Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-01-18
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence of the Standard.

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence of the Standard.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 1889.
Speaker Carlisle and Mr.. Mills have
decided not to call meeting Of the
House Committee on Rules to arrange
the order of business for the remain
der of the session. Their reason fol
taking this stand is the fear that the
pressure for the passage OF such meas
ures as the dependent pension bill
would be greater than many OF the
Democratic members could stand, if
an attempt was made to arrange the
order OF business; and all the leaders
of the party are particularly desirous
that no legislation carrying extrava-
CANT appropriations shall pass the
House this session. This decision,
which cuts out everything that cannot
get the unanimous consent OF the
House and the regular appropriation
bills, while somewhat hard upon many
measures that ought to be passed, and
would be, if they could be brought be-
fore the House, is nevertheless wise
one. The Democrats are confident of
recapturing the House in 1890; they
are also confident that the next Con-
gress will make many large and ex-
travagant appropriations, therefore a
good and economical record for the
last Democratic House will furnish
the very best of arguments to go be-
fore the people to ask for the control
OF the House again. Economy and
tariff reform will be the Democratic
watch-word.
Congress turned up just rs smiling
ly on Wednesday as if many OF its
members were not suffering from over.
eating, and shall l say it?-over-drink'
ing. However, much can be excused
at this season which at other times
would call for censure. Congressman
are human, and Christmas comes but
once year. Both Houses had more
than quorum at the opening, and
they went right to work, the Senate
on the tariff bill and the House on the
river and harbor bill.
The Republican members Of thu
Senate Finance Committee are having.
picnic with the people who wish to hay
changes made in the Senate tariff bill
before it is passed. Every mail brings
letters by the hundred, and there is q
continual stream of telegraph messen
gers pouring into the committee room
And as if that was not sufficient, the
already over-protected manufacturer
comes himself to speak his demands.
One of them has just handed in a
memorandum OF 40 different articles
that he wishes the duties made higher
on. He says he contributed largely
to the Republican campaign fund
with the distinct understanding that
he was to be amply protected in
this bill. The Republicans have
as reed upon a number of amendments
to the bill, but they do not dare to
make them public until the very last
moment, for fear of the pressure that
will be Immediately brought to bear
npon them to make further changes.
There is a little lull in the Blaine
war here this week, though o telegram
published day or two ago, saying that
Blaine had left home for this city, Gre
ated quite hubbub until it was learned
to be false. The anti-Blaine Con-
gressmen seem to be weakening at a
vety rapid rate. Perhaps that &C.
courts for the cessation of hostilities
for the time being.
Senator Hiscock has gone to Indian
apolis in the interest of ex-senator
Platt, who rumor says is losing
ground with Harrison.
Representative Springer has intro
duced joint resolution providing for
admission of Arizona and Idaho.
A bill has been passed by the House
providing that the omission by the
sender to place a postage stamp on a
letter bearing a special delivery stamp
shall not hinder or delay the trans
mission and delivery thereof, but the
postage shall be collected on delivery
of the letter.
Representative Dockery's bill, pro-
hibiting any agent or attorney from
receiving fee in excess of $3 for Sc
curing an increase of pension on ac.
count of an increase of the disability
for which the pension was originally
granted, or for securing special ac1
of Congress in cases where the pen
sion might be obtained under the gen
eral pension laws, has been passed by
the House.
Secretary Villas has received letter
from an inquisitive citizen OF Massa
chusetts, who wants to know wht
Harrison has selected for his Cabinet
Mr.. Villas is a very obliging sort OF d
man, but he was not able to furnish
the information the down-East gentle
man wanted.
Mr.. Sherman made some OF the sil
yer Senators mad when he presented
the petition of the National Board o
rade 70 the Senate, asking for the
usr'nsion Of the purchase Of silver
ouii'on and the coinage Of the silvel
dollar. DEN.