Richland beacon., 1888-01-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.


Al The lose If the year i, is probably the
proper thin: to briefly review the Govern
,iirni's financial condition. During the month
# December, the receipts from al souTce-
were l0,io0,6sl, MT gain Of n"a"y
nineteen millions. Out Of winch ..noant abou;
three and a half millions interest upon he
pu5lic debt must be paid, leaving the iotai
surplus for December nearly fifteen millions
aud naIE during that month the NATIONAL
icJt was reduced fifteen and Il quarter
creased little more than one hunrcd aud
seventeen million dolllrs-,he largest reduce
lions being made IN June and Nav.
Manv of the Congressman who visited
th.ir homes during The recess, have returned
ami Others arr daily arfiving-al lo"1ln-
w,ih impotence 10 the re-asscnihin" o.
Congress. when the committees Will h.
auuluncrd and the work OF the Session vi
trg.n 10 earnest 1t Is undersIco! that
aud troublesome undertaking Of MAX
~. cut his committee lists, and with hl>
.,rar experience, II is confidently hriirVrd
r',c' hi> wore Will I.c acceptable. although
many members viii oe disappointed ~ then
assignments Those not familiar with the
workings OF Congress ional ambition cannot
coucriyc of the JeaIou>ies aud ticserlngs al
aspiring Statesmen Ia such matters. II
members a,uc does not appear first on a
committee, he would ike 10 be SECOND or
third; every Congressman la, Il settled aver
sion 20 appearing las on committee.
Under the lead Of those RcPuhlc ms ma
Iignants, Senators Sherman, l!oar ani Eds
munds, a concerted eiiust Is being made 10
defeat the continuation of Mr.. Lamar, bu, ii
viii probably .il Of it, purpose, although 1t
may defer action Oh the nomination several
weeks. The proposed Promotion oi the
Secretary will I've rIade the occasion Of a
lengthy and heated partisan debate y the
Renubcans, ia which the South will be
severely assailed. Senator Sawyer, Of Wis
censinn, aud one or two ether Rerubiica"
Senators. have iutimated Willingness IL
cote for Mr. Lamar's translation, ;nd there
is little doubt of his ultimate success.
The Democratic Senators are very pro-
nonnced in favor OF tariff reform, and they
have appointed COMMITTEE, of which Mr.
Kenna is chairman. TO confer with the party
leaders in the House OF the issue o. Ia. re-
ducrion, as such bill must necessarily
originate in that body. Mr. Kenna's elec-
ticn is significant, as lis views of the question
of laril legislation aIe known to he conser-
va,ivc, aud it is therefore thought tia, he Is
inclined to favor compromise mea
Both parties realize that the tariff must 9
preparations with the view Of accomplishing
that Office; and a: the same time preserving
partisan ali2nmcnts. II remains 4 be seen
whether such difficult feat in political
gymnas,c can be executed successfully.
The repor, of the Pacific Railroad Com.
mission will be one of the most important
measures brought T. the attention of Con-
gress, and it is hoped that this giant corpora.
ton will be compelled TO fulfill its contract
with the government whose foibearance il
has exhausted. Ex-GOvernor Patson's
minority report is a most savere but jus
: arrasnmen,, in which Republican and mil
lionaire United States Senator Stanford and
his bonanza associates are handled in q
} m amer truly refreshing and convincing, and
. it is hoped that his views will direct tie
, policy of Congress.
, Among the Presidents Christmas present;
, were fr zen watermelon ani live colder
eagle 1t is supposed that the melon wa:
: disposed of at the White House, bot NJ,
: Cleveland having no place about the man
sion Tor the proud bird of Liberty, presented
him to the "Zoo' n, the National Museum, {,
keep company with the BEAR deer, prairie
: dog. wolves, aud red foxes recently receive,
from the Wesi. and which it is believed vii
form the nucleus of large collection o
4 nerican wild animals and fowls.