Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-03-30
VOLUME XXVIII--NUMBER Is.
ORR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence Of the Standard.
WASHINGTON, March IL, 1883.

WAsHINGTON, March l6, 1888.
Thanks to the Republican obstruc-
tionists, Mr.. Mills tariff bin has not
been reported to the House. The time
is being well put in, however, by the
friends of the measure in missionary
work among the few misguided DEM
ocratic members, who worship still at
the shrine OF protection. 1t Is now
claimed that the number of Democrats
pledged to support the bill when it
gets before the House is only five
short of majority, and is hoped that
enough Republicans will vote for it to
insure its passage. But not much
faith can be attached to that hope.
Republicans seldom vote for a measure
that is opposed by their leaders, no
matter what their own opinions may
bc-a political lesson which the Dem
! ocrats have never yet learned. Howev-
er, it may result the Democrats who
believe in keeping the pledges made
to the people, propose making an hon
est effort to redeem those pledges. If
they fail, the cause OF their failure will
be apparent to all.
The latest applicant for Blaine's
mantle is Senator Hale, of Maine. He
has been appointed Chairman of the
Senate Committee to investigate the
alleged violations of the Civil Service
law by the Democrats. This is expect
ell to give him a boom. 1t is more
likely to develop into a boomerang.
A rumor was current here this week
that Senator Vest, of Missouri, pro-
posed retiring from public life at the
end Of his present term. The Senator
brands the report as falsehOod and
states that he believes it originated
with the Republicans, who would
doubtless be very glad to see him re-
| tire.
Senator Voorhees,, who is very fond
of joke, has lots of fun with the Re-
publican Senators who are known as
candidates for the Presidency. One
day this week he had Il cartoon en-
titled "just drawing them on" which
he was showing around the Senate
Chamber. 1t represented a fox lying
on the ground, the head being
tilat VI DldlIc OiiC eye Was CiOoCu
but the other was partly open and
wore very wide-awake expression. "A
flock of geese, each one wearing the
head of Republican Presidential
candidate, Sherman in front. was rep
resented as approaching the recum-
bent fox. The geese included Hoar,
Evarts, Ingalls,, Hiscock, Depew and
several other would-be candidates.
Everybody took the joke goodnatured-
ly, even the gentlemen who were car
featured.
Acting Secretary Thompson, of the
Treasury Department, one Of the best
and most competent officials ever
appointed by Mr.. Cleveland, has
written a letter to the Secretary
of State, in reply to a cOmmuni-
cation from Hon. Ira Davenport i'll re-
gard to an alleged lack of reciprocity
between the United States and Can
ada in the importation of nursery
products, such as plants, shrubs, etc,
in WHICH he says that the matter is
governed entirely by the laws of the
respective countries, our laws admit
ting those articles free, while the Can
adian tariff requires Il duty OF twenty
per cent. ad rdlorem on such articles
These being the facts, he does not see
how the Treasury Department can
take any action to rectify the in
justices complained of by Mr.. Daven
port.
Senator Colquitt's speech, made
early this week, was strongly in favor
of revenue reform as outlined in the
Presidents message. He said it il
time now for the distinct assertion O
Democratic principles, the hearty
maintenance of them and the re
demption OF Democratic pledges. Tht
reign of the opposing principles hat
been long enough, and had already
gone far towards converting the coun
try into plutocracy. The high tarif
policy had always been that OF thu
Tory party in politics, the friend o
class legislation in principle.
Secretary Fairchild, in answer to ;
request for his opinion on Senate
Sheridan's bill for the investment o
the funds for the redemption OF nation
al bank notes, has written long lette
on the subject to the Senate finance
committee. In disappearing of TIN
measure he points out the bad result
that would probably follow its adop
ton. He says: "the alternate expan
, sion and contraction resulting iron
this bill, would in my judgment onl.
promote speculations; not healthfu
business" The Secretary hits th
nail squarly on the head. Any finan
cial measure proposed by John Sher
man is sure to be in the interests O
his friends, the Wall street Speculation.
Washington is to have two notahl
gatherings of women soon. On tn
25th inst. the Woman's InternatiOna
Council will begin an eight-Gay sef
sion commemorative OF the forfeit
" anniversary of the woman sufirag
!. movement. On that day distinguishe
women from foreign countries will b
in attendance. Then, on April 3
d the annual Women Suffrage COnver
8 ton will be held. Dem.