Crawford avalanche., 1888-04-12
WASHINGTON LETTER
WAsHINoroN. A,

senteu 10 THE House with tne Mills tar
III bill. 1t created surprise and almost
CONSERVATION among the democrats,
who supposed that the minority report
would contain nothing more than a
general denunciation of the Mills bill.
Great was their surprise therefore to
lind that the minority report had TAX
en- their bill clause by clause and shown
the evil results which would follow its
adoption. Not satisfied with this, the
wicked minority also proved that the
bill II passed in its present shape would
result in an increase instead of re-
duction of the revenues os the Gov
ernment, thus adding to the surplus
which the democrats are so much
afraid of that Cleveland refuses to
take advantage of the laws already on
our statute books to reduce it.
The document does not by any
means stop with showing up the i'm
perfections of the Mills bill, but boldly
outlines what the republican policy is
to be on this question. A bill which
will assuredly diminish the revenues of
the Government, without any impair
ment of tho American system of pro-
lection. Theresult of this report has
been highly beneficial to the republi-
can party in the House, which is now
nearer being in perfect harmony on the
tariff question than ut any time for
several years.
The rumors of deal between Presi.
dent Cleveland and number of the
democratic members of the House who
were opposed to the Mills bill. created
no surprise here where the people have
become acquainted with Cleveland
Pharisaism. The substance of the
deal is, that in return for the Votes of
these members for the Mills bill, Mr.
Cleveland has promised to sign the
River and Harbor bill, which has been
fixed up to give the districts represent
ed by these members unusually large
appropriations. The River and Har-
Dor bill which he vetoed last year was
a far better bill than this one is which
he has promised to sign before it is
passed.
Senator Sherman denies the report
that he is going to withdraw from the
race for the presidential nomination.
His friends say that his chances are
getting better every day.
The value of the estate left by the
la.e Chief Justice Waite is estimated
at $75, 900. Senator Gray, of Della
ware is favorably mentioned by his
democratic colleagues for the vacant
Chief Justiceship, and it is said that
six of the Justices of the Supreme
Court are in favor Of the promotion OF
Justice Field to the vacancy. Justices
Field and Lamar are the only demo
Gratis on the Supreme bench.
The Senate has devoted much time
recently TO the consideration of the
House bill authorizing the Secretary
of the Treasury to purchase United
States bonds with any surplus funds
which may be in the Treasury. The
necessity for this bill is not at all APP
parent. The authority which it con-
fers, already exists, but the president,
in order to drive people to his way OF
/ s..Iy ..~tm Il
would seem, pretended to doubt the
legality of the Secretary of the Treas
ury taking such steps under the law of
1881, and in consequence the surplus
has been piling up month after month
and the country almost brought TO the
verge of financial panic, all for the
purpose of forcing people to accept
doctrines which their own good sense
teaches them are pernicious.
The House passed this bill and the
Senate has had quite a time over It..
The silver senators is both parties
want it amended in some way to com
pei the extension of the use of silver as
currency. Both parties have caucused
it without arriving at any conclusion,
SO that it can in no sense be considered
a party question.
| had an interesting conversation to-
day with one of the shrewdnest repub.
lican politicians in the country OIL the
political situation. In conclusion he
said: 1.-The masses of the republican
party in whatever state YOU may g.,,
have but one candidate for the presi-
dency. the politicians have many, one
for every state iD the Union, but no
one of them is strong enough to spread
out into more than one or two states
at one and the same time. Only a lit.
tie more than two months remain be
fore the nominating committee meets
so that the chances are that when the
convention meets the republican senti
ment will remain practically as it is to
day. What will be the result2 II
does not take very long headed mar
to tell. There will be ballot or two
in which all the ''favorite sons" will
receive complimentary votes, then tn,
convention will proceed to carry ou
the wishes Of nine tenths of the part,