Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-09-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
M,smNnrnN. D. G. Sent. II.

WASHINGTON ID. q, sept. IL
Senator Vest buided better than he
knew, when, in speech in the senate, he
tainted the republican senators into ac-
knowledging that they had no intention
of reporting substitute for the Mills bill
at the present session. II was a most
Illuminating and cowardly admission to
make; it shows now abiect the republi-
can senators can be, when their master,
Jim Blaine issues his commands. Not
two weeks ago, the republican senators,
in caucus, agreed to report their tariff
bill in ten days and now senators of such
prominence rs Sherman, Allison and His
cock have to get up and acknowledge
that they do not intend TO report the bill |
at this session. 1t was Il great triumph |
for Blaine. but how Illuminating it must |
have been for the senators. The reason |
which they give for not reporting the bill |
is perfectly absurd--the lack of time |
Pray what have they been doing since |
last December, for it was Just as well |
known on the first day of the Fiftieth |
congress that the democrats of the house |
intended 10 perfect and pass q tariff bill |
as 1t was on that warm day in last July
when the house passed the Mills bill ard
there was nothing 10 prevent the republi,
cans of the senate from having their bill
ready Just as soon as the democrats of
the house had theirs But the republi-
cans counted on the failure nf the Mills
bill in the house, and were badly disap-
pointed by the passage. There are sew
eral reasons why the republicans have de-
cided not to report their bill First, they
were by no means certain that they could
pass it, if it was reported. Secondly,
they dare not report bill without enter
ing into general revision of the present
iniquitous tariff, and that revision would
be certain to lose them votes among that
favored class of manufacturers who are
protected at the expense of the people at
large. Thirdly and most importsn; of
all, Mr. Blaine issued an edict that no re
publican tariff bill should be reported 1T
this session. II the voters of this coun-
try do not censure the republican Iarty
for this cowardly evasion of what was
plainly its duty, | shall be very much
surprised. The people of this country
admire msnliness and bravery in politics
as in everything else, and after the dem>
ocratic party had made up ITS bill upon
which to appeal to the country, it was
manifestly the duty of the republicans to
present a similar bill, in order that the
voters might intelligently chose which
party to vote for. What with Mr.
Blaine's ideas on trusts and this latest
command of his, the republicans are like
" to wish he had stayed in Europe
Secretary Whitney and Senator Payne
have both made explicit denials of being
in any manner connected with the Stan.
dard Oil company. And they both state
that nine>tenths Of the stockholders in
that company are republicans So much
for Senator HOaT InsinuatiOns that thest
gentlemen were connected with that cor
poration. and that the SAID corporation
was large contributor to the democratic
campaign fund. If this concern has con
trlouted to either party, it is probable
that it was to the republicans.
Senator German has gone to New 1orl
10 direct the campaign during the alb
sence of Chairman BrIce.
The new silver vault IN the treasur
department contained Saturday night "a
tons of silver dollars
The senate committee on foreign at
fairs. it is believed intend to pigeon-hol
the Canadian retaliation bill recent
passed by the house
The motion to reCOnsderthe vote b
which the senate passed the Chinese re
striction bill has not yet been voted upo
in the senate, owing to the lack of quC
rum. II quorum is present today 1t wi
probably be agreed to.
II is believed that the republicans a
plotting TO keep congress in session uni
after the election, in order to prevent Il
democratic members from taking an AZ
tive part in the campaign.
Senator George, replying to SENATE
Hoars insinuations regarding Secretal
Whitney, took occasion to deliver We
deserved eulOgy on Secretary Whltne
in the course of which he said that n
since the foundation of the governme
had there been man in the office of Sc
rotary Of the navy who had been more e
tcient, more honorable, more devoted
the interests confided to him than d
present secretary of the navy The
were no scandals in that office now,
Secor-kobeson contracts. nor suspiCit
That single dollar appropriated for &
navy had not been fully, completely al
honestly applied to that purpose.
There Is no word of truth in the RI
NOR that Secretary Whitney proposes
retire from the cabinet
The senate has passed resolution
structing the committee on finance to j
quirc into the copper trusts and to repC
what legislation is necessary to prote
the people from its exactions.
The hill umandipo, tho ;nt.r n, IN m,
merce law has been passed by the hous
Hon. George G. Gorham, formerly ST
Rotary of the United States senate a
editor of the National Republican of Il
city, says he is for Cleveland in preft
ence to Harrison with Blaine attached
secretary of state. MIR Gorham was
close friend of the late Roscoe Conklir
ana mas always been republican.
never was there more marked diff,
ence between two documents than Il
between the letters of acceptance
Cleveland and Harrison. Every par
graph of Mr., Cleveand's letter is
straight fromthe- shoulder sledge-ha
mer blow, while the Harrison letter is
wlshy washy milk and water affair
through. Even republicans acknowled
That there is no comparison betwe
them.
MIR. Cleveland has written let
strongly endorsing the forming of den
cratic clubs and expressing the bel
that the club is the most effective agen
for the dissemination of political inf
nation. He has also written a letter
lying in the most positive terms that
Nv. ea made use of, the expression that
pr1 ese IN free trade as | believe in
io,Sstant religion" which writer
of having used "''"'eu