Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-06-08
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence of the Standard
WASHINGTON Nav o. 1883

The President and Mrs. Cleveland
went to Philadelphia on Wednesday
to attend the 250th anniversary of the
Presbyt yterian church held at German
town. Mr.. Cleveland returned tt
Washington Thursday, but Mrs. Cleve
land will remain in Philadelphia few
days. Next Tuesday night Mr. Cleve
land will go to New York to take par,
in the Memorial Day exercises in that
city, and Brooklyn on Wednesday
He will review the New York parade
in the morning, and the one in Brook.
lyn in the afternoon, returning to this
city at night.
The Senate has passed the House
bill to establish Department of Labor
There were several unimportant
amendments made which will neces-
state returning the bill to the House
for its concurrence.
The Senate committee on Agricul-
ture have made Il favorable report or
the House bill to enlarge the duties OF
the Department Of Agriculture, and
make it an executive department. The
bill, as it passed the House, provided
for the transfer of the weather bureau
from the War Department to the De-
partment of Agriculture. This has
been struck out OF the bill by the SEN
ate committee.
The Republicans OF the House have
backed down in most inglorious
manner by declining to accept the
proposition made them by Represen-
tative Mills to take vote ON the sub
stitute which the Republicans pro-
posed Offering, and then on the Mills
tariff bill, without further discussion
or amendment. This action on the
part of the Republicans shows plainly
that they were afraid the bill would
pass if they allowed it to come to a
vote without further delay. The bill
will, when taken up again, be con-
sidered under the five minute rule by
sections. At this stage, amendments
will be in order 1t is not likely that
Il final vote will be reached before July.
Members Of the Senate Judiciary
Committee have received many letters
urging the confirmation of Mr.. Fuller
as Chief Justice. The majority OF
these letters have come from the
Northwest, and quite number Of
them were written by prominent Re
publicans. He would have probably
been confirmed this week, had not Sen
aior Ingalls, asked for further delay.
ii is now believed that he will be con-
tirmcd next week.
The Baltimore, one of the new cruis-
ers for the navy, will be launched in
Philadelphia July 4. 1t is expected
that Mrs. Cleveland will christen the
new boat.
A resolution providing for an inves-
tigation of the fur seal fisheries of
Alaska, by the House Committee on
Merchant Marine and Fisheries, has
been passed by the House. For many
years there has been charges made
against the Alaska Fur Company, a
corporation which has contract with
the Government that gives it a mon
opoly of catching seals on the coast Of
Alaska. Up to the present time this
wealthy corporation has always been
able to prevent any legislation looking
toward Congressional investigation,
but now it is to be hoped that the COM
mittee will make an exhaustive in
quiry into the whole business and
methods of the company.
Mr.. Springer, Of Illinois, has intro
duced 4 bill in the House, placing on
the free list all articles of merchandise
the production Of which may be con-
trolled by trusts and corporations.
Thursday the cornerstone of the
new Catholic University in this city
was laid. Gen. Rosecrans, Register Of
the Treasury, was the Chief Marshal
Of the procession which was an ex-
tremely large one. The ceremonies
were very impressive, being partici-
pated in by Cardinal Gibbons, about
thirty bishops, and nearly four hun
dred priests.
Some excitement was created here
Wednesday by a report that Gen.
Sheridan was dangerously i'll. He was
and is still sick, but not dangerously
so.
There will not probably be any pa
per fractional currency issued just
now. The Senate committee has re-
ported against the House bill provid-
ing therefor. In place of it, they
have reported bill reducing the fee
on postal notes in sums below one dol
lar to one cent. The opposition OF
Secretary Fairchild killed the frac-
tional currency bill.
Wednesday night there was great
rejoicing among the Democrats here,
when the news of the unqualified en-
dorsement by the Pennsylvania State
Democratic Convention OF the Presi-
dent and the Mills tariff bill was re.
ceived. 1t only shows what rapid
headway revenue reform is making
among the people Of the country.
| MEssRs. Moore and Owens, two we'll
known divers from New Orleans, are IL
Port Townsend, and propose, if en-
couragement is offered, to regain the
|