Smyrna times., 1888-04-25
For the Smyrna Times
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, April 23d, 1888.
By far the most important event in
Congress since l last wrote you was
the Inauguration of the long cOntem-
plated tariff debate which took place
on last Tuesday with becoming digni-
ty and decOrum. The opening speech
for revenue reform was made by Mr..
Mills. of Texas, as Chairman of the
Ways and Means Committee, and was
called a masterpiece by his sympatiz-
ers on the tariff question. The reply,
very appropriately came from Judge
Kelley, of Pa, the senior member of
Congress, and the acknowledged leader
and exponent of protection.
The discussion promises to be long
continued and exhaustive, and it will
/ not be surprising if the public finds its
patience somewhat worn before vote
Is reached, although Mr.. Mills, in
speaking of his cherished measure,
! remarked enthusiastically We are
| in earnest, we will actively push it to
a final vote, and we will pass it before
the meeting of the st. Louis Presiden-
tial Nomination Convention"
The House of Representatives spent
most of the past week in working with
gratifying energy on appropriation
bills. It is trying to dispose of these
current financial concerns in order to
give it's time exclusively afterward to
the inspiring tariff discussion. The
Pension appropriation bill and the
Indian appropriation bill have been
safely passed, and now the River and
Harbor appropriation is under con-
sideratiOn. 100
The Pension bill apprOpriates $780,
286. 500, being an increase of Sl,5l5,OOO
. over the appropriations of last year
2 These are large figures, but l suppose
! nobody will regret the expenditure, so
long as it is carefully limited to those
[ who honestly earned this recognition
bv the Government.
The River and Harbor bill does no
I have smooth sailing. Some members
! seem to think that the appropriation
i ought to be distributed among th'
states according to the number OF mile
of their water front or the lineai iengtl
of their rivers and creeks. without any
/. narticuIar regard to the needs OF com
y merce. They object to the might.
u Mississippi, which has never received
: ,he attention it deserved from tn
! Government, having so much.
!. The trouble seems to be IN bringin
Is Congressmen to understand that whal
Vt ever the Government spends for lntel
y nal improvements should bear som
2, reasonable proportion to the calculaDl
le commercial advantages which the
carry with them. The River and Ha
~ bor bill is not in the character OF gri
tuitv to the States, but OF 6usine
~ investment for the general welfare.
!. After a lively political debate Whl'
NJ reverted to the electoral controversy
n 1876. the bill for the admission OF SOU
IN Dakota as a State passed the SenaU
v It is not expected to pass the hOu
re however. -
~ ~ The impression is strengthened
m m the Capitol that party lines Will
,f af strictly drawn upon the Fisheries IRE
~ ~ and that its ratification is lmpos'
~ BE. II is probable that considerat
20 norton of this week will be spent I
= hind closed doors by the Senate, q
IA cnssing this treaty. Much OF It VIII
.es W of a partisan character and VIII
~ ~ made. public by order Of the senate 2
y y, published in the Congressional kecol