The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-05-13
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, May Z, 1885.

The prospect for the establishment
# a permanent Exposition here In
$50 is gradually taking shape. The
promoters of the scheme are very im-
patient for Congress to do what It has
been asked to do towards advancing
,he enterprise, and are disposed TO
criticise the dilatOriness of our law
makers in regard to this matter. The
board is composed OF about |
one hundred aud fifty energetic busl- |
ness men, and if they were assisted by
the coveted appropriation, the great
work would begin without delay. One
of the first things they did was to 80
to the railroads and get them to agree
to low fares, without which no great
crowd will assemble anywhere. Not
only can the Government contribute
many collections of interest to this
Exposition which would not be allow.
ed to go out of Washington, but If a
permanent Exposition building be
erected many things would be turned
over to it that new take up room In
Department buildings, room which is
actually needed for the transaction of
public business. Thu Government
has completely outgrown all the pro-
visions made for it thirty or forty
years ago and supposed to be adequate
for at least century, The Capitol is
iammed-the library has Overfiowed; I;
even the Senate and the House are
pushed for committee rooms; the
White House is too small the Execu
tive Departments have had to use ad-
ditional buildings outside. Nothing
has ever proved large enough for the
growing exigencies of our govern
ment.
Wednesday was a field day in the
House of Representatives, and Mr..
Hewitt, sturdy Democrat from New
York, deserves the thanks of every
American tax payer for his assertion
of the rights of the people at large
against the demagogues in Congress
and the claim agents in the lobby.
His protest in the House against fur.
ther waste of public money in reckless
pension legislation was as timely as il
was vigorous. The embarrassment ol
southern members in trying to stem
this current has been the subject o.
much comment. They are liable tt
have their motives misconstrued, anC
all the disclaimers they can utter viii
not relieve them of the wrongful
odium. Among the Northern mem
bers the Republicans are committed
to the policy of heavy pension appro
priations, not only in pursuance of tn
standard the party has set up for itsel
in its treatment of everything con
nected with the war era, but becaus
the pension system affords the readies
outlet for the surplus which accumu
Jates in the Treasury. The bill upol
which Representative Hewitt mad
his savage assault was one to ALLOW
bounty money to be paid to commits
stoned officers in the late war VIII
had enlisted as privates, and had, o.
account of promotion, failed to get
) bounty. He declared that the limit
endurance OH the part of the tax paye
had been reached, and that the dis
: content on account of excessive tai
' alton was breaking out in riots, dy
q Mantle and death. Those who wante
l to dive their hands down into tn
g Treasury took advantage of the del
cate position the southern member
e are placed it,, being subject to th
8 charge Of disloyalty if they resist tf
: steal. But no one could bring tn
It charge against him, and he woul
!. make the fight. 1.-The question today
g he said, sis social order. At all cos
J, and at all hazards it must be mail
e tanned. 1t is better to have bad Law
= than no laws; it is better to have ty
IS amy than anarchy, and it is measure
g like this that are forcing this issl
t. upon the people. The House shou
address itself to measures of relief
the reduction of taxation"
eff the reduction of taxation is Il
= prime necessity of the hour, why do
# not your majority reduce it?" ask
Il Mr.. Hepburn, of Iowa.
- "That is exactly the burden of n
remarks" replied Mr., Hewitt. "Tl
Democrats of this House have q M
10 jority. There is bill pending whi'
a. will reduce taxes about $25 600, 600.
=, know that efforts have been made
10 prevent the consideration and passa
10 of that bill, and 1 will go with t
, gentleman from Iowa, in sackclo
\ and ashes, if necessary, in order
;. atone for the failure of this Hot
" and my party and administration
n fulfill the pledges they made to
n people when they asked for In
wv votes and received the verdict whi
placed them in power. Yes Yes
shall be traitors to every obligati
which we assumed, to every du
which we are sent here to fulfil, uni
i'd we wake up to the sentiment of
:" people on this great question, and
e. stead of imposing taxes and maxi
n. new appropriations, reduce the ia,
so and tighten the load on the energ
u of the people.
ge This was the pith of the attack uI
al the bill, and although there are ma
he in sympathy with Mr.. Hewitt polit
IS. ally, who do not agree with him
ds the tariff question, there are none "
nd do not commend him for his abuse
i'd the present system of wasting
90, peoples money for undeserved p
is, sions. The fight was stubborn
ire both sides of the Hall, and lasted fr
lu- an early hour in the afternoon III
ith after midnight.
1se