Fergus County argus., 1888-03-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our resulp 'orre,ponden,.l
WASHINGTON, Feb. II, 1893

The weeks work in congress, SO far,
makes u poor showing. Both the sell
ate and house have accomplished less
than usual. The District OF Columbia
has had more attention than any
other section oi Uncle Sans domain,
and several bills OF local interest have
been passed. There has been no lack
OF interesting debate however, in both
ends OF the capitol.
a quartette OF territories are knock
ing loudly fOr admission to the sister,
hood of states, ard an enabling act
will soon be reported, which will prob
ably be passed before the session ends.
An "enabling act" does not enable,
strictly speaking. AS MIR. Springer
says, the is chairman of the committee
on territoriesl it is simply an act OF
encouragement. After such encourage
ment, the territory forms u state con-
stitutiOn, constructs the machinery
for state government, prepares for
admissicr into the Union as states,
and demands it.
The aspirants alluded o are Dakota,
Montana, Washington and New Mex
leo. ! did not mention Utah who
did not wait for congress to give her
the initiative. The people of Utah
held their riorial convention.
adopted Il State constitution, and
now demand admission into the
Union. This they had a right to do,
Chairman Springer says, only they
vii! have to pay I'll nj their own ex-
penses, whereas, II they had waited
tor congress to pas, AN enabling act,
til. United States treasury would have
paid all oi their expenses.
The blaine letter oi declination
created quite s,ir in political circles
here. Interest in 1t was particularly
intense IN the senate, for quite a mum
ber OF the scri,tcrs have had tie
presidential bee buzzing around them.
Senator's liawley, Sherman, Allison
and II few others were even congratu-
lated, Iaushinsly, that the path to the
presidential nomination had been
so happily open" to them.
General Sheridan's most intimate
friends have taken special pains to
him as entirely free from the
mania. They say tina,
the measure oi his ambition is filed
with the Office lIe now holds, and that
he has no intention OF plunging into
political strife. Ii true, the pathway
Is still more open to those who are
willing to endure the wear and tear of
mind and body, the veXation OF spirit
and the sickness oil soll that MUST
come to every man who allows the
iHstFt to enter his ear, for
'1.iit'e Phil would make II popular
candidate.
The department oi sup,rint endeuce
of the National Educational a,ssocia-
ton have b,cn holding n convention
in this city Tor the past three days
AMI the meeting attracted prominent
here from all parts of the
United States TIE duly sessions
and the subject. discussed have been
highly en-. .crtalnins to All persons in
tereste't ii; educational ma trrs.
sunday last was an unusually busy
day among the Temperance workers
oi Na-hins, on. Llrge meetings were
held amt stirring addresses We're made
in d.ifrrcn: parts al il-ccity. NOTABLY
,non- tine speeches made for prohil,-
il ion were mos. OF Congre- y,n,n T. i,.
Taylor. oi OHIO, and Cu cheon, of
Michigan
4 Nashil,I' oman says that some OF
he bills pen'liua in con grrs> il relation
to the District 81 Columbia are calcu-
Ia,e,. to create the inpr-- .ipn that
parents IN this c.ty desire lhe federal
government to take charge of their
children. lie was Hl.udiHg partic-
nlarly to "a hill introduced by senator
Nhace, of Rhode Island. providin,
hat tobacco shall no, b" sold in any
iorn to residents oi the district who
are under sixteen years %; age
The Blair Educational iii which
has had such IA lor" and tcmpc>tuous
voyage through tire senate ha, at last
passed that body again. 10y vote of
30 TO 20. The hill hd~ oc..tipiei much
valuable iine during three con.r,--es.
and has gained no new converts in the
senate M.ng \ comparison of this
last vot" with that of two years ago
shows that the longer the measure has /
been thought of and tal.l,l OF the 7
weaker il l-'l- gown. fvcrv senator
Who Not-i against il before voted /
..ainst i on this ll~' Cccd-ion. while 7
some, iurluling senators Blackburn. I
Il eias'h, FOorhec- and SpOoAer, who :
voted We're in favor OF ii two year,
ago. voted against il on Wednesday.
II l. b,.!lrE'l bE Ilauy thai fl. hill ]