St. Landry democrat., 1888-03-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, March ,, 1888.
After many months of hard labor,
Mr.. Mills and his Democratic colleagues
of the House Committee on ways and
Means have perfected a tariff bill, which
ia now before the whole Committee.
1t will be reported to the House at the
earliest practical moment. which means
when the Republican members OF the
committee have exhausted all the meth
DDS of delay to which parliamentary
usage entities them.
The bill does not entirely satisfy
every Democrat-no bill would. 1t is
not AN ideal revenue reform bill, nor
such measure as the gentleman who
framed it would have presented had
they been clothed with plenary leg
latiye authority. Practical states
manship recognizes the limitations
imposed by conflicting views and op-
posing interests Still it is bill that is
likely to be supported by every member
of the party, as the most eXpedlent that
can be had at present. 1t puts wool,
lumber and salt on the free list and ma
teriatly reduces the duty on sugar, and
It's estimated that it will reduce the
revenue of the Government to the ex-
tent of $5OOO0,000.
Candor compels me to say that at
this time there is much doubt as to
whether the bill will pass the House,
owing to the willingness of certain
rnembers to sacrifice the interests of
the country at large as we'll as the Dem
ncratic party, because the bill would, if
it became a law, injure some petty in
Mustry i'm their own districts.
Shouldn't there be some way OF whip
ping these men into party traces or else
ont Of the party altogether The Demo-
cratic party is pledged to Revenue
reform. On that issue 1t won the last
Presidential election and hopes to win
the next; though how it will do it if
the House of Representatives, with a
Democratic majority shall refuse to
pass tariff bill looking towards reform,
is more than the most clear headed pol
iticiap can see inst now. However,
there is time enough for the people to
he heard from on this subject, and what
il demanded by the people is seldom re-
fused by Congress. Let the Democrat
ic press bring the greatest power of
modern times-public opinion-to bear
on the question.
The new tariff hill is approved by the
President and the Secretary of the
Treasury-and T might also add by a
majority Of the Democrats.
From this time on the House will
hold evening sessions on Friday for tho
consideration of private and political
disability bills.
The Senate Committee having in
charge the District of Cnlnmhia. decided
against the Platt prohibition hill, and
ia disposed to refer the question of
prohibition, high license. or no change
10 Il direct vote of the citizens of the
District. In other words they are in fa-
vor of local option for the District
The bill authorizing the Issue of pa
per fractional currency in denDmina-
tions of 10. ,15 and % cents is likely to
become law. The House committee
on Banking have ordered favorable
renort thereon.
Next Thursday the House committee
on Manufactures will begin taking tes-
timony in IFS investigation of the va
rious trusts Some interesting devel-
opments are expected.
The House committee on Pensions
has made favorable report on the
bill relating to claims for pensions
by dependent parents. It will only be
necessary 70 show that the soldier was
entitled toa pension, and that he left
no widow or minor children, and that
the parent or parents are dependent.
The committee has also made favor
able report on the bill authorizing the
payment of the pensions OF hahitnally
intoxicated persons to their wifes or
guardians.
The joint resolution changing the
time for the commencement of the
Presidential term to April 80, and
changing the date for the annual
meeting of Congress to January 1st,
has been favorably reported to the
Hnuse.
Mr.. Edward Cooper. ex-mayor of
New York city, aud brother-in-law. of
Mayor Hewitt, who has been accused of
intriguing against Mr.. Cleveland's nom
ination. was in this city for several
days last week, and most emphatically
denied the accusation aud at the same
time said that he was for Cleveland
first, last and all the time. While here
he spent much time in consultation with
the President and Col. Lamont.
The Government Printing office in-
vestigation is still slowly dragging
along. Mr.. Benedict was on the stand
Saturday, and the Republicans put him
through rigid cross-examination, but
failed to make point against him.