Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-12-21
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence of the Standard.

/
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER. -
Regular Correspondence OF The Standard.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Z, 1888.
Senator Blackburn, owing to the
wide advertisement of his recent mis-
understanding with Judge Rucker,
has been the center of attraction to the
visitors in the Senate gallery this week.
He positively refuses to talk about the
matter, but his friends regard it as
ended-at least that is what they say.
Senator Harris, by motion to lay
the Senate tariff bill on the table,
brought out the fact that the Republi-
can Senators will vote solidly in favor
of that measure, notwithstanding the
fact that several OF them are known to
be bitterly opposed to certain sections
of the bill. Several explanations are
given for this action by parties who
profess to know. One is that Harri-
son has stated that he wants the bill
passed at this session, and that those
Republicans who are opposed to it are
afraid to vote against it, lest they there
by lose their share of patronage under
the new Administration another is,
that they know the bill will not pass
the House and only vote for it to keep
up an appearance of harmony in the
Republican ranks until after Harrison
is inaugurated, leaving the quarrel
that is believed by many people to be
inevitable over the tariff, until the
next session, when they will control
both House and Senate.
The Presidents message was an able
statement of the position of the Demo
cratic party on the tariff and other
matters of importance; the ideas ex-
pressed therein could not have been
improved. Statements like the follow
ing from the message are ponderous
with statesmanlikc wisdom: "He
mocks the people who proposes that
the Government shall protect the rich,
and that they in turn will care for the
laboring poor. AIRY intermediary be-
tween the people and their Govern
ment, or at least delegation of the care
and protection the Government owes
to the humbIest citizen in the land,
makes the boast of free institutions a
glittering delusiOn and the pretended
boon OF American citizenship shame
less imposition. Exrravagant ap-
preparations of public money with all
their demoralizing consequences
should not be tolerated, either as a
means of relieving the treasury OF its
present surplus, or as furnishing pre-
text for resisting proper reduction In
tariff rates" 1t cannot be denied that
the selfish and private interests which
are so persistently heard when efforts
are made to deal in just and compre-
hensive manner with our tariff laws,
are related to if they are not largely
responsible for, the sentiment largely
prevailing among the people, that the
general Government is the fountain of
individual and private aid; that it may
be expected to relieve with paternal
care any distress of citizens and COM
munities, and that from the fullness of
its treasury it should upon the slightly
possible pretext of promoting the gen.
eral good, apply public funds 70 the
benefit of localities and individuals.
Nor can it be denied that there is IL
growing assumption that as against
the Government and in favor of private
claims and interests, the usual rules
and limitations of business principles
and just dealings should be waived.
These IDEAS have been unhappily much
encouraged by legislative acqui-
escence. Relief from contracts made
with the Government is too easily ac-
corded in favor of the citizen; the fail
ure to support claims against the
Government by proof is often sup
piled by no better consideration than
the wealth of the Government and the
poverty of the claimant; gratuities in
the form of pensions are granted upon
no other real ground than the needy
condition of the applicant, or for rea-
sons less valid; and large sums are ex-
pended for public buildings and other
improvements upon representations
scarcely claimed to be related to pub
lie needs and necessities"
The House yesterday by unanimous
consent took up the direct tax bill,
which caused the deadlock last spring.
II is expected that it will be passed,
but hopes are expressed by its oppon-
ents that Mr.. Cleveland will veto it.
Mr.. Harrison's backbone is likely to
suffer severe strain between now and
the fourth of March. The Republican
leaders here have determined upon
having an extra session of the Fifty
first Congress called to meet late in
March or early in April. There is not
the slightest necessity of an extra ses-
sion; the Republicans acknowledge
that their only object in having it
called is to gain the six Senators and
as many Representatives as South Da-
kota, Montana and Washington, when
admitted as States, shall be entitled to.