Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-09-28
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

| Senator George created consteTna-
ton among the Republicans OF the
Senate when he offered an amend
ment to the very wild bill against
trusts which the Republicans of the
Finance Committee had agreed to re-
port to the Senate. making it the duty
OF the President, when satisfied that
the price OF any article OF mer-
chandisc is raised in consequence of
agreements or combinations, to issue
proclamation suspending temror-
arily the collection Of import duties on
such article. This was further than
the Republican trust-loving Senator
wanted to go, and Senator H0ar un-
bent himself to howl against placing
such vast amount of power in the
hands of the President. The people
of this country had much rather give
the power to the President than to
have it welded by the thriving trusts
as they are dong now.
Harrison was very unfortunate in
having his letter of acceptance come
SO close to Mr.. Cleveland's. 1t invited
comparison between the two docu-
ments, and the comparison was any
thing else than favorable to Harrison.
As one witty Congressman expressed
it, a it was like comparing tallow dip
to an electric light" Harrison swal-
lows the whole Chicago platform, but
it is evident that the free whisky
paragraph went against the grain, Tor
he apologies for saying that there is
no Likelihood of its adoption for long
time to come. He acknowledges that
a revision of the tariff is needed and
vet he and the Republican party are
opposing the Mills bill which only
makes fair revision of the war tariff.
In regard to trusts, Harrison agrees
with the Chicago platform and not
with Blaine, at least he says he does.
but what Republican says about
trnsts must always be taken with Il
gain of allowance. Harrison's letter
is on the whole regarded here as very
weak, and is not calculated to gain
any votes for his party.
Mr.. Cleveland's ringing letter of ac-
ceptance has made tremendous i'm
preston here. Many Democrats con-
slider it the strongest and best letter Of
acceptance ever written. 1t shows
Mr.. Cleveland to be firm u, his inten-
tention of having taxation reduced in
this country to the extent necessary
to economically administer the gov
ernment.
The House has reduced the appro-
priation for reclaiming the arid regions
from $3.50, 600 to 100000.
The Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations have hung up the Retalia-
ton bill for the present.
The Republicans are getting good
deal of consolation out of the fact that
they succeeded after great efforts in
holding their own in Vermont and
Maine. They will discover in Novcm-
ber how very foolish they were to
thing of defeating Cleveland on tariff
reform.
Blackguar.lism seem to be on the
increase among the Republicans in
the Senate. The latest offenders are
Messrs. Blair, Hoar, Spooner and
Mitchell.
Senator Quay came over from New
York this week to try to persuade the
Republican Senators to take his ad-
vice and not attempt to pass tariff
bill ut this session. He has made
some converts, but whether enough is
somewhat doubtful. The impression
among those who ought to know, is
that an attempt will be made to pass
the bill, if they can ever succeed in
getting it reported to the Senate.
The time set for its report has now
gone by. Now they say it will be re-
ported next week.
A naval officer is authority for the
statement that the new double-turreted
monitor Puritan which is being built
at Chester, Pennsylvania, will when
completed be able to disable and sink
in fifteen min utes the strongest iron
clad afloat. If this he go, about a
dozen Puritans would be good things
for Uncle Sam TO have around.
Senator Beck is seriously i'll with an
affection of the heart He has by his
physicians orders been compelled to
give up his Congressional duties for the
present session. His loss will be
severely felt if there is tariff debate
in the Senate us he was expected to
lead the Democrats in their attack up
on the Republican tariff bill. 1t is
hoped that perfect rest will restore
his health.
The Democrats of the House will
shortly hold caucus to determine
what action they shall take on the adj
journment question.
Republican otice-hOlders in the
departments here have received circu-
lars asking them to contribute to the
Republican campaign fund. Hows
that for cheek 4?
Speaker Carlisle expects to SO to
Kentucky tomorrow. While there he
will probably make few speeches to
help the good cause along.
Several bills have been introduced
which are aimed ut the cOtton-bag-
ging trusts, and it would seem to be
almost certain that some of them
must pass. All they want is an op-
portunity as everybody seems to be
opposed to this trust.
The Senate has not yet disposed of
the Chinese exclusion BILL.
IF one-tenth of the bills introduced
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