St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-04-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, April Cd, 1888.

WASHINGTON, April Cd, 1888.
Revenue reform has made some per-
ceptible Roadway during the past week.
It looks now as if the Mills tariff bill
stood good chance to pass the House.
The improvement in the outlook is not
owing to any conversions having been
made among the Democratic followers
of Mr.. Randall-they are still as obsti-
nate as the one man who abused the
other eleven on the jury because they
would not agree with him,-but is ow-
ing principally to a revolt in the Repnb-
lican ranks, against the high protection
policy. This revolt is led by Mr.. Mel
son, of Minnesota, who made one of
the strongest revenue reform speeches
vet heard in the House, Thursday. He
went over the whole question in a mas
terly manner; he favors the retention
of the internal revenue taxes, and A
general lowering of the tariff. In regard
to high wages and high tariff, he said ::
"It has been the fashion to ascribe the
higher wages of this country to the tar
lift. | consider that false pretense
England has free trade. while Austria,
Germany, Italy and France have pro-
lection, and yet wages are much higher
in England than in either of the other
countries. The main cause of the low
wages in Europe, is to be found ia the
density of population, and greater sup
ply of labor 1t is thought that the
number of Republicans who practically
agree with Mr.. Nelson, is large enough
to ensure the passage of the Mills bill,
if they do not allow themselves to be
whipped back into the party traces.
The report of the majority of the
Ways andllMeans Committee on the
Mills tariff bill which has been prema-
turely made public, though it has not
been yet presented to the House, is an
broadcast among the people. It will
doubles make many conversions to rev.
enne reform.
The President went to New York
Friday to attend the funeral Of Ex-
Governor Dorsheimer,
To-day was the eighth and last day
of the International Council of Women
1t has been great success in every res
pect.
The funeral of the late Chief Justice
Waite in tile Hall of the House of Rep
resentatives, on Wednesday last, was
largely attended.
The bills pensioning Mrs. Gen. Logan
and Mrs. Gen. Blair have passed tile
House. They get $4,000 year.
The naval board of coast defenses or
ganized last year, are to be called upon
to investigate the matter of defenses.
There is an appropriation of $4,000. 900
available for this work, and Secretary
Whitney is anxious that it should he
judiciously used.
Gen. Terry has applied to the Secre-
tary OF War to he examined for retire.
YaH haa IS 4
1t is extremely DOUBTFUL whether the
the limitation clause-limtIng the time
to July /, 1880. as the latest date for fl
ing claims under the arrears of pension
act of 1879. There are several bills of
this nature before the House Committee
on pensions. A subcommittee has
been appointed to consider them land re-
port to the full committee. Gen. Black,
Commissioner of Pensions, estimates
that it will require between 100000
700 and $300,000.000 to pay all the
claims for arrears of pensions, should
the limitation clause be repealed.
The Republicans of the Senate are in
a badly demoralized condition. They
held caucus Thursday, in order to en-
deaver to bring about party harmony,
but it was a very bad failure. The
caucns was called to act on the bill au-
thorizing the Secretary of the Treasury
to purchase q. s. bonds. which has
passed the House, and is now before
the Senate. Senator Stanford and sew
eral Others announced that they would
not be bound by caucus action on this
or any other financial measure. The
caucus, after appointing committee of
eleven to arrange the order of business,
and report the same to another caucus
to be held this week, adjourned.
Public printer Benedict is now strict
Iy enforcing the eight hour law in
everv department of the Government
printing office. The force is divided
into two sections, one beginning work
at a. M, and continuing until p. m.
with an hour for dinner, the other be-
ginning at 8 p. m. and working until
a. nj.
Johnny Sherman is tired already, and
it liz said will shortly make public let
ter Announcing his retirement from the
Presidential canvass. The shadow Of
Jimmy Blaine is over them all.
It ia not believed that a Chief Justice
will he appointed for some time to come,
possibly not until after the summer re-
cess of the Supreme Court. IT is
still thought by those who should
KNOW, &c aBy aIflpF IMAM MT. cleveland
does. that Speaker Carlisle or Post
snaster General Dickinson will get the
appointment. But OF course that does
not pseyent the names of other gentle
men being mentioned. Whoever it will
be, the appointment ia sure to reflect
honor on Mr.. Cleveland and the Demo-
cratic party.
WASHINGTON, April 9th, 1883.
seWanted. leader in the House with
sufficient nerve to dicipline the
members WHO have brought about the
present peotracted dead lock- Such is
the substance Of what every Cleveland
DEMOCRAT thinks and says about the
shameful state at affairs now existing
i'm the House and which was
Wrought about and is kept up by mere
handful OF Democratic mesRbars. SIM
niy because they object to the passage
~ tine bill TO refund to the several
States tllc direet-tax of 1861.
No possible good can come out of the
misguided actions OF these gentlemen,
while the barn already dspe IS incalcu-
liable. They have set q precedent be-
fore the Republican minority o. the
House OF which the latter will be sure
to take advantage. Nc one need be
surprized il, when the time comes to
vote On the Mills tariff bill in the Hpnse,
the Republicans will bring about q
H. xr