The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-05-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D C., !
MAY 10 1SS6.A

w hIdV u iiao DCSii oOASN w w
wards advancing the enterprise, and
are disposed to criticise the dila-
tories of our lawmakers in regard
to this matter. The Exposition
board is composed of about one
hundred and fifty energetic bust
ness men, and if they were assisted
by the coveted appropriation, the
great work would begin without de-
lay.
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 assem-
BILE anywhere. Not only can the
Government contribute many col
lections of interest to this EXPOSE
ton which would not be allowed to
go out of Washington, but if a per-
manent Exposition building be
erected, many thingswould be turn
ed over to it that now take up room
in the Department buildings, room
whichis needed for the actual trans
action of public business.
The Government has completely
outgrown all the provisions made
for it thirty or forty years ago and
supposed to be adequate for at least
a century. The Capitol is slammed
the library has overhowed even
the Senate and the House are push
ed for committee rooms the White
House is too small; the Executive
Departments have had to use addi-
tional buildings outside. Nothing
has W. proved large enough for
the growing ~exigencies of our Gov
ernment.
Wednesday field day in the
House of Representative and Mr..
Hewitt, a sturdy Democrat from
New York, deserves the thanks of
every American taxpayer for his
assertion of the rights ofthe people
at large against the demagogues in
Congress and the claim agents in
the lobby. His protest in the House
against a further waste of public
money in reckless pension legisla-
ton was as timely as it was vigor-
Gus. The embarrassment of south-
ern members in trying to stem this
current has been the subject. of
much comment. They are liable
to have their motive misconstru-
ed, and all the disclaimers they can
utter will not relieve them Of the
wrongful odium. Among the North
ern members the Republicans are
committed to the policy of heavy
pension appropriations, 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 because the
pension system affords the readiest
outlet for the surplus which accu-
mulates in the Treasury.
The bill upon which Representa-
alive Hewitt made his savage as
sault was one to allow bounty
money to be paid to commissioned
officers in the late war who had
enlisted as privates, and had failed
on account of promotion to get a
bounty. He declared that the limit
of endurance on the part of the tax
payer had been reached and that
the discomfort on account Of excess
sive taxation was breaking out in
riots, dynamite and death. Those
who wanted to dive their hands
down into the Treasury took adj
vantage of the delicate position tie
southern members T placed in
being subject to the charge of dis
loyalty if they resist the steal. But
no one could bring this charge a.
gainst him and he would make the
fight. 'The question to-day" he
said, '|is social order" At all costs
and at all hazards Unjust be main
tanned. 1t is better to have bad
laws than no laws; it is better tc
have tyranny than anarchy, and ii
is measures like this that are fore.
ing this issue upon the people. The
House should address itselfto mea-
sures of relief-to the reduction OF
taxation"
eff the reduction of taxation is
the prime necessity of the hour
why does not your majority reduce
it?." asked Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa
"That is exactly the burden OF
my remarks" replied Mr.. Hewitt
"The Democrats Of this House have
a majority. There is a bill pending
which will reduce taxes about $25,.
100000. 1 know that efforts have
been made to prevent the considera-
ton and passage Of that bill; and
will go with the gentleman from 10,
wa i'll sack-cloth and ashes, if neces,
sary, in orderto make atonement fol
the failure of this House and my
party and administration to fulfil
the pledges they made to the PEG,
pie when they asked for their votes
and received the verdict which
placed them in power. Yes! Yes
we shall be traitors to every obi
CATION which We assumed, to every
duty which we are sent here to full.
fill, unless we wake up to the senti,
ment of the people on this great
question, and instead of imposing
taxes and making new appropria-
tons, reduce the taxes and Tighten
the load on the energies of the PEG.
pie"
This was the pith of the attack
upon the bill, and although there
are many in sympathy with Mr.
Hewitt politically, who do not agree
with him on the Tariff question
there arc none who do not com.
mend him for his abuse of the pres.
cnt system of wasting the peoples