Mohave County miner., 1888-05-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
tpRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WAsHiSGros, April %, 1888.


/ WAsHisGros. April %, 1888.
4 BY far the most important event II
Congress since ! last wrote you was th,
inauguration Of the long contemplate
tariff debate, which took pises on las
| Tuesday with becoming dignity and de
corum. The opening speech for rcvenu'
reform was made by Mr.. Mills, Of .'exas
as Chairman Of the Ways and dean
/ Committee, and was called masterpiece
| by his sympathizers on the tariff question
The reply, very appropriately, came from
Judge Kelly, Of Pennsylvania, tbe seniol
member Of Congress, and the acknow
ledgsd leader and exponent Of proieciion
The discussion promises to be Ions
continued and exhaustive, and 1t vii moi
be surprising II the public fiD1s II,
/ patience somewhat worn before vote Il
reached, although Mr.. Mills, in speaking
OF his cherished measure, remarked en-
Enthusiastically: 1--WE are in earnest; we
viii actively push ii TO u final vote, and
will pass it before the meeting OF the 81
Loais Presidential Nomination Conven-
tion."
The House OF Representatives spent
most OF the past week in workiB. With
gratifying energy on appropriation bills.
Il is trying TO Dispose of these current
| financial coneeTns In order 10 giye IL.
time exclusively afterwarti to the inspir-
| ing tariff discussion. The Pension ap
preparation bill and the Indian appropri-
alton bill have been safely passed, and
now the River and Harbor appropriation
is under consideration.
The Pension bill appropriates $50, 1885,
500, being an increase Of 81 sis, 900 over
the appropriations Of last year. These
are large figures, but | suppose no one
will regret the expenditure, so long as ii
is carefully limited TO those who honestly
earned this recognition by the Govern
ment.
The River and Harbor bill does not
have smooth sailing. Some members
seem to think that the appropriation
ought to be distributed among the States
according to the number OF miles OF their
water front or the Iineal length Of their
rivers and creeks, without any particular
regard TO the needs Of commerce. They
object TO the mighty Mississippi, which
has never received the attention it de.
served from the Government, having 80
much.
The trouble seems 10 be In bringing
Congressman to understand that what
ever the Government spends for internal
improvements should bear some reason
able proportion to the calculable cem-
mercial advantages which they carry
with them. The River and Harbor bill
is not in the character Of a gratuity to the
States, but OF business investment for
the general welfare.
After a lively political debate, which re-
verted TO the political controversy Of 1875,
the bill for the admission Of South Dakota
as State passed the Senate. 1t is not
expected to pass the House, however.
The impression is strengthening at the
capitol that party lines will be strictly
drawn upon the Fisheries Treaty and that
its ratification is impossible. 1t Is prob
able that considerable portion Of this
week will be spent behind closed doors by
the Senate discussing this treaty. Much
OF it will be Of partisan character and
will be made public by order Of the Senate
and published in the Congressional
Record. Secretary Rsyard was anxious
for the treaty TO be discussed Ia open ses-
sion, because he thought the more the
people knew about the treaty the more
popular is'would become.
Friday last was the Tooth day Of the
present session of Congress. The bills
and resolutions introduced up to that date
aggregate 1888, which is over 1000
more than the total number introduced
during the first hundred days Of the last
Congress. The Senate has passed s3l
bills and the House AT. The House has
sent l85 bills to the President and the
Senate "a. So as Congresses go the work
of the Fiftieth is nothing to be ashamed
Of 80 far, after all.
z For years past when Congress has not
worked fact it has heen the custom to ex-
cuse and forgive il on the ground that it is
too bulky body to do better. Represen-
tative Tillman, Of South Carolina, has
just come TO the front with different
theory. He says that our National Legis-
lature, considering the size OF this country,
with Its vast and varied population, is
altogether too small. He does not think
that the interests OF sixty millions Of
people can be properly cared for by four
hundred legislators.
In his opinion the House of Represen-
tatives should have at least six hundred
members and the Senate no less than
three hundred, and in support OF this
proposition Mr.. Tillrnan cited the fact
that the British House Of Lords has $50
members and the House Of Commons go.
Mr.. Tillman very ably advocated his
s,de Of the question. but there is much
that can be said on both sides, and many
people in this country believe that the
public business could be greatly facilitated,