The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1888-02-23
WASHINGTON NOTES.
An Interesting Letter from our Spe-
cial Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 1888.

w AshlNNIoN, FeD. ~, 1000.
To use the words of the genial Sun
set Cox, I'VE are clearing the decks
for the tariff fight" and Mr.. Mills,
chairman of the Ways. and Means
Committee, and Democratic leader Of
the House, expresses his belief thai
the tariff bin will be reported for con
sideration before March /. Chairman
Mills adds that the newspaper iel-
lows seem to know a great deal more
about the measure than he does.
The House has passed the bill retir.
ing from circulation the three-cent
coin, which action will doubtless prove
acceptable to many persons who have
been the victims of this deceptive
money, and it is hoped that the SEN
ate will do likewise.
O'her matters of interest discussed
nm the House during the past week
were the Reading railroad strike, the
alleged inefficient mail service in the
West, and the publication of lottery
advertisements in the Washington
newspapers.
Messrs. Cox and Springer amused
the House with some animated discus.
sion over a private claim, in which
the latter made rather pointed and
and pertinent reference to the infu-
ence of the lobbyists.
Speaker Carlisle has had all the pri-
vate wires removed from the Capitol,
to the great grief and disappointment
Of several statesmen who have weak
ness for dealing in stocks.
The event of the week in the Sen
,Ate was Riddlebergers defiant expose
.oi the vote upon postponing action
mp0n the British extradition treaty
until next December. Senatorial dig.
nifty was again rudely shocked, and
THE Virginia Senator was the recipient
oil a stern rebuke from the President
pro tea., the satirical Ingalls,, 1t is
believed that the Republicans really
favor the British extradition treaty,
but fearing the indignation and re-
sentiment Of the Irish vote, they dared
not pass such an unpopular bill in n
presidential year.
Mr.. Platt made fiatulent effort in
his arraignment of the President for
his late message For while he was
iheard with respectful patience and
expectation of something worthy of
the subject, but his attempt was
''stale, flat and unproftabo," and b
positive weariness to the flesh.
There was debate in the Senate
cover the great accumulation and the
general worthlessness of the docu
ments printed by the GovernmenC
and distributed through the mail by
CoDgressmen. The discussion tended
to develop the fact that these docu-
ments are almost worthless, even Ia
Junk dealers. This matter certainly
offers a fine field. for the reformer
Every year thousands of dollars are
squandered in printing and taking
care of these books, which nobody
hardly ever reads.
1t is apparent that there will soon
be another fight in the Senate similar
To the war waged on oleomargarine
in the last Congress-this time on
lard, adulterated with cotton seed oil
and other like substances. 1t was
stated before the Senate Agricultural
Committee that only one firm now
ihas pure lard on the market.
There is probability that -four
,new States will be admitted during
rthe present session of Congress, as the
Democratic members of the House
.and Senate Committee on Territories
lhave agreed to favorably report bill
for the admission OF New Mexico
Montana, and the whole OF Dakota
1t is thuught that the Republicans
cannot consistently oppose the scheme
for political reasons, for though New
Mexico is Democratic, Dakota il
largely Republican, while in the Other
two neither party has y pronounced
advantage. 1t is likely that Dakota'l
desire for a division will not b,
granted.