Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-08-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 1888

Senator Plumb from the commit
tee on Agriculture, has reported tav-
orably to the Senate the House bill
making the department of Agricul-
ture an executive department, under
the control of a Secretary Of Agri-
culture. The clause transferring the
weather bureau to the new depart
ment has been stricken out There
is no doubt OF the passage Of this
bill, in fact there is no opposition to
speak of. T..
Quite a number Of Congressman
will5go over to New York to take
part in the great demonstration CIV
en- ds = welcome to James &. Blaine
on his return to his native land. It
promises to be the biggest thing of
the kind ever seen in this country,
and SO it should be; Mr.. Blaine is
worthy of it.
Senator Call has ''let the cat out
Of the bag" He recently offered a
resolution calling upon the Treasury
department for information in re-.
gard to property once owned by the
robel government. In reply to that
inquiry, Treasury agent submitted
a long inventory Of ships, machinery
etc., now in existence in the hands
of foreign governments and private
parties, amounting in value to many
millions, and expressing the opinion
that much of this property might be
recovered by the United States. Ev-
erybody wondered what was meant
by this business, until this week
Senator Call offered an amendment
to the Sundry Civil appropriation
bill, appropriating $4,000 to be used
in locating property belonging to
the rebel government. All this trou-
BILE had been taken to send a friend
off on foreign junketing tour, at
Uncle Sans expense. But it was a
failure, for the Senate refused to
adopt the amendment.
The Senate committee is still hear
ing parties interested in the propos-
ed tariff bill. They do not propose
to do anything without fully hearing
every side of the effect it is likely to
have.
Senator Frye, of the select Senate
committee on the Pacific railroads,
has reported, with some minor amend
ments, the Outhwaito bill providing
for a settlement of the claims of the
goverkment against tho Union Pa
cifc railroad. The report accompa-
nying the bill says: Tin the judg-
ment of your committee it secures a
very satisfactory settlement Of the
debt due from the Union Pacific and
Central Branch Union Pacific Com
panies. and the committee have ev-
cry assurance that both corporations
will accept its terms.''
Senator Hoar's resolution, for the
appointment of a committee of seven
senators, to investigate the CONNER
cial relations between the United
States and Canada, has been passed.
Senator Riddleberger, from the
committee on manufacturers, has re-
ported a bill to divide the surplus
left from the appropriation for the
Ohio Valley centennial, between the
expositions at Richmond, Va, and
Augusta, Ga.
The direct tax bill, which was of:
fered in the Senate as an amendment
to the Sundry Civil Appropriation
bill, was ruled out on point of or
der, as general Legislation.
No fears are entertained by the
democrats that Cleveland will veto
the river and harbor bill. Of course
not. The Mills bill would have
been defeated in the House had not
Cleveland promised to sign the river
and harbor bill. This pledge was
given some months ago.
Senator Bowen succeeded in get
ting an amendment to the Sundry
Civil Appropriation bill adopted,
giving $25o,0oo for the purpose of
investigating the irrigation of our
arid lands.
Representative Burrows, Of Mich
igan, says he is not a candidate to
succeed Senator Palmer. He pre-
fers remaining in the House.
The Republican Congressional
Committee are beginning the active
work fof the campaign. Mr.. Golf,
the chairman, and Mr.. Mcpherson,
the secretary, are both confident of a
Republican majority in the House
this year.
Representative Foran, of Ohio, a
Democrat, says he calculates that
the next House will be Republican
by at least fifteen majority.
Much interest is expressed here IN
the Indianna State campaign. Rep
resentative Browne says the retire
ment of Ex-G Governor Porter renders
it well nigh impossible to say who
the candid ate will be. -
Representative Mckinley is to
speak before the Chautauqua Socie.
tY Of Atlanta, Ca, after all. Sena-