Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-01-26
WASHING TON LETTER.
Prom our regular correspondent.
WAsHIsCTos, Jan. 23d, isl

Congress ls long way ahead OF all
it's predecessors. The House Com
mittee on commerce have the subject
of the Reading railroad now before
them. 1t has been informally dis-
cussed, and the fact developed, that
about one half the committee are
opposed to any Congressional inves-
tieation, believing if any is neces-
gary, it is within the province of the
Interstate Commerce Commission
to make it, The question will be
called up again tomorrow, when a
delegation of Knights of Labor who
want a Congressional investigation,
will endeavor to get a hearing.
Congressional Investigations are
always popular with a certain class
of Congressman, particularly If the
corporations and individuals happen
to be wealthy. Impecunious Con-
gressmen want all the opportunity
for fat pickings that they can get,
and they are sure to make the most
of their opportunities. The latest
proposed investigation is that pro-
vided by Mr.. Mason's bill, which
proposes to empower COngression-
al committee to investigate all the
trusts and combines that have been
entered into by firms, corporations,
and individuals in coal, sugar, min
ing and kindred subjects. The
| House Committee on Manufactures
has unanimously agreed to report
this bill favorabIy aud they are
expected to do so early this week.
Then these impecunious Congress.
men Will begin to indulge in cham
payne and terrapin stew, and TO ride
to and from the Capitol in coupes
instead of the plebeian street cars
and herdics.
L il said there is a strong lobby
with unlimited cash behind them,
who are here for the express purpose
of opposing this bill. If it were
not for this lobby it is extremely
doubtful whether the investigation
would ever have been proposed.
just why Secretary Villas, late
Postmaster General, should have
been willing and apparently anxious
to go down a grade in official Dig
nifty as he did in accepting the port
folio of the Interior Department,
has been quite puzzling to a great
many people. The whole matter il
explained, however, by the following
official order which was made pub
lie on Saturday:
"Secretary Villas has relieved
Assistant Secretary Muldrow of the
care of supervising land decisions,
aud in the future he will devote his
personal attention to them"
Which means in plain English
that from this tine on, the entire
public land system Of the United
States is to be manipulated in the
interest of Cleveland's reelection.
Keep your eye on Villas aud his land
decisions between now and next
November.
The PostofIice Department has
issued a circular giving the con
sriuction that the Department will
put upon the new law concerning
the amount of printing or writing
that may be placed on the wrappers
of second, third and fourth class
mail matter. This new law received
the Presidents signature on Satday.
The anti Randall Democrats Ia
Congress are wild with joy over the
defeat Of the Randall candidate for
the Craftsmanship Of the Democratic
STATE Central Committee, of Penn
I e,ivania, and the passage by that
committee of a resolution strongly
endorsing Cleveland aud commend
my hi, recommendation for reducing
the tariff Mr.. Randall Keeps cool,
and SAYS the result will not change
hls legislative course one luu; but
he does not intimate what that
course viii be during The present
session Of Congress. Bur i, is safe
to say that his opinion on the tariff
/ has not undergone aus change since