The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-02-24
THE NATIONS CAPITAL.
THE BLAIR BILL LOST GROUND
IN THE SENATE.
Talk of DiSplacing Chairman Barnmm.
Blaine Can Control the Republican
NOmina iOn--No New States this Year.

WASHINGTON. d. c., Feb. 20. 1855
Senator Ransoms bill appropriating $500.
00o for building a suitable Light House off
Cape Hatteras has passed the Senate with
out dissenting vote. 1t will also pass the
House AS Senator Joe Brown, of Geor-
gia, said, he got 800, 900 for every min
ute he spoke when he introduced the bill
Senator Ransom wanted to go home
Wednesday, Feb. 22d, a legal holiday, but
the meeting of the National Democratic
Committee on that day forces him to re-
main here. Gen. Ransom is member
both of National Democratic Committee
and of the National Executive Committee
in which positions he wields great intlu-
ence for North Carolina. There is strong
under current of sentiment here, lnimical
to the Hon. Vim. II. Barnum, Chairman
OF the Committee. The main cause Of this
Is the fact that he is a large iron manu-
facturer and a staunch friend of Samuel
j. Randall. Mr.. Barnum was one of Til
den S closest friends and to his shrewd
ness and executive ability the Tiiden vic
tory Is IN a measure attributable. | do not
believe the Democratic party can afford to
ignore the claims or despise the abilities
Of men like VIM. II. Barnum. | know him
to be an upright, generous hearted gentle
man, shrewd politician, a true friend.
and he has proved himself a conservative
and judciOus Chairman Of this important
committee. He is protectionist, but first
of all, be is a tried and staunch Democrat
He gave SO 600 out of his own pocket for
one campaign fund and he influenced
wealthy friend to give 800, 900. Men like
this are necessities in National campaigns
He Is at once courageous, sagaclous and
possesses splendid executive ability. Scott.
of Erie, is spoken of as his successor. That
gentleman is wealthy and has many strong
friends and admirable qualities, but "a
change at this iuncture Is, to say the least,
risky.
Lieut.. Gov. Chas. NJ. Stedman was here
last Saturday on his way to New York
He returns next Wednesday.
Messrs Webb and Gudger, of Western
North Carolina, were last week appointed
postal inspectors Their salaries are about
$4,000 a year Both are spoken of as
good appointments.
The WadesborO Brown Stone Company
has secured the contract for supplying the
material for the new public buildings at
Wilmington. n. c.
Prominent politicians here of both par
ties say that Blaine's letter was a master
stroke, and that it made his nomination
necessity. The Republicans are at sea.
They have no one but Blaine on whom to
unite, and no issue, except the one he has
made more prominent than any living man
of his party. John Sherman has no per
sonal popularity; Sheridan is nothing but
a soldier, and neither Allison, Harrison,
Shap
mand a big following. Lincoln is merely
the son of his father. :"
1t is clear that the supporters of Mr..
Blaine can control the nomination and
can prevent the nomination of any of the
other candidates.
A soldier at Hampton, Virginia, sent
President Cleveland n letter about his
claim for a pension now pending before
Congress. He gave the President some
very unique advice and information about
military law Enclosed in the letter was
an ambitious specimen of scroll work partly
made with the pen and partly with all
kinds of fancy pictures pasted on the
white paper. The letter was referred to
the War Department and the unique pic
ture, which was evidently meant for a
Valentine. with it.
The majority for the Blair bill in the
Senate was ten votes. In the 10th Con
gress it was 80 ayes to Q nays showing
decidedly more interest in, and more OPP
position to it, this time. Mr.. Blair, feel
ing sure of a nearly solid Southern support
induged in concluding his speech in some
uncomplimentary remarks about the
South. l hope the Henderson educational
bill will be substituted for the Blair bill
which. as have before stated, will never
get out of the committee room on educa-
ton.
The committee on elections divided on
party lines in the McDuffy Davidson case
from Alabama. The majority report seats
Davidson, the contestee, while the minor
ty would seat McDutfy who was beaten
by a plurality of 5000.
The Committee on Territories has re
| ported in favor of the admission of Dakota,
Montana, New Mexico and Washington as
| States. The Republicans will oppose the
admission of Dakota as a whole desiring
to make two Republican States in time.
| The outcome of the matter will probably
be that no new State will be admitted this
year.
There Is to be q conference as soon as
the Democratic tariff measure is perfected
between the Republican members of the
Wavs and Means Committee and the Rf
publican members of the Senate CoWree
tee on Finance who will endeavor t-rhere
upon tariff bill to suit that PATHS sub
are however, great diiferenes. A small
ject among the RepubIIey Reed and
minority are with MGrotection: others,
Kelley in favor of hirrows, are more lib
with Brown anhned by the former can
eral no ollsupport of all the Republi-
command said to day he would sooner
cans. a the Democrats. Indeed, many
vote Iowa, Indiana and other North
olbtern men say that the proposition OF
kelley. Reed and Mckinley is preposte-
rous. That proposition is to cut off forty
three millions from internal taxes and
seven millions from wooen goods, touch
ing nothing else. The Western Republl-
cans for the most part, favor % cut on
sugar. and if the Democrats put that III
| and omit wool from the free list these Re
| publicans say they will vote for the Demo
| cratic measure. The fact is, the Republi-
cans are worse divided than the Democrats
ever were on the tariff A moderate
Democratic bill is likely to go through the
House, no matter what Randall does
But the Democrats cannot afford to Omi
wool from the free list and the liberia
Republicans say they cannot afford to pu
| 1t on.