The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-01-27
WASHINGTON LETTER
FROM our Regular Correspondent

WAsHrseToN. D. O.. Jan. 23, 1888.
TIL first two bills passed by the pres
ent Congress to become laws are, the
act in reference to printing and writing
on second, third and fourth class mail
matter, and the one which amends the
Law in relation to the Commissioner of
Fish and Fisheries President hav-
ing approved both during the past
week. During the period in question,
Congress did little of Importance. The
Senate passed the bill to credit and
pay to the several States and Terlitor-
tories all moneys collected under the
direct tar act, approved Aug. s, 1861.
But the great work of the Senate dur
ing the past week, was the confirma-
ton of Mr. Lamar, despite the treach-
erous opposition Of the Republicans to
that brilliant and distinguished stat, s.
man. The Ex-Secretary passed through
the long contest uEscathed, and he
wears his new and browning honor
with becoming modesty and character
ist,c dignity. In accordance with Gus
tom, the new Associate Justice was
assigned seat on the extreme left Of
his fellow Justices.
The Senate had under consideration
the Blair bill, but as usual reached no
conclusion. Messrs. Blair and Reagan
had rather heated discussion over the
third question, in which the former
was decidedly worsted Ex-Justice OF
the Supreme Court, Strong, expresses
the opinion that the bill is unconstitu
tionaf. Senator Hoar has introduced a
service pension bill, which is the most
radical measure of the kind yet pre-
sented, providing as it does that all
officers aud enlisted men who served iD
the army, navy, or marine corps. in
cluding regulars aud volunteers at any
time during the late civil war, shall he
entitled to q pension of one cent fer
each days service, in addition to an,
pension granted for disability. This.
in face Of the fact that $4,000, 400
will be spent on pensions this year, and
the further fact, that the House Com
miteee calls for $4,000. 900 more for
the same purpose next year. Comment
10 unnecessary.
Both the Senate and the House have
passed the bill appropriating the sum
Of $685. to establish agricultural
experiment stations as attachment
TO the various agricultural colleges
throughout the country.
Owing to the absence from sickness,
of Speaker Carlisle, and Mr.. Mills, who
has succeeded Mr.. Morrison as the
Democratic leader of the House, the
proceedings of that body we're less in
teresting than usual the past week.
Half day was consumed in obstruct
ing consideration of the bill introduced
by Mr.. Wilkins, Of Ohio. to increase
National bank circulation, and the bal
auce of the same day was devoted to
speech making over the acceptance of
pictures of the three Speakers of tn
House furnished by Massachusetts,.
whose counterfeit preseniments have
been added to the historical portrait
gallery that graoes the south wing o..
the Capitol. The principal orators
were w. P. G. Breckinridge, of Ken
lucky, and Ex Gov. Long, of Massa
chusetts, and great GRO ~d packed the
floor aud galleries to hear their elo-
quent utterances.
Another day of the valuable time Of
the House was wasted over the con-
sideration of the Carlisle Thobe con-
test. For some unknown reason,
thirty-fse Democrats were absent in
New York, aud the Republicans sullen
ly refused to vote, thus bl cking the
wheels of the House. But Mr.. Crisp,
chairman of the Committee on Elec
tione, announces his determination not
to permit the transaction of other
business "ntil .his contest is settled.
The tariff reforners have won the
first preliminary skirmish in the Ways
and Means Committee. NJ. Mckinley
of Ohio, who shares with Reed, of
Maine. the Republican leadership of
the House, moved 10 take up his nil to
repeal the tobacco tax, but the Demo
cratic majority refused to discuss any
specific tax reduction hill, proposing t.
consider that class of bills only in con-
nection with the general tariff reduction
bill. This resolution was passed by a
strict parry vote-5 to 4.
Report has it that Assistant Secre
tary Muldrow is to be mad- Commiss
ioner Of the General Land Office. This
would be promotion in one sense, but
not in another; the salary is five hun
dred dollars less than that now receiv.
ed by the Secretary, but he would have
an advantage in dispen.ing patronage
which be has not the power to do in
his present position.