Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-12-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
IFrom onr regular correspondent

~
ally declared the opening Of the second
session of the Fiftieth Congress. A few
seconds lated Senator Ingalls, performed
"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 ae-
cordance with the vote of the House
which broke the celebrated deadlock
of the last session, the Direct-tax bill,
which has been passed by the Senate,
Is expected to be taken up. No fill
clustering is expected, and it Is proba-
BILE 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 Republican op-
position this may not be done.
Ever since the election there has been
much curiosity as to what Mr.. Cleve-
land would do after he goes out of of
flee. can crafty this curiosity. Ear
ly in the spring it is at present the plan
of Mr.. and Mrs. Cleveland to leave for
Europe, where they will stay for an in
definite period. Further than that
nOLnlDg IS SettleO.
Owing to heavy payments by the
Treasury the public debt shows an in
crease ofabout $11 900, 900 for the month
of November. The largest single item
was the quarterly pension payment Of
S23, 900, 900.
Washington is to have circle named
in honor of Gen. w. s. Hancock, upon
which the society of the Army of the
Potomac will erect handsome statue
to his memory.
Representative Mcmillan, who is q
member of the House committee on
Ways and Means, think it probable that
an attempt will be made to pass bill,
embodying the internal revenue features
ofthe Mills bill. He thinks the changes
proposed would give much needed re-
lief, and that they would cut off half Of
the frivolous prosecutions under the
law as ii now stands, and that the col
lection of the revenue would not be i'm
paired in the least.
Secretary Whitney's annual report is
a very interesting document. He gives
the status of the NAVY as it will be on
the 4th of March, 1889, and compares it
with the Navy of March 4th, 1885. He
then states that when the unarmored
crouisers already contracted for are
completed that the United States will
rank second among the nations in the
possession of that most useful class
of vessels. But the most striking
part of the report is that relating to the
finances of the department. In this
connection the Secretary says: ''It is
gratifying 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 rednctions in other directions have
made the total expenditures of the de-
partment less for these years than for
the three years ending in June 80, 1884,
the ordinary expenses of the depart
ment having heen reduced over twenty
per cent" The table mentioned by the
Secretary shows that the expenditures
for three wears ending June 80, 1884,
were S47, $40, 1897, aud for the three years
ending June 80, 1888, SAC, $3.50, $50. This
ia plain statement of unvarnished
facts, and shows in manner that even
the dullest can comprehend, the differ
ence between Democratic economy and
Republican extravaganza. Whitney's
report makes highly creditable show
ing for him, and amply proves the claim
long made by his friends that he is the
best Secretary of the Navy that this
country has ever had.
Who will receive the complimentary
democratic nomination for speaker of
the House? is asked quite often at the
Capitol. The only two men mentioned
are Sneaker Carlisle and Mr.. Randall,
and the former is certain to receive the
caucas nomination. although Randall
will get 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 meeting of the
House for some time yet. AS he lives
near the Capitol, this will not impair
his usefulness.
The republican canvass for the speak
ership of the next House Is rapidly de-
veloping into sectional fight-the east
against the west And as the east has
only one candidate-Reed of Maine
while the west is divided among four
Cannon, of Illinois, Burrows of Michi-
gan and Mckinley and Butterworth of
OhiO-it looks now as if the east would
win, but combination among the west
ern men may change the result. There
is a rumOr here that Blaine is trying in
an underhanded way to beat Reed,
whom he dislikes very much.
1t is noted as sign of the times that
everyone here seems to think that it is
only question of time when Mexico
and Canada will be parts of the United
States, The only differece of opinion
seems to be in the length of time which
is likely to elapse before these highly
important events take place.