The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-04-19
Washin gton letter.
WASHINGTON, April 18th, 1888.

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 caused by the filibuster
ing of from fifty to seventy-dve dem.
ocratic congressman who were OF,
posed to the passage of the bill
to refund to the several States and
territories the amounts paid by them
to the United States under the direct
tax levied by Congress in 1861.
For a week the fiiibusterers refused
to listen to any talk of compromising
in any way to break the deadlock.
They also refused to take part ia a
democratic eaucus on the bill, But
finally the filibusterers having disoov-
cred that a majority of the democrats
would give up to them to the extent of
postponing the consideration of the
bill until next December, they agreed |
to hold a caucus. In caucus they |
agreed to postpone the discussion of
the Direct Tax bill until the 9Th of
December next. when vote is to be
taken on it.
So the deadlock ended on Thursday
with decided victory for the filibus-
tering minority. Ii was the hest that
could be done, however, for the fill
busterers did not 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 republican
party could have done in ten months.
Besides absolutely nothing has been
gained by it, and dangerous prece
dent has been set before the republi
cans 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 leg
islation is going forward.
The democrats of the House commit
tee on pensions have improved the
Dependent pension bill, which recent
ly passed the Senate. They agreed to
an amendmentw which strikes out the
second aud third sections, which gave
$12 month to all soldiers of the re
bellion who served three months and
are now from age or other cause inca
pacitated for earning a support, Or the
same sum to the widow aud children
of such soldiers as have died. 1t sub
stitutes therefor provision regulating
pensions by the term of service, at the
rate of one cent month for each days
service in the army of the wars, Mex.
lean, Indian or the rebellion, and thai
all soldiers whether incapacitated OF
not shall receive a pension rated in
this manner. after they reach the age
> of 62 years. The republicans of the
; committee opposed the amendment.
. While Senator PIatt, of Conn, was
? making prosy speech in favor of his
bill to admit South Dakota as State
Delegate Clifford, of Dakota, who was
: sitting on one of the comfortable
!. lounges in the rear of the Senate
: Chamber, fell into deep sleep anC
snored audibly, not waking until the
= Senator had finished his speech. Mr.
| Clifford was one eff the victims of the
deadlock, and doubtless needed rest 81
) badly that he was unable to honor with
his attention the speech which he haC
3 come over to the Senate purposeIy tC
! hear.
0 1t is not thought likely that any
! legislation in regard to the admittanct
f of any of the territories as States will
/ be matured by passing both Houses a
8 this session of Congress. The Senate
: now has before it bill for the admis
D sion of South Dakota, and It will prob
! ably pass that body by strict part,
7 vote, but that is as far as it is liable t.
8 go, as the democrats of the House hav,
r agreed in caucus that the only terrific
rial legislation of the session will b.
the passage of the Springer omnibus
r bill. which provides for the admission
of Dakota, Montana, Washington ant
New Mexico. but there is no hope tina
the Senate will pass this bill. Th,
e people of the territories can blame th,
t republicans for keeping them out o
4 their Statehood.
e Mr.. Stanford, the California million
1 aire, bought a seat in the UnitedState
Senate, as many others had done be
Y fore him, and he now proposes to max
some Investigations in order to fgus
q up the probable cost of buying the re
E? publican NOMINATION for The Presi
j dency.
]. Ex-senator Wallace, of Pennsylva
/ MIA, who was in Washington thi
y week, says the democrats of his Stat
o are unit for the denomination o
!, President Cleveland. The Presiden
has received pressing Invitations thi
: week to visit Virginia and Texas.