
The Indications are that there will be a
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 at
! tention in the minds of the members who
are coming in, is whether anything can or
will be done with the tariff this winter.
The high-protectionists are bound that
there shall be no reduction of purely pro
tectiye duties, if it can be prevented. The
| reform leaders are as anxious that some
Difference shall be paid to the promises of
the party to which the majority belong.
7 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 it is dis
tracing, and as experience for several
long and fruitless years has shown, leads
to no practical results, nor even points out
practical methods of reform.
A Pennsylvania member-elect. of the
fiftieth congress, who has been here dur
ing the week, was talking about the sur
plus millions and about the probability of
the administration being able to submit a
plan for their reduction. He thinks a
great deal will depend upon what the
president will say. He thinks the pres
ident has before him now the greatest OPP
portunity of his life. at oun to a
crime" said he, 'to heap up needless
taxes in the treasury in time of peace, and
if the president takes a bold stand against
it he will have the country to back him."
Just at this time the president is giving
the last polishing strokes to the message
with which he has been wrestling for the
last few weeks. He has had a very hard
time with the figures of those surplus
millions, and in tryingto solve the problem
for reducing those needless taxes,-so
hard a time, indeed, that he has grown
nervous and irritable and explosive over
the work, to the great CONSERVATION of his
%obsequious attendants. Secretary Mann
ing.s annual report will deal almost ex-
clusively with the surplus and the best
method of reducing the taxes, and it will
be interesting to see whether he, or the
president can produce tie better financial
matter.
The report of the postmaster general
was before the public more than a week
ago, bat the report Of Secretary Endicott
will not amount to anything this year, nor
will that of the attorney general. Secre-
tary Bayard will make nc report, but will
represent the state department by sending
to congress the diplomatic dispatches of
the year. He is not discouraged, however,
by the Indifference shown at the last ses-
sion of congress to his recommendations.
Secretary Whitney will ask for five more
millions this year in addition to what has
already been given for a new navy, and
Secretary Lamar will reiterate his views
on the. settlement of the Indian problem.
He advocates a generous policy on the
part of the government towards its wards,
ard mensepmzaend such
coming
indepe4e11UK III ess care Our In