Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-12-07
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence Of the Standard.
WASHINGTON, Nov. %, 1888.


Mr.. Cleveland has retired to Oak
View in order to prepare his last an
nual message to Congress. There is
little doubt that Mr.. Cleveland will
manfully stand by the position taken
by him on the surplus and the tariff
last December. He will make more
emphatic his former declaration that
it is a " condition, and theory, that
confronts u.s." He will still advocate
the Democratic policy of reducing the
tariff on raw materials and the neces-
saries of life, but above all, he will in
sist that the income Of the Govern
ment should be at once reduced in
some manner. 1t is thought by some
that so urgent does he consider the
necessity for reduction, that he will
advise the Democrats of the House to
accept the Senate amendment to the
Mills bill, rather than have no reduc-
ton until the next session of Congress.
In fact the signs are rapidly multiply
ing that the policy of the Democratic
leaders at the coming session will be
to secure ii possible the passage Of
some sort of tariff bill that will re-
duce the surplus, and if they have to
accept the Republican plan, to do SO
under protest, as being better than no
reduction at all. This policy will, if
adopted and persistently carried out,
block the Republican plan of letting
the whole tariff question go over to the
Fifty-Fiist Congress, which they will
control in both Houses. Mr.. Cleve-
land has already stated that he would
sign any measure that should come to
him, making a reduction in the reven-
ue, whether in the tariff schedule or
the internal revenue taxes, unless there
was something very vicious about it.
1t is certain that he would sign the
Senate substitute for the Mills bill
just as it was reported to the Senate,
but it is extremely probable that the
Republicans will make many changes
in that measure before it passes.
The annual reports of the Cabinet
officers will make interesting reading
for the Democrats this year. They
will present concise history of the
four years of Democratic Administra-
ton, and will make showing that
every Democrat will have right to
feel proud of. A clearer and better
administration, taken as whole, the
has never had.
The first meeting of the House Com
mittee on Appropriations was held
Wednesday. They have buckled right
down to work, and expect to have the
District of Columbia appropriation bill
ready to report to the House the first
day of the session. Mr.. Randall, the
Chairman of the Committee, was not
present. but his health was SO greatly
that he expects to resume
his duties at the opening OF the ses-
sion.
The deadly quarrels that the Repub-
licans have already developed among
over the division of the
spoils, goes long ways toward recon-
Cling Democrats to defeat.
The negroes of this city have it in
their heads that the election Of Harri-
son has put them on top, and they are
already making all sorts of demands
in relation to the local officers. Fred.
Douglass wants to be Recorder of
Deeds, the notorious Perry Carson
wants to be District Commissioner,
but is willing to compromise on the
Chief OF Police. Several other negroes
are candidates for Commissioner and
other prominent District offices. It
is only fair to say that the white Re-
publicans are opposed to giving a
single one of the prominent Offices to
a negro, but the negroes here are a
noisy gang, and if Harrison fails to
give them some of the plums they will
make big fuss.
The new bureau of correspondence
Of the Agricultural Department., au-
by the last session of Congress,
has begun work under the direction Of
Prof. w. o. Atwater. For the present
the work of the Bureau will be confined
to furnishing the Agricultural expert
ment stations throughout the country
with information concerning the ex-
periments they are engaged in.
Will there be street fight between
Senator Blackburn and Judge Rucker,
the two fiery sons Of Kentucky, who
have been saying some very hard
things about each other in the news
papers Neither of them is here. but
both OF them have engaged rooms at
the same hotel, and are expected in
few days. Those who know both men
are confidently predicting a fight be-
tween them the first time they meet,
Senator Blackburn having put it out
of the power Of Judge Rucker to de-
mand satisfaction under the code.
The hotels here are beginning to
fill up with Congressman and others
in the coming session. The
Republican leaders are extremely re-
ticent when asked about their pro-
gramme in the Senate. But it il con-
sidered certain that they will endeavor
to do as little as possible, SO as to give
Harrison an excuse for calling an extra
session. DEN.
FROM all accounts John B. Allen
E.nr "a l. Hn