The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-08
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, Mar End, 1888.
Hon Samuel ]. Randall made a few
remarks in the House on Wednesday.
which secured him Q round of hearty
appl, 80 from the democratic side and
from the galleries. It was during the
discussion on Mr.. Mill's resolution
author zing the Secretary of the Treas
ury to purchase bonds with the sur
plus, which discussion, by the way.
was she most interesting thus far of
the session The tenor Of Mr.. Ran
dall's remarks was such that little
doubt remains that he will support
the tariff bill which hsg been proposed
by the majority of the WsyR and
Means Committee. He closed by say
iLg that he hoped and believed that
the democratic party would at the
proper time be found acting together.
Mr.. Breckinridge of Kentucky made
an excellent tariff speech on Wednes-
day in the House. He argued that
Revenue reform was necessary to the
prosperity of the country, and that il,
was the duty Of tbs democratic major
ity of the House to pass a bill locking
thereto, leaving the Republican Senate
the responsibility of defeating the will
of the people if they dare do it. by re
jecting the bill that has been so care
fully draws by the majority of the
Ways and Means Committee
The tariff bill, upon which .he dem
ocratie members of the Ways and
Means committee have been faithfully
working since the beginning of the
session, is now complete. 1t bas been
| placed before the fuh com mittee, and
any further delay in presenting it to
the House will be fairly chargeable to
the republican members of that com
mittee. The bill proposes to reduce
the revenues of the Government from
$50, ,Ooo. 900 to SIC, ,oOo, 900 year
The Government Printing Office in
| vestigation is still on. Every day Of
fers new proofs of the mavy y benefits
derived by that Office since it has beer
under democratic control Many
thousand dollars have been saved for
the Government, while the quantity
of work turned out is larger than ever
before.
The tricky Junior Senator from New
Hampshire, VIM. E. Chandler, intro
duced a very innocent looking bill in
Senate the other day. It authorizes
the purchase of Albert Operti's tp o
paintings. The Farthest North ,"and
Camp Clay, or the Rescue of Lieut..
Greeley and Party" This bill will
bear watching, as both Secretaries
Whitney and Endicott have refused
to recommend their purchase The
artist claims that Senator Chandler,
who was then Secretary of the Navy,
ordered the paintings for the Govern
ment. II he did So. he exceeded his
authority and Congress should not
help him out Of his dilemma. The
price of the two paintings is $15, 600
which is generally considered to be
much more than they are worth.
By the way, q bill to create q Ma.
tioDal Art Commission here has just
passed the Senate, something that is
greatly needed, art eonnoisseurs will
say. The Commission Is to consist of
fourteen persons, to be appointed by
the President and to serve without
compensation. Their duty shall be to
pass upon all works Of art which the
Government proposes to purchase and
to supervise the preparation of plans
and execution of contracts for art work
under Government direction. 1 will
just mention in this connection thai
the Washington philanthropist whose
obsequies took place this week (Mr.
W. w. Corc0ranl bequesthed another
$le0, 900 to the Corooran tArt Gallery.
Another republican boomerang. 1t
will be remembered that early in the
present session of Congressional trum-
pets, resolution In the House calling
on Commissioner of Pensions to show
cause, etc., why he had exceeded his
authority by issuing what is known
as the "one hundred day" circular to
pension claimants. The House Com
mittee on Pensions has made an ad-
verse report on this resolution. The
Commissioner did not exceed his au
thority, and in Issuing the circular the
interests of no claimant were injured.
On the contrary, many were benefited
thereby.
Senator Vest made a speech on the
Dependent Pension bill Wednesday in
which he fairly fiayed that class of
who are always ready to
pose as the special champions of the
interests. He said they were
turning the nations legislative ha Is |
into auction rooms in which they
could bid for the soldier vote in the
coming contest. '' Partison OF non,
partisan, my convictions require me
% vote against the bill /; and hope it
nay die the death in the other
branch OF the National Congress. and
f not there, at the hands of the Exec
tive. If that bs unparliamentary,
make the most OF it,n il