St. Paul daily globe., 1888-07-09
PITHY GEORGEISMS.
Henry Visits Washington and
Writes Of What He Saw
There.
All Interest Centers on the
Fate Of the Mills
Bill.
Growth Of the Single Tax
Idea at the Nations
Capital.
A Sincere Tribute to Cleve-
lands Courage and Great
Will.

must pass into an avowed free trade
movement, and that into single tax
movement - that in short what
is now beginning in the attack
upon the tariff-fostered monopolies is a
great struggle against all monopolies.
Protection has nailed the black flag to
the masthead in the Chicago convention,
and the Mills bill, which is being fought
line by line in the house, will be killed
in the senate. SO much the worse for
protection. The next bill which will
be introduced will be one that will
make the Mills bill seem a high pro-
tective measure.
~
Our Washington friends are full of
the belief that the federal district offers
magnificent opportunity to bring the
single tax proposition in practical form
before the whole country. c. b. Hem
lngway has already got the signatures
of many of the most prominent business
men in Washington to petit
tion to congress asking for the
abolition of taxes on improvements
and the raising of district revenues from
a tax upon the rental values of land.
Our friends are confident that before
another session they can with proper
effort get the signatures of three-fourths
some say nine-tenthS the voters
of the district to some such petit
ton. The proposition thus sane
toned by the highest democratic au-
thority, the will of the people, will not
lack friends in both houses of congress
to advocate and push it, EVEN though
they might as yet shrink from advOcat-
ing such measure in their own states.
The manner in which the federal
expenditures in the District of
Columbia have redounded to the
advantage of the land owners, and the
growth of the city has been retarded by
land speculation, give the most striking
illustrations of the justice and expe-
diency of the measure. A great debate
in congress on the proposition would
have an immense educational influence
on the whole country.
The reputation Mr.. Cleveland has
made in Washington is very high one.
There are plenty who do not like him,
but there seem to be none who do not
credit him with conscientiousness and
determination. l was talking with
Charles Nordhoff of the strange
obscurity into which the only liv-
ing eX-president, Mr.. Hayes, has
fallen-an obscurity so great that all
though he was member of the Chicago
convention, no one out OF Chicago
seemed to know it, and of the contrast
between his character and that of Mr..
Cleveland, when Mr.. NordhOff. as illus
trative of the presidents character, told
me a good story. Il was always curl
ous," said Mr.. Nordhoff, las
to the sources of Gen. Jack
sons wonderful popular strength, and
I al
was its reason. Our people believed in
Gen. Jackson said he, because they
were convinced that he was honest and
conscientious, and that when he once
made up his mind that thing was
right nothing could swerve him from
it," As indicative of this feeling the
TennesSean went on to recall sermon
delivered by popular Tennessee
preacher, describing the condemnation
of Christ at the tribunal of POntiuS Pi-
late. "NOw, BRETHREN" said the preach
er, "don't put POntius PLATE down for
bad man. He wasn't a bad
man; he was only a weak one.
He himself would much rather have
released our Savior, but he couldn't re-
sist the pressure of the scribes and
BILE. He didn't have any backbone. He
wasn't bad, but he was a poor. weak
creature-in fact there was nothing to
him. Brethren, il Gen. Jackson had
been in POntius Pilates place that trial
would have had different ending"
~
The protracted debate over the Mills
bill, which is likely to carry the session
into September, while useless as far as
immediate effect on legislation is con-
cerned-for it is as certain that the SEN
ate will reject as that the house
will pass the bills in reality
of much Importance. The congress-
men are really speaking to their con-
StituentS rather than to each other. and
their discussion is at once an indication
and stimulant of that far wider con-
trOverSy that is going on all over the
county, and that will go on with in
creasing itensity until the popular vote
is taken in NOvember-to recommence
again Immediately atterward.
All interest centers in the Mills bill,
but there is little interest of curiosity.
1t is certain to pass the house, and as
certain to be beaten in the senate. The
Republicans are doggedly fighting it
line by line in the five minutes de-
bate, and the majority are as dog
gedly voting down all amendments
these amendments adopted while | was
there was that striking works of art off
the free list. This was agreed to
in caucus because of the repre-
SentatiOn of Western members that
the farmers regard works of art
as matters of luxury, and would deem
it discrimination in favor of
the rich If paintings and statuary should
come in free, while blankets and trace
chains were taxed. l am inclined to
think the farmers are right. Our dis
elimination against the work of foreign
painters and SculptorS is a shameful
cOnSiStant part of barbarous and
shameful system.
81 should think there would be even
more bicycles in use here, since the
pavementS are SO gOod,' | said to de-
partment clerk. $50 there would" he
replied, ''if it were not for the tariff.
These bicycle makers have
combine, and they keep up prices
to point about So less than it costs to
import an English bicycle and pay
freight and duty. If it were not for the
tariff you could get machine for 500
that you must now pay S145 for, and lots
more of us could afford to have them"
That is the way in Washington now.
Even if you try to talk to a man about
pavements he is likely to land you in
the tariff question.
~
The capitol is indeed noble build
ing, ana appears to special advantage
amid the foliage that now surrounds it.
The extensive reconstruction that is
intended to make the side that was
originally designed for the rear
appear more like a front is now
going on. There is good object
lesson to be had from the capitol.
1t was originally intended that the city
of Washington should be built on the
high firm ground that stretches out be-
fore tho east Op main front of thn papitoI