The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-07-26

From Our Washington Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D. C., July o, 1888.
MEssRs. EDITORS:
Since the ST. Louis and Chicago con-
ventions, both branches Of Congress have
practically abroga,ed their functions as
legislative bodies. The activities OF
senators and representatives have been
DIRECTED, not 80 much to the enactment
.of laws for the nation, as to the manufac.
.ture Of capital for the respective political
parties. at present the fisheries treaty
ia the absorbing topic in the senate. It
is discussed With open doors. This az.
rangement is an innovation Of the estab-,
*lished usage. It furnishes 9 public arena
for political debate, and stimulates
campaign oratory in the interest. first Q
the orator and next Of his party.
Already 4 mild odor Of Goldfish pervadesl
5the senate chamber, reminding the ladies',
in the gallery, the balmy; fragrance of
Glouces ter Harbor. But the debaters are
mot mol ali whales, or even Goldfish. Some.
old land sharks have opened their mouths
and shown their wicked teeth. Now and.
sthen q senator pays his respects to the
secretary of. State. Rqt the secretary
ScontriYes to shit back the pext day, 30
as to keep "honors easy.
80 Il suppose the senate will sayor of cod
fish until the tariff bill comes over from;
the house with its aroma Of tobacco.
Swhiskey, wool and lumber. The general
5expectation, in Washington, is that the
senate will reject the Mills bill so called.
But whether majority Of the senate will
agree on any substitute for it ia another
question. To q nonpartisan "looker on
in Vienna it is amusing to observe the
3"ouips and cranks" of politicians, in con.
3nection with the tariff bill. The republic
cans assert that the Democratic are anxious
ito pass the Mills bill through the house,
in order to make party capital out of
;nntried, theoretical tariff reform, but are
lat the same time equally anxious to see
the bill rejected by the senate, lest, if it
shall become q Law, its actual working
may fabify their predictions as to its
3salutary qualities. On tie other; hand
the Democrats assert that the republicans
will attempt to defeat the bill, in the
SENATE, lest its benehcient operation,
when it becomes law, shall falsify the.
republican prophecies as to the danger OF
free trade. Whether, in these assertions,
both parties are telling truths, or false.
hoods, I do not pretend to knoy.
a pension Office statement shows that
E113, ,0S7 pensions were granted during the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1888, the ave.
rage being 36I for each day of the year,
excepting Sundays. The original pen
'sions for the year number 60. .161 and the
increase pensions 1895. The number
of original pensions for the year exceeds
the highest number granted in any former
year BY more than 5000.
Under the circular of April II, 1888,
the secretary of the treasury has purchas.
ed S18,489, 400 four per cent. bonds for
.s23, ,4S1, 1856; and sS,5l1, 600, fog 1885,
1920.
The special timber agent at Eureka,
Nevada, falegraphs to the commissioners
of thc general land Office that he has
mailed reports of depIedations on the
public timber lands, perpetrated by two
incorporated companies amounting to ten
million of dollars.
It is rumored that the |" "Graphaphone"
is about to purchase the aPhonograph,"
paying the Edison company large
ompensation therefor, in money and
royalties. This purchase, if consumma.
ted, will extricate the Graphaphone from
tins embarrassment resulting from its
subordination to the Edison patents, and
will enable the Graphaphone to emulate
the telephone in leyying tribute on the
American people.
An informant, who Is absolutely relia.