The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1888-01-12
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


Editor Herald:
There is one thing which congress did
not fail to do before it adjourned for it's
holiday recess-draw its mileage. This
mileage is quite an item, and amounts to
$50, 900 for the senator's, and $11O, 900
for members of the house. Heretofore it
has been virtually gift, for nearly every
senator and member, if not every one,
Travelled on free passes. The passage of
the interstate commerce bill cut off that
nice little perquisite. The mileage to the
delegation from the P acifc coast amounts
to ST 300 year to- each. The rate is
twenty cents mile for the distance, by
the nearest route, between the members
home and Washington at the opening
of each session, and back to his home
again after adjournment. Senator STAN
ford of California, is a liberal man with
his millions in more ways than one. His
generosity is shown, for instance, to his
committee clerk, whom the law allows
$4,000 per year. To this Mr.. Stanford
adds his mileage of 81 300, which gives
the clerk the comfortable little sum of
of $500. Then Mr.. Stanford's salary
as senator is $4,000 year, and this en-
tire sum he turns right over to his pri-
vate secretary. How fortunate some
men are in money matters!
The bureau OF emigration claims that
there are 100000 Hungarians in this
country, a large proportion of whom are
not naturalized. 1t seems impossible to
estimate how many foreigners of all
kinds we have who have not taken out
naturalization papers, though eligible to
citizenship, and it is probable that bill
will be introduced in this congress to
make this matter compulsory. 1t does
seem reasonable that man who enjoys
the prosperity of the republic should be
compelled to suffer its adversely with
others if adversely. should come.
When congress reassembled on Wednes-
day, most of the members of both houses
were present. 1t was fully expected that
the speaker would proceed at once, on
opening, to announce the committees,
but the arrangement made by the speak
er having been noised about considerably
before the hour for opening arrived, dis
satisfaction with appointments was so
great and pressure for changes so strong,
that the speaker was confused and deter
mined to postpone the announcement.
The senate's proceedings on Wednesday
were characterized by three remarkable
speeches. Senator Sherman analysed the
presidents message on the tariff issue in
an able manner, followed by senator
VOORHEES, of Indiana, in defense of the
presidents position, and by senator Tel
Ter of Colorado, who, with a mass of
facts and figures, showed the sophistry
and insincerity of the administration in
it's pretended tariff reform and financial
policy.
The galleries of both wings of the CAPT
tol were filled with spectators who
evinced great interest in the proceedings
The senate drew the more intellectual
portion of the crowd on account of the
speeches being delivered, but the house
galleries were packed by those who enjoy
the confusion and excitement usually at
tending the proceedings of that body.
:. Senator Brown of Georgia, introduced
d Iesolatioaa for the repeal of all internal
revenue taxes, and will call the question
up next Monday and make speech on
it. This took the democratic side little
by surprise, and is understood to mean
that the senator will oppose reduction of
tariff duties, but favor the repeal of all
internal taxation. 1t means further that
the president is going to have serious
trouble among his own party friends on
the issue he has raised.