The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1888-04-20
Washington letter.


From cur Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, April 18th, 1888.
The President is Disguised, and he
has sufficient cause to be. Ten days
of precious time wasted in the House,
by members of his own party, thus
playing right into the hands of the
enemy, whose main hope of defeating
the Mills tariff bill is by delaying its
consideration. If anything political
had been at stake, the time might
have been excused, but there was not.
The deadlock was cansed by the fill
clustering of from fifty to seyenty-fiye
Democratic Congressman who were
opposed to the passage of the bill to
refund TO the several States and terri
tories the amounts paid by them to
the United States under the direct tax
levied by Congress in 1861.
For q week the flibusterers refused
to listen to any talk of compromising
in any way TO break the deadlock.
They also refused to take part in q
Democratic caucus on the bill. But
finally the filibusterers having discov-
cred that majority of the Democrats
would give mp to them to the extent
Of postponing the consideration of
this bill until next December, they
agreed to hold q caucus. In caucus
they agreed to postpone discussion of
the Direct Tax bill until the 9Th of
December next, when a vote is TO be
taken on it.
So the deadlock ended on Thurs
day with a decided victory for the
filibustering minority. 1t was the best
that could be done however, for the
filibusterers did mot hesitate to say,
they would continue lock legislation
for the remainder of the session before
they would surrender.
This filibustering of the past ten
days has probably injured the Demo
cratic party more than the Republi-
can party could have done in ten
months. Besides absolutely nothing
has been gained by it, and a danger
Gus precedent has been set before the
Republicans Of the House, which they
will not be slow to take advantage of
when an opportunity presents itself
The country is thankful, however,
that the deadlock is over and that
needed legislation is going forward.
The Democrats Of the House com
mittoe on pensions have improved the
Dependent Pension bill, which recent
! ly passed the Senate. They agreed
to an amendment, which strikes ont
the second and third sections that gave
SI2 a month TO all soldiers of the re-
belliOn who served three months and
are now from age or any other cause
incapaeltated for earning a support, or
the same sum TO the widow and chill.
dren of such soldiers as have died.
1t substitutes therefor a provision
regulating pensions by the term Of
service, at the rate of one cent a
month for each days service in the
army of the wars, Mexican, Indian or
rebellion, and that all soldiers whether
ineapacitated or not shall receive o
pension rated in this manner, after
they reach the age Of 90 years. The
Republicans Of the committee oppos-
ed the amendment.
/ While Senator Platt, of Connecticut,
was making prosy speech in favor
of his bill to admit South Dakota as
a State, Delegate Clifford, of Dakota,
who was sitting on one Of the com
Portable lounges in the rear of the
Senate Chamber, fell into a deep
sleep and snored audIbly, not waking
until the Senator had finished his
speech. Mfr. Clifford was one of the
victims of the deadlock, and doubtless
needed rest SO badly that he was nna,
bic TO honor with his attention The
speeeh which be had come over TO the
| Senate purposely TO hear
4 Ii is not thought likely that any
Legislation in regard to the admitiancg
Of any of the territories as States viii
be matured By passing both houses al
this session Of Congress. The Senate
now has before it a bill for the ad
mission Of South Dakota, and il viii
probably pass that body BY striel
lpaFty vote, but that is as far as IL il
likely to get, as the Democrats Of The
Honse have agreed in caucus that the
only territorial Legislation of the ses.
sion will be the passage or the Spring
er omnibus bill, which provides FOL
the admission Of Dakota, Montana
Washington and New Mexico, bui
there Is no hope that the Senate viii
pass this bill The people Of the fer.
ritories can blame the Republicans fol
keeping them out Of Statehood.
4 BIZ. Stanford, the CalIfoTnm mil
lioRaire bought q seat 10 the United
States Senate, as many others had
done before him, and ne now proposes
70 make some Investigations in order
to figure MP The probable cost Of buy.
ing he Republican nomination for tx
Presidency
Ex-Senstor Wallace, Of Pennsyl
sania, who was IN Washington thu
week eayslhe Democrats of bis STATE
are d aait for the denomination d
President Cleveland. The President
has received pressing iaFiistions this
Week IL visit Virginia and Yexas