The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-04-20
WASHINGTON LETTER


WAsnlNGToN, April 10th. 1888.
"What is the Legislative outlook, ,fcom
a democratic standpoint" was asked
Of a gentleman who is known TO stand
very close to Mr.. Cleveland. He replied
as follows: "Well, it is by no means as
bad as it was week ago. The dead lock
cost us ten days of valuable time, but
there's no use wasting time now in talk
ing about that. |. is over, thank heaven.
The main question that Congress has
to deal with this session is the tariff.
The fight on that will begin tomorrow
in the House when the Mills tariff bill
is called up for consideration, and will
coutinue until the bill is passed or de-
fea,ed. though / don't think the
last is likely to occur. No
No other Legislation, with the exception,
of the regular appropriation bills, will
be considered by the House until the
tariff question is settled; and l under
stand that at the proper time the lead
ers of the party will call House eau
Gus, which will compel all democrats
In the House to vote for the bill. All
that will of course take time, but the
intention is, if possible, to bring the
bill to vote before the date set for the
meeting of the st. Louis convention"
I'm my opinion he continued, "it
is extremely doubtful whether this pro-
gramme can be carried out; there is not
time enough left. There will probably
be hundred or more set speeches del
iyered on the bill, l,some rs or 80 mem
bers having already filed notice with
the Speaker of their intention to speak
on the subject. From tomorrow to the
meeting Of the St. Louis convention
there are just AZ days,exclusive of Sun.
days. In all probability the speeches
to be made on this bill will take up
more time than that, to say nothing of
the DAYS that it will be absolutely me- =
essary to devote to consideration OF the
regular appropriation bills which must
be passed before the 30th OF June, or
the wheels of government will become
clogged.
"However, much time may be saved
by holding an early caucus and map
ping out the exact course to be follow
ed on the floor of the House, and once
| mapped out, the leaders should see that
| there is no going outside the lines by
any member of the party. 1t vote is
| reached on the final passage OF the
Mills bill before the lst OF July, shall
be greatly surprised.
"Of the other legislation now before
Congress: The River and Harbor bill
will pass the House surely and prob
ably the Senate; the Dependent
Pension bill is hardly likely to get
through the House at this session; the
Springer Omnibus bill for the adms
sion OF the Territories of Dakota, Mon
tana, Washington and New Mexico
will be passed by the House but not by
the Senate; the Blair Education bill il
not likely to be reported from the House
committee. There now, have giver
you my ideas of the democratic legis
lative prospect; you are welcome te
them, but don't use my name, not that
l care, but somebody else might, yor
know"
Ex-senator Wallace, of Pa. says the
democrats of that State are una nimcui
for the denomination of Cleveland. Tht
same news comes here from all Sec
tions of the country.
Chauncey Depew has long head
He says he does not want the republic
can nomination. He did not give hii
reasons, but the presumption is that hi
didn't want to be struck by the Cleve
land Cyclone.
A bill for the relief of soldiers an(
sailors who enlisted and served in th'
army or navy during the rebellion un
der assumed names has been favorabl,
reported by the House committee oI
Military Affairs
The Government Printing Office in
yestigation which war suspended I
short time age on account OF the lines
of the Chairman of the House commit
tee on printing, has bsen resumed.
Mr.. Oates, the Alabama Representa-
tive who led the filibusterers in the re
cent fight against the direct.tax bill, i
understood to be ambitious of represen
ting his State in the Senate.
Mr.. Allen, of Mississippi, is making
quite a reputation in the House as
quick wiited and ready debster. H
gave fine example of his talent il
that line on Saturday, which was muc
enjoyed by the members. His victim
was Mr.. Perkins, of Kansas, who ha
started to address the House on the Ind
ian appropriation bill, but who found
cred around, mixing up the tariff an
the slave trade and mistaking the COZ
stitution of the Confederate States to
the platform of the democratic party
Mr.. Allen stood this as long as he coul
and then proceeded to make the discor
nected gentleman from Kansas laugh
ing stock. He said Mr.. Perkins remin(
| ed him of the story of two men, VIII
when travelling, slept in room with
cupboard in it. During the night on
, asked the other to look out of the viii
dow and see what kind of a day it wa
going to be. The latter opened tf
, glass door of the cupboard and exclain
, ed, " It is dark as HI and smei
like cheese. Instead of getting h
, head out into the daylight of 1883, II
> gentleman from Kansas had got h
I head into the cupboard of rebellio
/ where everything was dark and sme
e ed like slavery, Mr.. Allen invited hi
! to discuss the live issues presented
!, the democratic party into the op'
!, sunshine of today.
> The new Emperor of Germany
y again 10 a bad condition and il is of