Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1888-12-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.

HOUil lO'udy speaker IdIllSlC iOlIidiiy
declared the opening of the second
session Of the Fiftieth Congress. A
few seconds later Senator ingalls, per-
formed a like service for the Senate.
There were many vacant seats in
both Houses, but the most of them
will be occupied in a few days. On
Wednesday, in accordance with the
vote of the House which broke the
celebrated deadlock of the last ses-
sion, the Direct-tax bill, which has
been passed by Senate, is expected
to be taken up. No fillibustering is
expected, and it is probable that the
bill will be passed, but there are
many people here who believe that
the President will veto it. In the
Senate, if Senator Allison has his
way the tariff bill will be taken up
this week, but owing to the Republi-
can opposition this may not be done,
Ever since the election there has
been much curiosity as to what Mr..
Cleveland would do after he goes
out of Office. l can crafty this curl
osity. Early in the spring it is at
present the plan of Mr.. and Mrs.
Cleveland to leave for Europe, where
they will stay for an indefinite
period. Further than that nothing
is settled.
Owing to heavy payments by the
Treasury the public debt shows an
increase of about $11, ,000,000 for the
month of November. The largest
single item was the quarterly pen
sion payment of $23, ,0OO,000.
Washington is to have a circle
named in honor of General w. S.
Hancock, upon which the Society of
the Army of the Potomac will erect
handsome statue to his memory.
Representative Mcmillan, who is
member of the House committee on
Ways and Means, thinks it probable
that an attempt will be made to pass
bill, embodying the internal reve-
nue. features of the Mills bill. He
thinks the changes proposed would
give much needed relief, and that
they would cut off half of the frivo-
lous prosecutions under the law as it
now stands, and that the collection
of the revenue would not be impaired
in the least.
Secretary Whitney's annual report
is very interesting document. He
gives the status of the Navy as it will
be on the 4tll of March, 1890, and
compares it with the Navy of March
4th, 1885. He then states that when
the unarmored cruisers already con-
tracted for are completed, that the
United States will rank second
mong the nations in the possession
of that most useful class Of vessels.
But the most striking part of the re-
port is that relating to the finances of
the Department. In this connec-
tion the Secretary says: ''It is graft
flying to be able to report, as will be
seen from the following table, that
Notwithstanding the expenditures
for the new navy in the last three
years, the reductions in other direc-
tions have made the total expendi.
lures of the department less for these
three years than for the three years
ending June 30th, 1884, the ordinary
expenses of the department have
been reduced over twenty per cent. "
The table mentioned by the Secretary
shows that the expenditures for three
years ending June 30th, 1884, were
$47 ,979, 1897, and for the three years
ending June 30th, 1888, $46,S30, ,63p.
This is plain statement of unvarn-
ished facts, and shows in manner
that the dullest can comprehend, the
difference between Democratic econo
my and Republican extravaganza.
Secretary Whitney's report makes a
highly creditable showing for him,
and amply proves the claim long
made by his friends chat he is the
best Secretary of the Navy that this
country has ever had.
Who will receive the compli-
mentary Democratic nomination for
Speaker of the House? is asked quite
often at the Capital. The only two
men mentioned are Speaker Carlisle
and Mr.. Randall, and the former is
certain to receive the caucus nomina-
ton, although Randall will get a
much larger number of votes than
people who only see the surface of
things would suppose possible. Mr..
Randall has almost recovered his
health, but as matter of prudence
he will not regularly attend the meet
ings of the House for some time yet.
AS he lives near the Capital, this will