The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1888-04-28
Washington Letter,
(YRoa OUR REGULAR c, RREspopEsr.) y
Washington April %. 1928

Washington April %. 1898
BY far the most important event in
Congress since last wrote you was the
Inauguration Of the long contemplated
tariff debate which took place on last
Tuesday with becoming dignity and
decorum. The opening speech for reve
nue. reform was made by Mr.. Mills, of
Texas, as Chairman OF the Ways and
Means Committee, and was called
masterpiece by his sympathizers on the
tariff question. The reply very appro-
priately came from Judge Kelly, of Pa,
the senior member of Congress and the
acknowledged leader and exponent Of
protection.
The discussion promises to be long
continued and exhaustive, and it will not
be surprising IL the public finds its
patience somewhat worn before vote is
reached, although Mr.. Mills, in speaking
Of his cherished measure. remarked
enthusiastically: 1--WE are in earnest, we
will actively push IL to final vote. and
we will pass il before the meeting of the
st. Louis Presidential Nomination Con-
vention."
The House Of Representatives spent
most ol The past week in working with
gratifying energy on appropriation bills.
II is trying to dispose of these current
financial concerns in order to give its
time exclusively afterwards To The in
spring tariff discussion. The Pension
appropriation bill and the Indian appro
priation bill have been safely passed. and
pow the River and Harbor appropriation
In under consideration.
The Pension bill appropriates $SO,2SG
500, being an increase of S1,5l5,000 over
the appropriations Of last year. These
are large figures, but l suppose nobody
will regret the ex x2endIture. 40 long ~ il
ia carefully limited to those who honestly
earned this recognition by the Govern
ment.
The River and Harhor bill does not
have smooth sailing. Some members
seem TO think that the appropriation
ought to be distributed among the states
according to the number Of miles of their
water front or the lineal length of their
rivers and creeks, without any particular
regard to the needs of commerce. They
object TO the mighty Mississippi, which
has never received the attention il
deserved from the Government, having
80 much.
The trouble seems TO be in bringing
congressman to understand that whatever
the Government spends for internal i'm
provements should bear some reasonable
proportion TO the calculable commercial
advantages which they carry with them
The River and Harbor bill is not in the
character of a gratuity to the States. but
Of business investment for the general
welfare.
After lively political debate which
reverted to the electoral controversy of
1876. the bill for the admission Of South
Dakota as state passed the Senate. 1t
is not expected to pass the House however.
The impression is strengthening at the
Capitol that party lines will be strictly
drawn upon the Fisheries Treaty and
that it's ratification is impossible. 1t is
probable that a considerable portion of
this week will be spent Lehind closed
doors by the Senate discussing this
treaty. Much Of II will be Of a partisan
character and will be made public by
order Of the Senate and published in the
Congressional Record. Secretary Bayard
was ANXIOUS for the treaty TO be discussed
In open session because he thought the
more the people knew about the treaty
the more popular IL would become.
Friday last was the tooth day of the
present session OF Congress. The bills
and resolutions introduced 10 that date
aggregate l2,36s. which is over 2O0O
more than the total number introduced
during the first hundred days Of the last
Congress. The Senate has passed ssl