Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-05-21
Washington Letter.
From sur Regular Correspondent.

18s9is gradually taking shape. Ths
promoters of the scheme are very i'm
patient for Congress to do what it
has been asked to do towards ad-
vancing the enterprise, and are dis
posed to criticise the dilatoriness of
our law makers in regard to this
matter. The Exposition board is
composed of about one hundred and
fifty energetic business men, and if
they we're assisted by the coveted
appropriation, the great work would
begin without delay.
One Of the first things they did
was to go to the railroads and get
them to agree to low fares, without
which no great crowd will assemble
anywhere. Not only can the Gov.
ernment contribute many collections
of interest to this Exposition which
would not be allowed to go out of
Washington. but if permanent ex-
position building be erected, many
things would be turned over to it
that now take up room in tho De-
partment buildings, room which is
needed for actual transaction of pub
lie business.
The Government has completely
outgrown all the provisions made for
it thirty or forty years ago and sup
posed to be adequate for at least a
century. The Capitol is jammed-
the library has overflowed; even the
Senate and the House are pushed
for committee room; tie White
House is to small; the Executive
Departments have had to use addi-
tional buildings outside. Nothing
has ever proved large enough for tho
growing exigencies of our Govern.
ment.
Wednesday was field day in the
House of Representatives and Mr..
Hewitt. a sturdy Democrat from
New York, deserves the thanks of
every American taxpayer for his as
sertion II 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 n further waste of public
money in reckless pension legislation
was as timely as it was vigorous.
The embarrassment of southern
members in trying to stem this cur
rent has been the subject of much
comment. They are liable to have
their motives misconstrued, and all
the disclaimers they can utter will
not relieve them of the wrongful
odium. Among the Northern men,
bers the Republicans are committed
to the policy of heavy pension appro-
priations, not only in pursuance OF
the standard the party has set up for
itself in its treatment of everything
connected with the war era, but be-
cause the pension system affords the
readiest outlet for the surplus which
accumulates in the Treasury.
The bill upon which Representative
Hewitt made his savage assault was
one to allow county money to be
paid to commissioned officers in the
late war who had enlisted as privates
and had failed on account of promo
ton to get bounty. He declared
that the limit of endurance on the
part of the taxpayer had been
reached, aud that the discomfort or
account OF excessive taxation wal
breaking out in riots, dynamite and
death. Those who wanted to dive
their hands down into the Treasury
took advantage of the delicate posi-
ton tho Southern members ART
placed in, being subject to the charge
of disloyalty if they resis: the steal
But no one could bring this charge
against him and he would make tht
fight. The question today" hi
said, " is social order. At all costs
and at all hazards it must be main
tanned. 1t is better to have bad
laws than no laws; it. is better tt
have tyranny than anarchy, and it il
measures like this that are forcing
this issue upon the people. Th'
House should address itself to meas
ures of relief-tO the reduction O
taxation"
"If the reduction of taxation Ii
the prime necessity OF the hour, wh!
does not your majority reduce II? :?
asked Mr.. Hepburn OF Iowa.
"That is exactly the burden of m.
remarks" replied Mr.. Hewitt
"The Democrats of this House hav
q majority. There is bill pending
which will reduce taxes about $25,
OOO,OO know that efforts hav
been made to prevent the considera
tion and passage of that bill; and
will 60 with the gentleman from
Iowa in sack-cloth and ashes,
necessary, in order to make atone
ment for the failure of this Hous
and my party and administration +
ful6ll the pledges they made to tn