Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-03-08
GOSSIP FROM THE CAPITAL.
The New Tariff Bill aud its Chances
for Passage-.-The Pension Bin for
Dependpnt Parents. Etc.

From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, March O.
After many months OF hard labor. Mr..
Mills and his democratic colleagues of the
house committee on ways and means
have perfected n tariff bill. which is now
before the whole committee. 1t will be
reported TO the house at the earlieast
practical moment, which means when the
republican members OF the committee
have exhausted all the methods of delay
TO which parliamentary usage entities
them The bill does not entirely satisfy
every democrat-no bill would. 1t is
not an ideal revenue reform bill, nor such
a measure rs the gentlemen who framed
il would have presented had they been
clothed with plenary legislative auth0ri
ty. Practical craftsmanship recognizes
the limitations imposed by conflicting
views and opposing interests. Still 1t is
= bill that ia likely to be supported by
every member of the party, as the most
axpedient that can be had at present II
puts wool lumber and salt on the free
list and materially reduces the duty on
sugar, and it is estimated that it will re-
duce the revenue Of tho government to
the event Of 100000, 900.
Candor compels me to say that at this
time there is much doubt as 10 whether
tAe bill will pass the house, owing to the
willingness OF certain members to sacri-
ace the interests of the country at large
as well as the democratic party, be
cause the bill would, if it became
law, injure some petty industry in their
own districts. Shouldn't there be some
way of whipping these men into the party
traces or else out of the party altogether?
The democratic party is pledged to
revenue reform; on that issue it won the
last pre- sidental election and hopes to
win the next; though how 1t will do it If
the house of personalities, with dem
ocratic majority, shall refuse to pass
tariff bill looking towards reform.
is more than the clear headed
politician can see just now. How.
ever there is time enough for the
people to be heard from on the subject,
and what is demanded by the people is
seldom refused by congress. Let the
democratic press bring the greatest power
OF modern times-public opinion--to
bear on this question. The new tariff
bill is approved by the president and the
secretary of the treasury-and | might
also add by a majority of democrats.
From this time on the house will hold
oNtuluB StSSlbH uu IltlhN lbI tlC touN
eideraton of private pensions and pollti>
cal disability bills.
The senate committee having in charge
Me District OF Columbia decided against
the Platt prohibition BILL and is disposed
to refer the question of prohibition, high
license, or no change In the liquor law,
to direct vote of the citizens of the dis
trict. In other words they are in favor
Of local option for the district.
The bill authorizing the issue of paper
fractional currency in denominations of
ten, fifteen and twenty-five cents is
likely to become law. The house com
nittee on banking have ordered a favors
able report thereon.
On Thursday the house committee on
manufactures will begin taking testimony
in Its investigation of the various
trusts" Some interesting developments
are expected.
The house committee on pensions has
made a favorable report on the bin relat
ing to claims for pensions by
dependent parents. 1t will only be
necessary to show that the soldier
WAS entitled to IA pension, and that he
left no widow or minor children, and that
the parent or parents are dependent. The
committee hns also made a favorable re-
port on the bill authorizing the payment
Of the pensions of habitGaIly intoxicated
persons to their wives or to guardians,
The joint resolution changing the time
for the commencement of the presidential
term to April 80. and changing the date
for the annual meeting Of congress to
January /, has been favoraby reported
~ the house.
Mr. Edward Cooper, ex mayor Of New
York city, aud hrotherNin.law of Mayor
Hewitt, who has been accused Of intrgu
ing against MIR. Cleveland's nomination,
was in this city for several days last
week. and most emphatically denied the
accusation, and at the same time said
that he was for Cleveland first. last, and
oil the time. While here, he spent much
time in consultation with the president
and Col. Lamont.
The government printing office inves-
tigation is stil slowly dragging along.
Mir. Benedict was on the stand Saturday
and the republicans put him through a
rigid cross examination, but failed to
make point against him.