Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-03-02
VOLUME XXVIII--NUMBER IA.
OUR WASHINGTON LETTE r..
Regular Correspondence of the Standard.
WASHINGTON, Feb. II, 1888.

tie over two months, more than $3.50
bills have been introduced in the
House of Representatives. Not one
fortieth of them haye passed, and be-
fore final adjournment the number of
bills presented and referred will prob
ably have reached twice that number.
The life of congressional bill is
rather interesting. To give you some
idea of the red-tape that a bill must
encounter, it is only necessary to say
that a full-grown bill must be printed
three times, and must pass through
the hands of at least twenty-five per-
sons before it can be numbered with
the laws OF the land.
There seems to be growing dispo-
sition on the part of Congress to regu-
late, or rather to restrict, the publica-
ton of certain matter in the press,
such as lotteries and gift enterprises.
Thirteen bills of this character were in
troduced in the last Congress, and
eight or nine have been brought for
ward in the present.
The House Committee has reported
adversely the bill to license railroad
conductors, and this is probably the
last that will be heard of that measure
The House Judiciary Committee
has ordered /. favorable report on the
Senate bill to refund the direct taxes
collected during the late civil war,
with an amendment providing that
money SO collected shall be restored
to the rightful owner. There is little
doubt OF the passage of this act.
The Ways and Means Committee
has reported a bill authorizing the
Secretary of the Treasury to invest the
surplus in the purchase of Uuited
States bonds. Heretofore this author
ity was conferred upon that official by
virtue of the provision of the annual
appropriation bill. AS an issue has
been raised questioning his right in
the matter, it was thought best to
finally settle the controversy by such
legislation.
The Republican Senators have but
two subjects to discuss when they wish
to talk for political effect. When
weary Of assaulting the Presidents
message they are reduced to the neces-
sity of attacking the mail service in
the West. Senator Reagan was to the
point when he said that if reform
was honestly sought, the complaints
would not be sent to the United States
Senate, but to the Postofficc Depart
ment, where steps could be taken to
correct the alleged shortcomings.
Blaine's letter is variously viewed
both by Democrats and Republicans.
The former place little faith in his sim
cerity, while those of the latter who
are unfriendly to the aspirations of the
man from Maine are more than will
ing to take him ut his word. On the
other hand, the ardent supporters of
Mr.. Blaine are hoping that there will
be a reaction in his favor, which will
apparently make the candidacy Of
their favorite q necessity.
As result Of the retirement OF
Blaine, there are q number of Presi-
Dental booms, among which may be
mentioned Senators Hawley, Sher-
man, Allison, as well as Gresham and
General Sheridan. In fact the Re-
publicans in Congress are now think
ing more of President-making than of
legislation.
At last the SO called everlasting
Blair bill' has again passed the Sen
ate, this time by vote of 80 to 20. 1t
has been in three Congresses now, and
has occupied much valuable time,
WLuCtl AtS CuClnlCo chy Will OC w AAO
purpose. Its fate in the House is
problematical, but most of the DEM
ocrats voted against it before, and the
longer the bill has been thought Of
and talked OF the weaker it has grown.
The last vote upon it by the Senate
was not so strong as the vote of two
years ago.
The Fisheries Commission having
concluded its labors and signed a
treaty, the same will be submitted to
the Senate to-day. 1t only includes
the disputes on the Atlantic coast.
The President and party are ex-
pected to make their flying trip to the
Land of Flowers" early next week.
They will not be absent quite one
week. DEN.
A CITIZEN of Milwaukee, who has
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