The Southern herald., 1888-01-14
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 1888

The two most important events
of the week are the reassembling Of
Congress and the resumption of
work by the special international
parliament-the Fisheries Com
mission. The House Of Represent
atives heard only yesterday the an
nouncoment of the arrangement Of
its committees, but the Senate is
already in the midst of battle.
The first matter of consequence
presented in the Senate after the
holiday recess was the resolution
in reference to the distribution Of
the Presidents message. This was
made the pretext for Mr.. Sherman,
in his feverish haste and anxiety to
get even with Mr.. Blaine in making
an open bid for the Republican
Presidential nomination, to launch
a haranguc, something after the
manner of a stump speech, in which
he sharply takes President Cleve-
land and the democracy to task on
the tariff question. But the con.
suming aspirations ofthe Ohio Sen
ator have led him to adopt a course
of conduct wholly acceptable to the
democracy, as is shown by the mas
terly rejoinder ex-senator Voorhees,,
who was only too glad to avail him
self of this occasion to emphasize
the views of the President and the
policy Of the party.
The tariff debate, thus brayely
opened, may continue for some
time in the Upper House, as sever
al of the Senators have announced
their intention to discuss that issue
in all its bearings. Still it is pos
sible that the tariff debate may be
interfered with at any moment by
the Blair Educational bill, which
has precedence of all other matters
on account of its being the only
unfinished business" The New
Hampshire Senator declares it to be
his purpose to push his bill from
day to day until the question is
disposed Of. He expresses himself
as being confident that his cherish
cd measure will pass both houses
and he believes the President will
approve it. As to the latter opin-
ion, q prominent Congressman re-
marked, Mr.. Blair's hope for his
bill is without foundation. In all
of Mr.. Cleveland's career, he has
never either by deed or word, CON-
mitted himself to any scheme of pa
ternal legislation like the Blair bill.
Gle said further that his Demo-
cratic brethren were divided upon
this question, many Of the leading
men of the party being on the af-
tirmative side. But he thought it
would be better to act on the Napo-
leonic military maxim of finding
out what our enemies wish us to do
and then pursue a contrary course,
He thought President Cleveland
would be likely to regard it in that
light.
Ofimportant proposed legislation
in the House it may be we'll to
mention Mr.. Springsr's bill to Gre
ate the Territory of Oklahoma by
consolidating the tribes in the In
dian Territory under that form Of
government. 1t is understood that
another bill on the same subject but
Of an entirely different character
will be introduced. The latter
scheme proposes to remove the In
dians to the eastern part ofthe Ter
ritory and to form a new Territory
out of the western portion, adding
thereto the region of country known
as "No Mans Land (Which would
make Territory nearly as large as
the State Of Ohio. 1t is said this
plan will be strengthened by the
support of the Administration.
There is probability that Wash
ington, Montana and Dakota Ter
ritories will be admitted as states
this year upon the condition that
they shall not vote for President
until the election in 1892. Repre-
sentative Grain, Of Texas, is pre-
pairing to submit his constitutional
amendment to change the time ol
meeting of Congress. The 31st Of
December at noon IS substituted
for the 4th of March as the time
for the beginning and termination
of the official terms of members ot