The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-05-04
washington Letter.
(Erom our regular eorIespomdent-l
WASHINGTON, APRIL 80, 1888.


There is one never dying beauty about thu
tariff; it has two sides, so that it can al
ways be argued without converting any
one. OF course every member has long
ago made up his mind how he will vot'
and is merely waiting for the conclusion
of the oratnry. to deposit his verdict.
Congressman Springer aud Brewer had
it pretty well to themselves on Saturday,
and rang all the usual changes. When
was a very little boy and was taken to see
Congress because | was sickly and must be
humored, and came away much weaker
from the sight, | remember vaguely that
they were talking about the tariff. |
think Judge Kelley was talking that day,
and according to the program he will
| speak again this week on the same endless
topic. This session of Congress OF rather
voted exclusively to the preparation of
campaign material.
Representative Osborne's House bill to
define the necessary and allowable ex-
penses incident to the nomination and
election OF Senators and Representatives is
occasioning considerable discussion.
These necessary expenses are enumerated
under three heads: printing and travelling;
dissemination of information to the public;
political meetings acd conventions. The
members of the committee reporting the
bill agree that it would abolish many prae-
tees tina cmbarrass candidates and de-
banch electors. The committee exhibit a
great unanimity i'll avowing that the cost
of coming to Congress at present is excess
there are not wanting cynical members
who believe that the bill should also pro-
vide that the millennium Immediately cnsue
that its enforcement be possible.
| saw Minister Phelps and Representa-
tive William Walter Phelps-not related,
by the way-at the Capital on Wednesday.
Mr.. Phelps, Minister to England, was
dressed in a conventional suit of solemn
black, wore mutton, chop side whiskers in
the approved English fashion. and had IN
absent OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES bench
expression in his mild eye. But Mr..
Phelps, of New Jersey, was arrayed as
Solomon wonld be if he lived in this day;
a dark, striped sack coat; wide light trous-
ers; deep, red necktie,- banged hair.
thing. And yet there is no truer friend,
no warmer enemy, and few brighter men
than William Walter Phelps. lie is a
dude only in appearance.
Pension legislation is %livelier than ever
before in the history of Congress. The
bill to pension the widow of General Rick
etts at 500 per month, amended by the
House to $75, came back to the Senate and
went to conference committee on Nednes-
day. These bills for the %pensioning at spc-
cial rates of officers widows meet consider
able opposition from both parties. 1t is
argued that that the nations debt is as
great to the private's widow as to the Off
GERS, and that one Generals widow should
receive as much as a dozen of her
humber sisters are allowed. A very hot
may be expected when this bill comes
back from the committee.
The Senate, during the delivery of Sena-
tor Voorhees, reply to Senator Ingalls,
week, woke up and was real lively for
Senator Voorhees, made a very
careful resume of Senator Ingalls,
speech on the pension question. The eff
fort was well sustained, aud whatever
ones politics may be, is worth reading as
literary production. How it will be re-
by the Senator's Indiana constitu-
is, however, an opel question. Sen
ator Ingalls, has announced that tomorrow
he will have something to say to the Sena-
tor from Indiana that will sink deep into
his soul. The galleries will be crowded to
hear what it is.
Arcadian racing weather, u fine track
and string of horses fit to run for their
lives are sufficient attractions to tempt a
great many Congressman to a few days
absence from legislative labors. This
weeks racing at Ivy City-the Washing
ton race course-brings ont the usual
crowd of old timers, together'with some
new turtles. OF course senator Joe Black
burn is there, and although his Kentucky
education leads him to back ''bloOd'' in
of "condition'', and this makes sorry
there is only a faint tw itching of
the lips under his heavy moustache when
horse fails to win. Quite as certainly,
Representative "Archie" Bliss, of Brook
Ign, with a knowing look and a big cigar,
on hand, ready to back his opinions. Then
are a number of new Congressman
who do not know so much about thorough
breds, and WHO bet mildly. BY lucky ac-
cident one in a dozen wins and is as happy
in his consciousness oftriumpl,
as if he had been unanimously returned by
a delighted constituency. WESTON,
The Prohibition State Convention of
Pennsylvania met on Wednesday in IIar-
risburg. -Four hundred aud one delegates
were present representing IS counties. John
c. Scott, of Philadelphia, was chOSentempo-
rary chairman, and Rev. John A. McCon-
nell, of Pittsburg, permanent chairman. A
very comprehensive platform was adopted,