Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-04-07
WASHINGTON.
A Hopeful Outlook for the Mills
Tariff Bill---The Republicans De.
moralized and Sherman Getting
Tired.

tariff bill stood good chance to pass
the House. The Improvement in
the outlook is not owing to any
conversions having been made among
the democratic followers of Mr..
Randall-they are still as obstinate as
the one man who abused the other
eleven on the jury because they
would not agree with him-but is
owing principally to revolt in the
republican ranks, against the high
protection policy. This revolt is led
by Mr.. Nelson, of Minnesota, who
made one of the strongest revenue
reform speeches yet heard in the
House, Thursday. He went over the
whole question in a manner; he
favors the retention of the internal
revenue taxes, and generallowering
of the tariff. In regard to high
wages and high tariff, he said: "It
has been the fashion to ascribe the
higher wages of this country to the
tariff. consider that false pre-
tense. England has free trade, while
Austria, Germany, Italy, and France
have protection, and yet wages are
much higher in England than in
either of the other countries. The
main cause of the low wages in
Europe, is to be found in the density
of population, and greater supply of
labor. at is thought that the num-
Der of republicans who practically
agree with Mr.. Nelson is large
enough to ensure the passage of the
Mills bill, if they do not allow
themselves to be whipped back in
to the party traces.
The report of the majority of the
Ways and Means committee on the
Mills tariff bill, which has been
prematurely made public, though
it has not been yet presented to the
House, is an able document, and
should be spread broadcast among
the people. 1t will doubtless make
many conversions to revenue re-
form.
The President went to New York
Friday, to attend the funeral of eX-
Governor Dorsheimer.
The bills pensioning Mrs. Gen.
Logan aud Mrs. Gen. Blair have
! passed the House. They get $4,000 a
year. n.
The naval board of coast defenses
7 organized last year, are to be called
upon to investigate the matter OF
, defenses. There is an Appropriation
of 100000 available forl this work,
. and Secretary Whitney is anxious
r that it should be judiciously used.
! Gen. Terry has applied to the
Secretary of War to be examined for
retirement. Bad health is the
/ reason.
/, 1t is extremely doubtful whether
the present House will ever vote to
, repeal the limitation ause-limiting
s the time to July 1880, as the latest
date for filling claims under the
:. : arrears of pension act of 1876. There
are several bills of this nature before
r the House committee on pensions,
: A subcommittee has been appointed
to consider them, and report to the
full committee. Gen. Black, Com
missioner of Pensions, estimates that
y it will require between 5000, 100000
and $500, 100000 to pay all the claims
for arrears of pensions, should the
!, limitation clause be repealed.
- The republicans of the Senate are
= in a badly demoralized condition
They held a caucus Thursday, in
= order to endeavor to bring about
. party harmony, but it was a very
> bad failure. The caucus was called
i to act on the bill authorizing the
Secretary of the Treasury to purchase
:, U. S. bonds, which has passed the
= House, and is now before the Senate
y Senator Stanford and several other;
r announced that they would not bt
y bound by caucus action on this or any
other financial measure. The caucus
after appointing a committee of clever
to arrange the order of business, anG
/. report the same to another caucus t
he held this week, adjourned.
,r Public Printer Benedict is now
strictly enforcing the eight hour law
in every department of the Govern
ment Printing Office. The force il
divided into two sections, one begin
ming work at s a. M, and continuing
until 5p. M, withan hour for dinner
the other beginning at 5p. M, anC
working until a. m.
Johnny Sherman is tired already