The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1888-03-14
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent

lion. SamuCl j. Randall, made q
few remarks in the House on We'd
nesday, which secured him II round
of hearty applause from the demo-
cratic side and from the galleries.
1t was during the discussion on Mr.
Mill's resolution authorizing the
Secretary of the Treasury to pur-
chase bonds with the surplus,
which discus ion, by the way, was
the most interesting thus far of the
session. The tenor of Mr.. Ran
dalPs remarks was such that little
doubt remains that he will support
the tariff bill which has been pro-
posed by the majority Of the Ways
and Means Committee. He closed
by saying that he hoped and be-
lievcd that the democratic party
would at the proper time be found
acting together.
Mr.. breckenridge, Of Kentucky
made an excellent tariff speech on
Wednesday in the House. He ar
gued that Revenue reform was nc
cesssary to the prosperity of the
country, and that it was the duty
Of the democratic majority of the
House topasS a bill looking there
TO, leaving the republican Senate
the responsibility Of defeating the
will of the people ifthcy dare doit,
by rejecting the bill that has 50
carefully drawn by the majority Of
the Ways and Means Commiticr.
The tariff bill, upon which the
democratic members of the WAYS
ana Means committee have been
faithfully working since the begin
ming of the session, is now complete.
1t has been placed before the full
committee, and any further delay
in presenting it to tho House will
be fairly chargcablc to the rcpubH-
can members Of that committee.
The bill proposes TO reduce the rev
cnucS the Government from 500,
000,0OO to S70,OOO000 year.
The Government Printing Onicc
investigation is still on. Every
day offers new proofs of the many
benefits derived by that Office since
it has been under democratic con.
troll. Many thousand dollars have
been saved for the Government,
whilc the quantity Of work turned
out is larger than ever before.
The tricky Junior senator from
New Hampshire, VIM. T.. Chandler,
introduced very innocent looking
bill in the Senate the other day. 1t
authorizes the purchase Of Albert
Opcrtis two paintings "The Faith
est North" and Camp Clay, or the
Rescue Of Lieutenant Greeley and
Party" This bill will bear watch
ing, rs both Secretaries Whitney
and EndicOtt have refused to re
commend their purchase. The ar
tist claims that Senator Chandler,
who was then Secretary of the Ma
w, ordered the paintings for the
Government. If he did so, he cX-
cccdcd his authority aud Congress
should not help him out ofhis di-
lcmna. The price of the two pain
tings is $4,000 which is generally
considered to be much more than
they are worth.
BY the way, Il bill TO create Ma
tional Art Commission here has
Just passed the Senate, something
that is greatly needed art connois-
scurs will say. The Commission IS
to consist Of fourteen persons. to be
appointed by the President and
serve without compensation. Their
duty shall be to pass upon all works
of art which the Government pro-
poses to purchase and to supervise
the preparation of plans and cXccu-
tion of contracts for art work under
Government direction. | VIII Just
mention i'm this connection that the
Washington philanthropist whose
obsequies took place this week, (Mr
w. w COrcoran) bequcathcd an
other 100000 to the Corcoran Art
Gallery.
Another republican boomcragc.
1t will be remembered that carly
in the present session OF Congress Il
republican member introduced
with II great blast of trumpets, a
resolution in the House calling on
the Commissioners Of Pensions to
show cause etc, why he had eXcce-
ded his authority byissuing what
is known rs the conc huI dyed day"
circular to pension claimants. The
House Committee on Pensions has
made IN advcrss report on this res
olution. The Commissioner did
not exceed his authority, and in is
suing the circular the interests of
no claimant were injured. On the
contrary, many were benefited
thereby.
Senator Vest made speech on
the Dependent Pension bill We'd
ncsday in which he fairly naycd
that class of statesmen who are al
ways ready to pose as the special
champio ~ of the soldiers interests.
He said they were turning the ma
tions legislative halls into auction
rooms in which they could bid for
the soldier vote i'm the coming con
test, "Purtisan or partisan"
my convictions require me TO vote
against the bill; andI hope it may
"flie the death" in the other branch
of the Natiooal Congress; and ifnet
there, at the hands of the Execu-
tive. If that be unparliamentary
make tIle most Of II,