Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-06-01
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence Of The Standard.
WASHINGTON, May IS, 1883

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Representative Mills expresses con-
fidence in the final passage by the
House OF his tariff bill without any
amendments radical enough to change
the bill in any material way. Other
members OF the House are not so con-
fident. They believe that a tariff bill
will be passed by the House but that it
will differ materially from the original
Mills bill The general debate on the
bill ends tomorrow. but just what is
] then to be done hss not. yet been .set-
tied. Two propositions ale being con-
sidered One is to leave the tariff bill
to go over until after the st. Louis
Convention, and get that Convention
to endorse it so strongly that no Dem
ocratic member will dare to vote
against it. The other is to cut off all
amendments at the end of the general
debate and take vote on it at once
The last idea is very inviting to the adj
vocates of boldness in politics, but
rather frightful to the more conserva-
tive and timid members of the party.
If the President were asked to decide
the matter he would undoubtedly ad
wise the latter course, because every
amendment accepted for the bill would
weaken it as political issue.
The Senate committee on privileges
and elections reported unanimously in
favor of the legality of the election of
Senator Turpie, of Indiana, whose cleo
ton was disputed by certain Repub
licans
Senator Vests resolution providing
for select committee to examine the
questions touching meat and meat
products Of the United States, togeth-
er with the transportation of the same,
has been adopted by the Senate. In
his remarks on the subject Mr.. Vest
quoted table showing the amount OF
beef consumed per capita among the
principal nations of the world in 1884
The United States heads the list with
l2O pounds per head, therefore he con-
tended that anything affecting meat
and its production and transportation
is Of vital importance to every single
inhabitant of this country.
Upon recommendation of the Naval
Board, Secretary Whitney has granted
Messrs. Cramp & Sons, the ship build
ers of Philadelphia, an extension of
four months time for the completion
of the new vessels baltimore, Yorktown
and Tesur:as.
The Rel ublicans of the Senate COM
mittee on the Judiciary have post
poned the consideration of the nomi-
nation CT Mr. Fuller to be Chief JUS
tice Of the United States until next
Monday.
Representative Fitch, Of New York
city, il the first, and so far the only
Republican member of the House who
has publicly announced his intention
of supporting the Mills tariff bill. He
made speech in favor of revenue re-
form on Wednesday.
Which party will control the Senate
after the 4th of next March is ques-
tion often asked these days. On the
Sd of March the terms of &c Senators
will expire, this number being equally
divided between the parties. One of
the Observation-Disclosures, DIVA.
has had a Democratic successor
elected. and the rest are pretty sure to
be succeeded by Republicans, with the
possible exception of Oregon. The
Democrats may secure a Senator from
that State, but it is doubtful. Among
the thirteen Democratic Senators re-
firing, there is only one who is not
certain of being succeeded by Dem
ocrat. That is Mr.. Mcpherson of New
Jersey. Should the Democrats retain
New Jersey and capture Oregon it
would make the Senate stand 80 Dem
ocrats and 81 Republicans, just re-
versing what it is now. But the
chances are that Oregon will return
Republican and New Jersey a Demo-
crnt which will make the Senate tie,
giving the control, through the Vice
President, to whichever party carried
the Presidential election.
Representative Matson, Chairman
of the House committee on invalid
pensions and the Democratic nominee
for Governor of Indiana, has reported
favorably bill extending the time OF
the arrearage Of pensions 80 as to give
the benefit of the act to all claimants
who filed their claims after the ex-
piration of the time limit, or may yet
file claims before the passage of this
bill. The report accompanying the
bill states that if passed it will cost the
Government propably not more than
$3.50, 100000, and suggests to the
House that this is the very best
means of disbursing the surplus in the
Treasury" Dem.
The various committees are busy on