Mohave County miner., 1888-05-12
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WASHINGTON LETTER.
tyRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT. J

WASHINGTON. April 30, 1883.
The tariff 10 the all-absorbing topic Of
Congressional debate, and people you
never knew were in the House OF Repre-
sentatives prior 10 this oratorical overture
are bringing forth ancient history, dead
arguments and bad grammar with a
fecundity that Is astonishing. There Ia
one never dying beauty about the tariff
1t has two sides, 50 that 1t can always he
argued without converting any one. OF
course every member has long ago made
up his mind how he will vote, and Is
merely waiting for the conclusion of the
oratory TO deposit his verdict.
CongresslDen Springer snd Brewer had
IL pretty well to Themselves on Saturday,
and rang all the usual changes. When /
was very little boy and was taken 10 see
Congress because | was sickly and must
be hnmored, and came away very mich
weaker from the sight, I remember
vaguely that they were talking about the
tariff. | think Judge Kelley was talking
that day, and according to the program
be win speak again this week on tie
same endless topic. This session Of Con-
gress. or rather the remainder VI this
Session. H. TO he devoted exclusively 10
the preparation o! campaign mIierisl.
Representative Osborne's House bill
10 define the necessary and allowable ex-
penses incident to the nomination and
election of Senators and Representatives
il occasioning considerable discussion.
The necessary expenditures are enumer-
ated under three heads: printing and
travelling; dissemination Of information to
the public; political meetings and con-
ventions. The members Of the committee
reporting the bill agree that 1t would
abolish many practices that "embarrass
candidates and dsbauch electors" The
committee exhibit charming unanimity
in avowing that the cost OF coming to
Congress at present 10 excessive. But
with all this bills great promise ther,
are not wanting oynioa, members who
believe that the bill should also provide
Immediately ensue, that its enforcement
be possible,
! saw Minister Phelps and Representa-
tive William Walter Phelps--not related,
by the way--at the Capital on Wednes-
day. Mr.. Phelps, Minister to England,
was dressed in conyental suit o. solemn
black, wore mutton.chop side whist'ers IN
the approved English fashion, and had an
absent searching.for-the-supreme-bench
look In his mild eye. Hut Mr.. Phelps, Of
New Jersey, was arrayed as Solomon
would be II he lived in this day, striped
sack coat, wide light trousers, deep red
necktic-and banged hair. Yes, his hair
did look too grlish for anything. And
yet there is no truer friend, no warmer
enemy, and few brighter men than VIII
liam Walter Phelps. He IL dude only
in appearance,
Pension legislation IL iivelier than ever
before In the history Of Congress. The
bill TO pension the widow Of General
Rickets at 800 per month, amended by
the House to SIS, came back TO the SEN
ate and went to conference committee on
Wednesday. These bills for the pension
ing at special rates Of officers widows
meet considerable opposition from both
parties. 1t is argued that the national
debt Is as great to the pfiyateis widow as
to the officers, and that one Generals
widow should not receive az much as a
dozen Of her humber sisters are allowed.
A very bot fight may be expected when
this bill comes back from the committee.
TIC Senate, during the delivery of Sem
at0r Voorhees, reply 10 Senator ingalls,
last week, woke up and was really alive
for awhile. Senator Voorhees, made a
very careful resume Of Senator Ingalls,
speech on the pension question. The
effort was well sustained, and whatepes
ones politics may be, is worth reading as
literary production. How II will be re-
garded by the Senator's Indiana constitu.
ents is. however, an open question. sen-
ator Ingalls, has announced that tomorrow
he will have something to say to the
Senator from Indiana that will sink deep
into his soul. The galleries will be
crowded to hear what il is.
Arcadian racing weather, a fine track
and strings of horses fit TO run for their
lives, are sufficient attractions TO temp. q
great many Congressman to a few days
absence from Legislative labors. This
week racing at Ivy City--the Washington
race course-brings out the usual crowd
Of old-timers, together with some new
TURTLES. 0fcourse Senator Joe Blackburn
is there, and although his Kentucky edu-
cation leads him to back "blood" instead
Of condition." and this makes sorry 10. =
ings, thsTe is only o faint twiching OF the
lips under his heavy mustache when his
horse fails TO win. Quite as certainly
Representative "Archie" Bliss, Of Brook
lyn, with knowing look and big cigar,
is on hand, ready to back his opinions.
Then there are a number of new Con-
gressmen, who do not know so much
about thoroughbreds, and who bet mildly.
by lucky accident one in dozen wins
and is as happy apparently, in his con.
sciousness Of triumph, as If he had been
unanimously returned by a delighted con-