Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-01-20
1T asllngtun Standard
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence Of the Standard.
WASHINGTON Ian e 1873

Regular Correspondence Of the Standard.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 1883.
The two most important events OF
the week are the re-asscm bling of
Congress and the resumption of work
by the special international parliament
the fisheries Commission. The
House OF representatives heard only
yesterday the announcement OF the
arrangement OF its committees, but
the Senate is already in the midst OF
battle.
The first matter of consequence pre-
scented in the Senate after the holiday
recess was the resolution in reference
to the distribution of the Presidents
message. This Was made the pretext
for Mr.. Sherman, in his feverish
haste and anxiety to get even with Mr..
Blaine in making an open bid for the
Republican Presidential nomination,
to launch harangue, something after
the manner of a stump speech, in
which he sharply takes President
Cleveland and the Democracy to task
on the tariff question, but the con-
Stunning aspirations of the Ohio Sen
ator have led him to adopt course of
conduct wholly acceptable to the De-
mocracy, as is shown by the mastery
rejoinder of Senator Voorhees,, who
was only to glad to avail himself Of
this occasion to emphasize the views
of the President and the policy of the
party.
The tariff debate, thus bravely
opened, may continue for some time
in the upper house, as several of the
Senators have announced their in
tentiOn to discuss that issue in all its
bearings. Still it is possible that the
tariff debate may be interfered with at
any moment by the Blair Educational
bill, which has precedence of all other
matters on account OF its being the
only unfinished business" The
New Hampshire Senator declares it
to be his purpose to push his bill from
day to day until the question is dis
posed of. He expresses himself as be-
ing confident that his cherished meas
ure will pass both houses and he be-
lieves the President will approve it.
As to the latter opinion, prominent
Congressman remarked, "Mr. Blair's
hope for his bill is without foundation
in all of Mr.. Cleveland's career, he
has never, either by deed or word,
committed himself to any scheme OF
paternal legislation like the Blair bill. u
He said further that he knew that
his Democratic brethren were divided
upon this question, many of the lead
ing men of the party being on the
affirmative side, but he thought il
would be better to act ON the Napo.
leonic maxim of finding out what our
enemies wish US to do and then pursue
a contrary course. He thought Presi-
dent Cleveland would be likely to re-
gard it in that light.
Of important proposed legislation in
the House, it may be well to mention
Mr.. Springer's bill to create the Terri
tory Of Oklahoma by consolidating the
tribes in the Indian Territory under
that form of government. 1t is un
derstood that another bill on the same
subject but of an entirely different
character, will be introduced. The lat
ter scheme proposes to remove the
Indians'to the eastern part of the Ter.
ritory and TO form new Territory
out Of the western portion, adding
thereto the region of country known
as mo Mans Land" which would
make y Territory nearly as large al
the State of Ohio. 1t is said this plan
will be strengthened by the support o.
the Administration.
There il q probability that Wash
ington, Montana and Dakota Territor.
les will be admitted as States this yea,
upon the condition that they shall
not vote for President until the cleo.
ton in 1892. k
Representative Grain, of Texas, il
preparing to submit his constitu
tional amendment to change the
time Of meeting Of Congress. The
3lst of December, at noon, is substitute
ed for the 4th of March as the time
for the beginning and termination Of
the official terms of members of the
House. Congress shall meet at leas,
once each year ON the first Monday in
January, unless otherwise ordered by
that body. Should the bill pass bott
Houses, it must be ratified, of course
by two-thirds of the State Legislatures
before it can become a law of the
land.
One of the most ludicrous scenes
yet witnessed in the House was when
Mr.. Boutelle, of Maine, who has made
some little reputation as sectional
agitator, called up the rebel flag in.
quiry. Instantly there were a dozen
objections, but Mr.. Campbell, of New
York, merely assumed a picturesque
attitude and exclaimed Ugh" ut the
same moment bringing his fist down
upon his desk with such vigorous
energy as to be recognized by the pre-.
siding officer as entitled to the floor
The little man from Maine persists in
playing the Innocent Abroad" for the
House of Representatives. He sci.