The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-01-12

| WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE ways and
means committee will go to work on tariff
bill very soon now. The committee will
have to wait for something to handle, how
ever. The mode in which a tariff bill Is
made up is this: One of the members intro
duces bill. This is referred to the COM
mittee, and there it is discussed. The COM
mittee, as rule, however, will not look at
any ordinary measure. 1t will sit about in
| its quarters, loaf, smoke or busily do nothing
in other ways until bill comes to them from
leader. The measure they are waiting for
now is Roger Q. Mills's tariff bill.
The Ways and Means Committee.
Mr. Mills Is chairman of the ways and
means committee, and TO the measure OF the
chairman Of that committee due Difference Is
always paid. Mr. Mills has been at work On
his bill for some time, nearly ever since it
was fairly decided that he was to head the
committee. His principal assistant has been
w. G. +. breckenridge of Kentueky-white-
haired, eloquent and tariff reformer OF the
most extreme type. Mills is nice looking
man, white moustache, bald, square shOnl-
ders and fair speaker. He has Morrison's
old place. both on the committee and among
the benches. When he gets up TO talk the
House listens, and If there Is hight in IL,
Tom Reed fires back. One. Of the funniest
things in long time was the aspirations OF
Jehu Baker, who succeeded Morrison. He
thought that because he had succeeded Col.
Morrison from his district. he ought also to
step into his exact shoes in the House, and II
he were not chairman of the ways and means
committee, at least should have place there.
This is, of course, impossible for new
member and particularly for new Republl-
can member But it put Baker in such high
dudgeon that he resigned the place he did
hat fha 0la fusc anu
Members Who Feel Sighted.
1t requires good deal of discomfort to re-
sign place on committee. 1t is throwing
up place for session in order to get even
with the Speaker. Leopold Morse of Mas
sachusetts thought he would do it, and he
had considerable reason for being angry.
He had had the promise of a place first on
the ways and means committee, then on ap-
preparations, and finally on naval affairs:
He got none Of them and was In very bad
spirits. But he concluded 1t would not be at
all well to slOp over, aud kept still Gov.
Curtin declined last session TO serve. having
been very badly treated by Mr.. Carlisle in
displacing him for Perry Belmont, but his
resignation helped him none. The Speaker
has great deal Of pressure brought to bear
on him and some men always feel sighted.
The great general criticism OF the committees
is that Clements Of Georgia, put at the head
bitterest opponents.
Joseph Chamberlain.
The longer Joseph Chamberlain stays in
this country, the less the people seem to
think of MIN. The better the acquaintance
of Washington people has grown, the more
he has fallen in their estimation. The incl
dent of his boisterousness during Senator
Voorhees's speech In the Senate has been
widely commented upon. Another spectacle
he made of himself was at the large British
legation ball. He tried TO waltz. His part
ner was bright little American girl, who
rather enjoyed the fun. Mr. Chamberlain
was not at all handy with his feet The
young lady soon found that he was not going
well, and in a bit of mischief spun him about
the floor so fast that when he sat down he
was wholly exhausted and quite tangled up.
He has now resumed his postponed fishery
arbitration talk, and the chances seem to be
that he will be as much tangled up here as
he was on the waxed floor Of the British
legation.
Social Matters.
The first large evening reception, really
the largest one of the season, occurs this
week. 1t answers in official circles to the
New Years reception to the people. The
diplomats are invited to meet the senators
and representatives. and the gilt braid and
side morning gowns, as they did on New
Years day, bat beside gorgeous silks and
satins. The White House is a gay sight
when illuminated and filed with such as
the more striking diplomat or the ladies'
in evening dress. Even the gayest of these
can hardly look more gorgeous than Monsieur
Roustan, the French Minister, who had coat
trimmed from collar to waIstline and from
shoulder to shoulder with the most elaborate
gold lace, and his medals contained enough
metal to have paid kings ransom.
The Battle Flags.
1t is understood that the House committee
on military affairs was ready to report today
the resolution Of Representative Boutelle,
calling upon the Secretary Of War for in
formation in reference to the proposed sur
render of the battle flags, but owing
TO Mr.. Boutelle's temporary absence, the
report was withheld. Mr.. Boutelle said to
night that he understood the resolution
would be reported fayorably tomorrow with
out material change.
They viii be Confirmed.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE Senate COM
inittee ON interstate commerce today unan-
imously ordered favorable reports upon the
nomination of all the interstate commerce
commissioners.
Maine Pensioners.
The following Maine pensions have been
granted:
Elizabeth T., mother of Asa G. Rowe, Augusta.
ORIGINAL.
Simeon spofford, West Pembroke.
INCREASE.
Chas. f. Packard, Canaan.
Samuel Gilman, Strong.
VIM. III. Chambers. NOfthfeld.
Lyman f. Norris, West Mt. Vernon.
Reuben PeIkins, Togus.
VIM. II. Kinds, Kennebunkport.
John Bean Calais
Howard NJ. Doyen, West Levant.
ThOs. Hanson, Biddeford
Wm Hickey, navy Pembroke.
REISSUE
AbIel Lancaster, Corinna.
RENEWAL AND INCREASE.
John Oakford, National Military Home, Togus
Notes.
Wool growers and dealers from different
parts Of the country met in this city yester-
day.
Senator Morrill, was taken i'll yesterday,
but rested well last night and was better
thio ".oraias, uo expects TO be out in a few
days.
Lth CONGRESS..-PIRST SESSION.
SENATE.
VVAGurNcroN Ian n