The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-05-24
Washin gtOn Letter.
WASHINGTON, May 18th, Is

WASHINGTON, May 18th, 1883.
Representative Mills expresses con-
fidence in the final passage of his tariff
bill without any amendments radical
enough to change the bill in material
way. Other members of the House
are not so confident. They believe
that tariff bill will be passed by the
House but that it will differ material.
ly from the original Mills bill. The
general debate on the bill ends tomor-
row, but just what is then to be done
has not yet been settled. Two propo |
sitions are being considered. One is |
to leave the tariff bill to go over until
after the st. Louis convention, and
get the convention to endorse it so
strongly that no democratic member
will dare to vote against it. The other
is to cut off all amendments at the end
of the general debate, and take vote
on it at once.
The last idea is very inviting to the
advocates of boldness in politics, but
rather frightful to the more conserva'
tive and timId members of the party.
If the President were asked to decide
the matter he would undoubtedly ad
wise the latter course, because every
amendment accepted for the bill would
weaken it as political issue.
The Senate committee on privileges
and elections reported unanimously In
favor of the legality of the election of
Senator Turpie, of Indiana, whose
election was disputed by certain repub-
licans.
Secret sessions of the Senate are not
likely to be abolished for long time
to come. By more than three-fourths
majority the Senate decided, this week
. against considering the Fisheries
e treaty in open sessions.
a Senator Vests resolution providing
u for select committee to examine the
n questions touching meat and meat
8 products of the United States, together
with the transportation of the same,
. has been adopted by the Senate. In
, his remarks on the subject Mr. Vest
quoted table showing the amount OF
beef consumed per capita among the
+ principal nations of the world in 1884
"a The United States heads the list with
h l20 pounds per head, therefore he said
that anything affecting meat and its
~ production and transportation is o.
=, vital importance to every single in
IN habitant of this country.
TToop raoon m an otion nf tho Nauo
Board, Secretary Whitney has grautet
v Messrs. Cramp 4 Sons, the shipbuild
or ers of Philadelphia, an extension o
OF four months time for the completion
of the new vessels. Baltimore, York
town and Vesuvius.
tie The Republicans of the Senate Com
e. mittee on the Judiciary have postpone
he the consideration of the nomination c
nm Mr.. Fuller to be Chief Justice of tn
re- United States until next Monday.
ty Representative Fitch, of New Yor
We We city, is the first, and so far the onI
le, member of the House who has public
IN. ly announced his intention of support
Ill ing the Mills tariff bill He made
~ ~ speech in favor of revenue reform o
cir Wednesday.
Which party will control the Sena
OF after the 4th of next March, is que
% ton often asked these days. On til
cir 3rd of March the terms of 26 Senator
ss- will expire, this number being equal
re divided between the parties. One
w Nv, the republicans-Riddleb ger of "
1n- has had a democratic successor elec
ed, and the rest are pretty sure to
raj succeeded by republicans, with tt
"a possible exception of Oregon. I'll
democrats may secure Senator fro
ex that State, but it is doubtful, Amor
me the thirteen democratic Senators r
hv firing, there is only one who is n
,ri. certain of being succeeded by dem
pie crat. That is Mr.. Mcpherson, of Ne
no Jersey. SHOULD the democrats retai
90. New Jersey and capture Oregon
would make the Senate stand 80 den
ith ocrats and 81 republicans, just rever
yes ing what il is now. But the chanc
al al are that Oregon will return republ
ce can and New Jersey democra
yht which will make the Senate tie. gi
no ing the control, through the Vic
President, to whichever party carri
,on the Presidential election.
est Representative Matson, Cbairma
OF of the House committee on Invali
~ Pensions, and the democratic nomint
IA for Governor of Indiana, has reporte
to favorably bill extending the time f
es the arrearage of pensions so as to giy
n the benefit of the act to all claiman
ect who filed their claims after the expir,
di ton of the time limit, or may yet fl
Oh claims before the passage of this bill
mi The report accompanying the bi
states that il passed it will cost tt
he Government probably not more tina
ie nes S25O, 900, 900, and suggests to the Hous
ne. that this is the 81 very best means I
he disbursing the surplus in the Trea
IN ury."
nd
We
ese RANDOLPH.