New-York tribune., 1886-01-18
A DISORGANIZED PARTY.
AGREED ONLY ON LARGE APPROPRIATIONS.
THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE OF REPREsENTA-
TIvEs NEGLECTING THE PUBLIC BUSINESS.
IrnnM L ST AEE CORRESPONDENT TIE TRIBUNE

THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA-
TIvrs SEGLECTING THE PUBLIC BUSINESS
IFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON. Jan. 16. - The Democratic
leaders are not agreed on any defined pol icy
concerning the public questions that VIII come
before the House Hence, they are slow In get
ting 70 work. Notwithstanding the change In the
rules doubtful If thing more will be accomplished
by House than by the donothng body that preceded
IT, except the way Of making largo appropriations
The Administration sseekng to urge forward the puoo
business far interference from that quarter has
resulted in more harm than good Considerable OF the
dissatisfaction growing out Of the distribution OF the
committee places is charged to the interference OF CaD
net officers Secretary Bayard admits that he was res
sponsbe tho crowning outrage in the removal OF ex
Min lster Curtin fIom head Of the Committee on
Foreign Affairs to make place for the youthful Perry
Belmont and some other, though less conspicuous.
bunders are raceable to similar influences. Postmas-
ter-Genera Villas and the White House had much to do
with the makeup Of the Post Office Committee, and In
like manner some other committees formed to
carry out the ideas OF the Administration. In some
is known that written pledges were e1acteu as
to OF members certain questions to come before
committees Mr. Morrison OF course. next to Mr Car
lisle had the say concerning the committees,
but the Administrations influence is seen in various d
rcctOns This has ncehsed many members and aids In
the dsorganzation that prevails In the Demo
cratic ranks. Before six weeks" said @ friend
Of Mr. Randalrs to-day, this House will be In such
a muddle that nothing but Mr. Randalls guiding hand
will save the majority from destruction. The eager
ness with which Democrats running counter to
the Administration the silver and other ques
tions is an outcropping OF this rebelliOus feeling
There is good deal OF basis in the talk about the ten
dency Western and Southern members to combine
a free trade and silver policy with large approprla
tions for Western and Southern improvements In
private talks with great confidence Of his
hR
another attempt at horizontal reduction 1T the Senate
wants to defeat a tariff b he SAID recently letlt do
We do our part when we pass one ana MAKE our
record on the subject Then let the country decide be-
tween the two houses thetwo parties at the next
election have fear of the result. The Democratic
party is for REFORM and no true Democrat Will
stand in the way OF such legislation"
The bills already introduced call for several mill
ions OF dollars for public buildings and for many MILL
ions and harbors The engineers estimates
the amount that can be prohtibly expended IN
the next nscal year uncomp river and harDor
improvements amounts to $i2.S32. 100 Ii the amount
already asked in the shape of bills for new works. In
Gliding the protected Hennepn Canal is adie 1.-the total
will amount to $50 0O00o0 which Is asksdfor
the next fiscal year. In this enormous sum there Is
nothing included for New-YOrk Harbor. Mr. Hewitt
says that only small will be asked this to
complete the survey begun last summer. in
order that definite plan may be agreed
upon before beginning the work OF Improvement.
Conversations with Democratic members OF tho River
and Hsrbor Committee show that they favor liberal ap-
propratiOns Delegations from " the south Atlantic Ports
Convention" the Monongahela Improvement Assoca-
tion the Kansas City Convention the Tuscaloosa Con
vention. and from other such bodies have ap
piled for hearings before the River and Harbor Commit
tee there is every indication that 1t will recommend
a River and Barbor bill that will exceed the "Jumbj"
one that passed the XLVIIth Congress-
The Military Committee. OF which General Viole is n
In nepdl Al
to carry out Mr. Tilden's ideas concerning the need
Of seaooast dofences But Mr. Morrison and his friends
declare that lit is much more Important to Improve the
commercial highways Of the Nation than TO spend money
In works that may hereafter prove worthless IL not
impossible however that large appropriation Will be
S75,0o0Oo0 for educational purposes is also likely TO
pass. Many Southern members who at hrst opposed
that measure are now Its warm advocates The great
portion OF the money Will 20 into the hands OF the
South aud the Southern politicians begin TO appreciate
the advantage OF handling such "a fund. II the
passed the Senate at the last session 1t fairly
to 20 through The Naval Committee IA avowedly In
IsvST ne% aud y that hey IN
favor Of constructing theu in Government yards rec
large Appropriation for the purchase OF machinery
and will afford opportunity 10 give employment TO
army OF Democrats q, large ami unnecessarily in
creased expense to the taxpayers. 80
works there bsjantal unanmity tho Democratic
ranks Mr. Randall, Mr. Holman. and a few others op-
pose it, but their opposition will be powere,s as there
are some Republicans who. through the ogrOng pro.
cess, may be Induced for those bills. But when
ii To questions that concern the welfare OF the
entire people the Democratic party Is badly divided. Mr.
Morrison may be abe TO pass tah bill but that Is
doubtful On the silver question there ia no unanmlty
In the party, ana 1t Is the same way IN re
gard TO Interstate commerce ana other mat
tiers. There are about sixty members who
want to make speeches tho sverquestiOn and there
will be many the tariff Taking ali these
things into consideration therefore the outlook for ben
e6cia legislation Ia abOut bad II cOuld be- Already
than month OF time has been wasted and the
joriy In the House shows inclination to improve In
Its methods. The Senate N passing bills I'm about the
way last year. though the hope OF their receiv
fair consideration In the House Ia wing less and
less