Fergus County argus., 1889-02-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WAsHINaToN, Jan. 20, 1859.

p" ostiis -. 1907
The Republican tariff hill PASSED the sen
ate by a strict party vote. Though many
of its provisions had been changed in the
last tive days before its passage, M Deme
cratic suggestions were adopted. and the
bill is entirely he child oi the majority. II
is believed shat the ways aud means com
mittce of the housr. IT, which the bill will
next in order Ice referred, will send il back
To the house with an exhaustive adverse
report, upon which Mr.. Mills is nov bi-iIy
| engaged. In such AN event the most likely
course would b. to leave the matter to ~
| conference committee. which would deliver
I he bill into the hands of three senators
and three representatives to manipulate
until the close of the session shut ofi lcgis
lation. \ second plan is possible. The
Republicans, with the aid of fourteen Dem
ocrats, could pass the hill. The difficulty
lies in the fact that the house Republicans
will not push the matter as vigorously as
did their senate brethren. The senate hill
is by no means satisfactory to all Hepubli
cans. aud the desire fer AN extra session Of
the next congress is 50 strong that tariff
legislation will no, he apt To he passed by
the present body although it is known hat
the president would sign the hill.
The bill PASSED the senate AT = O'Clock on
Tuesday night. \ great many rumors of
party dc-eriou had occurred, aud it was
with relief that the Republicans saw Sena
tors stanford aud Plumb fall into line.
H., 1,... III
their senators into line two days before.
senator Rhlil.bcrgrr, as in duty bound to
preserve his crratir record. stated to the
senate after the vote that If iir had not
been paired with Mr.. l'lod,ci he would
have voted against the bill. as he objected
to the Plumb amendment creating a Gus
toms commission to- prepare tariff stats
ties, H. being another official junketing
party. II senator Riidlcberger had voted
the vote w.uld have been ii ( e aud the Re
publieans would hav. been defeated Sen
at"r Rildleberger is very important, man
ON "A vote.
by O'Clock in the afternoon the ga leries
of the senate chamber were filled to great
extent with that immense minority of
! Washington people who patronize every
free show, no matter of what character.
The people who 60 to public receptions,
Marine band concerts, big funerals and
fires rith equal eu>to, we're On hand
promptly, filed with Il hearty tariff ignor-
ance and - thirst for ~ sight of II iirht that
did not matcralizr. Before : O'Clock the
senate tioor was crowded with members
from the hou-. wing uf the capitol. with
whom the senators were chatting The
long and drrary roll calls had commenced.
aud NO senator dared leave his plar..
still the scene was very tame c"mpaIcl
with that in the house las, June when the
Mills hill Was passed. Apart from Mr..
| pmmbs blind efforts to re,lure The duty on
cotton ties one hall. there was even har-
mony. When the Mills hill passed, u surg
ing. heated mass of humanity struggled ior
every available inch "f room from which II
view of the house could be obtained. and
every d,.ser,ion of party met with mingled
cheers aud derision. Thsexcitem-nt, how
ever, was due to no interest in the tariff
itself. II WAS regarded merely AZ an elc-
m"nt OF the campaisn. for political pur-
poses only, aud no was iu"li>h enough
to expect that the hill would ever b,cone II
law.
Now that Mr.. Bayard has washed his
hands of the Sanoau lilrul, Y. rougrrsr
appears equally slow in taking action. The
| Republican members OF the senate foreign
affairs committee are iudiSposed to MAX"
| raiid prbIf.-S a- they do not vet know
what policy the next administration will
follow. Probable il il that Mr.. Harrison
will receive the question a. a legacy from
this administration. by that time il is to
bc supposed the affair may have been set
tied by the prompt action ri England
could afford to give battle. Germany ha-
her hande iull with her watrhful European
enemies aud this country has mo- navy with
which to make war.
Whether or not, ~ Mr. Bayarl's friends
alleg-. Mr.. cleveland has treated him
for his own poliiical death From the
Kelley imbroclio to the Sackvile folly Mr..
Iayarl's administration has been singll-
larry unfortunate. From the fsherie,
treaty to the Morocco trouble the statcdc-
partment has exhibited very littlc but its
weakness. IN avoiding vital ISSUES il has
become the rival of Dickens ''circumoctl-
tion office" Nor can the biame for this
condition Of affairs he shifted to the pIesi-
/ dent shoulders.