The Osceola times., 1888-01-07
WASHINGTON LETTER
WAsHINsToN, d. C. Jan. 2, 1887.
prom Orr Regular Corrsrpoaden,

AAs WV ~AooS "a N'N fOoii ~ - pAo
badly the proper thing to briefly re.
view the Governments financial con-
dition. During the month Of De.
cember, the receipts from all source,
were $27,325, 1858, and the disburse
ments were $40, 0,4OO,882, a net gain
Of nearly nineteen millions, out Of
which amount about three and hall
millions interest upon the public
debt must be paid, leaving the tota
surplus for December nearly fifteen
millions and half; during tina,
month the national debt was reduc
ed fifteen aud quarter millions, anc
for the whole year it was decreased
little more than one hundred anC
seventeen million dollars-the larg
est reductions being made in June
and November.
Many Of the Congressman who
visited their homes during the recess
have returned, and others are daily
arriving, all looking with impatienc.
to the re-asselnbling of Congress-
when the committees will be an.
nounced and the work of the session
will begin in earnest. 1t is under.
stood that Speaker Carlisle has fin.
ished his most tedious and trouble.
some undertaking. that OF making
out bis committee lists, and with his
great experience, it is confidently
believed that his work will be ac-
ceptable, although many members
will be disappointed at their assign
nents. Those no. familiar with the
workings OF Congressional ambition
connot conceive Of the jealousies and
chickering's Of aspiring statesmen in
such matters. II a members name
does not appear first on committee
he would like to be second or third /;
every Congressman has q settled
aversion to appearing last on com.
mittee.
Under the lead of those Republi-
can malignants, Senators Sherman,
Hoar and Edmunds, a concerted ef-
fort is being made to defeat the con.
6rmation of Mr.. Lamar, but it will
probably fail of its purpose, although
it may defer action on the nomina
tion several weeks. The proposed
promotion of the Secretary will be
made the occasion Of . lengthy and
heated partisan debate by the Re.
publicans, in which the South will
be severely assailed. Senator Saw
yer, of Wisconsin, and ore or two
other Republican Senators, have in.
tirnated a willingness to vote for Mr..
Lamsr's translation, and there is lit
tie doubt of his ultima ate success.
The Democratic Senator are very
pronounced IN favor of tariff reform,
and they have appointed a commit
tee, Of which Mr.. Kenna is chairman, b.,
to confer with the party leaders IN
the House on the issue oftax reduc.
ton, as such bill must necessarily
originate in that body. Mr.. kenns's $
selection is significant, as hts views
on the question of tariff Legislation n
are known to lie conservative, and it
is therefore thought that be is inolin.
ed to favor compromise measure.
Both parties realize that the tariff
must be revised, and they are accor-
dinghy making Prepar ations with the
view of accomplishing that object
and at the same time preserving par
ty Arguments. 1t remains to be seen
whether such difficnlt feat in DO.
litical gymnastics can be executed
successfully.
The report of the Pacific Railroad
Commission will be one of the most
important measures brought to the
attention Of Congress, and it is hop
ed that this giant corporation will be
compelled to fulfill its contract with
the Government whose torbearaDc ce
it has exhausted. Ex-Goveruor's
Patti,on's minority report is most
severe but just arraignment, in
which Republican and millionair.
United States Senator Stanford and
his bonanza associates are handled
in = manner truly refreshing and
convincing, and 1t is hoped that his
views will direct the policy Of Con-
gress.
Among the Presidents Christmas
presents we're a frozen watermelon
and q live golden eagle. 1t is sup,
posed that the melon was disposed
OF at the White House, but Mr.
Cleveland having no place about the
mansion for the proud bird of liber.
ty, presented him to the 200" 81
the National Museum, to keep com.
pany with the bear, deer, prairie dog
wolves, and red foxes recently re.
ceived from the West, and which, i,
is believed, will form the nucleus OF
a large collection of American wild
animals and fowls.
A kind word costs you nothing,