St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-12-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 14th, 1886.
The first week of the new session OF
Congress shows the Senate's record as
blank, so far as public business is CON
cerned. But the much abused House
I.of Representatives, which is too bulky
to transact business, which is composed
Of a dozen heterogeneous elements, and
which is under Democratic control, ac-
cCmplished some useful work.
The Tariff question will not down.
1t has made its appearance several
times since the session began at nm
expected times and places. Senator
Merrill introduced it with The same
speech he has made fo1 about twenty
successive years. SenalOr Beck, who
is heartily in favor of radical c'ednc-
ton of customs duties, answered the
Senator from Vermont in il speech il
which he quoted Secretary Manning,
Seuttor Sherman, and tAe Bible in sup
port a. free trade, or fair trade He
quoted what Senator Sherman had
once said in advocacy OF the utmost
freedom, of intercourse between lIa
tons
The Ohio Senator next took the t1@or
to answer the remarks of the able kesl-
tuckian. but his speech was simply aAl
arraignment of the Democratic party.
Mr.. Sherman is working with his usuaa
adroitness and with more etsergy than
any of the ether Republican aspirants
for nomination ut the National conven-
ton in 1885. He has never forgiven
Gen. Gartielt, for having gEten the
nomination at Chicago when he eXpec
ted it himself.
While many Democrats seem tn think
that Mr.. ShermaG is il strong maG with
his party, the truth is that his Republi-
can associates do not like him. He is
not Il man whom anybody could like
without great effort. As in the case
him must be an acquired taste. Indeed
there is such complication Of dislikes
and tlatreds and old srudgeS among
the Republican aspirants that not many
men Of real eminence in the party are
solicitOus for the nomination in 1888.
Said one of them Il few days since /
what would be the use of getting a
nomination. The Democrats have /
come in to stay for long time
Returning to the Tariff, 1t seems now
to be a foregone conclusion that the .
Two opposing forces in Congress will |
cross swords on this issue during the
winter. Both sides are in earnest An !
Ohio Member remarked yesterday This
thing has gone on long enough. The
Tariff must be reduced. We have
hundred millions coming in which we
10 not know what to do wit b.
The Tariff retOrmers and their oppo-
lents have been consulting with each
,ther. and it is thought another effort
tor Tariff reform will be made this
week. Speculation upon the probable
'esult OF that effort would be mere
Wild conjecture. Whether Mr.. Morri-
sons tax-reducing measure joined with
Mr.. Hewitt's customs administration
measure will pass, or whether one will
PASS without the other, or whether some
substitute for the one or for both will
PASS, or whether every Tariff PROPOSE
ion will be rejected, it is impossible to
Jay. At present the proposition to
lbolish the internal revenue taxes on
whisky and tobacco seems to be the
most formidable rival Of Mr.. Morrison's
to reduce customs duties
Ind to extend the list OF articles that
hall be entitled to free entry.
The Maine Representative in Con-
,ress are all Republicans and so they
10 not indulge in any very fervent
praise of the published correspondence
between our Department of State and
he British Foreign Office in regard to
he fisheries question. The only fault
ha1 In RI find with l,,u,,,, ;o