St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-01-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2

w ASt11Nu1oN, ooh' IooO'
At the close of the year it is probably
the proper thing to briefly review the
Governments financial condition. Dur
ing the month of Decem Der the receipts
from all sources were SS9 ,32o,25o, and
the Disbursements were $50. 400 ,6S3, a
net gain of nearly nineteen millions, out
of which amount three and a half mil
lions interest upon the public debt must
be paid leaving the total surplus for
December nearly fifteen million and
half during that month the national
debt was reduced fifteen and a quarter
millions, and for the whole year it was
decreased little more than one hun
dred and seventeen million dollars
the largest reductions being made in
June and November.
Many of the Congressman who visi
ted their homes during the recess, have
returned, and others are daily arriving
all looking with impatience to the re-
assembling of Congress, when the COM
mittees will be announced and the
work of the session will begin in ear
nest. It is understood that Speaker
Carlisle has finished his most tedious
and troublesome undertaking-that of
making out his committee lists. and
with his experience it is confidently be-
although many members will be dis
appointed at their assignments. Those
not familiar with the workings of Con-
gressonal ambition cannot conceiveR of
the iealousies and chickering's of aspir-
ing statesmen in such matters. If a
members name does not appear first on
a committee, he would like to be sec
ond or third ; every Congressman has
a settled aversion to appearing last on
a committee.
Under the lead of those Republican
malignants, Senators Sherman, Hoar
and Edmunds, concerted effort is
being made to defeat the confirmation
of Mr.. Lamar, but it will probably fail
of its purpose. although it may defer &C.
tion on the nomination several weeks
The proposed promotion of the Secre-
tary will be made the occasion of
lengthy and heated partisan debate by
the Republicans, in which the South
will be severely assailed. Senhtor Saw
yer, of Wisconsin, and one or two other
Republican Senators, have intimated a
Willingness to vote for Mr.. Lamar's
translation, and there is little doubt Of
his ultimate success.
The Democratic Senators are very pro-
nounced in favor of tariff reform, and
they have appointed committee, of
which Mr.. Keuna is chairman, to con-
fer with the party leaders in the House
on the Issue of tax reduction, as such a
bill must necessarily originate in that
body. Mr.. Kenna's selection is sgni-
ficant, as his views on the question of
tariff legislation are known to be con-
sentative, and it is therefore thought
that he is inclined to favor a compro-
mise measure.
Both parties realize that the tariff
must be revised, and they are accord
ingly making preparations with the
view of accomplishing that object and
at the same time preserving partisan
alignments. 1t remains to be seen
whether such difficult feat in
political gymnastics can be executed
successfully.
The report of the Pacific Railroad
Commission will be one of the most
important measures brought to the at
tention of Congress, and it is hoped that
this giant corporation will be COM
PEELED to fulfill its contract with the
government whose forbearance it has
exhausted. Ex-Governor Pattison's
minority report is a most severe but
Just arraignment. i'll which Republican
and millionaire United States Senator
Stanford and his bonanza associates are
handled in manner truly refreshing
and convincing, and it is hoped that
his views will direct the policy of Con-
gress.
Among the Presidents Christmas
presents were a frozen watermelon and
a live golden eagle. 1t is supposed
that the melon was disposed of at the
White House, but Mr.. Cleveland hav-
ing no place about the mansion for the
proud bird of liberty, presented him to
keep company with the bear. deer, prai-
lie dog, wolves, and red foxes recently
received from the West, and which is
believed will form the nucleus of a
large collection of American wild ami
mails and fowls.