Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-02-22
WASHINGTON LETTER
Written and Compiled for the HERALD
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 1889.


have locked horns for fight in the
House that bids fair to make the
last two weeks OF the Fiftieth Con
gress long remembered. The ques-
ton at issue between these two
eminent Democrats Is the seeming
ly naver-tO- be- dispOsed.Of tariff.
Mr.. Mills, from the Committee on
Ways and Means, has reported the
Senate substitute for his tariff bill
to the House, accompanying 1t
with a resolution declaring that the
Senate bill is unconstitutional, and
directing the clerk of the House to
return it to the Senate. This of
course is just so much CANNON,
and only means that the committee
will oppose the Senate bill in every
way possible.
Here is where the real fight
begins. y bill which purpoTts to
be an entirely new tariff measure
has been reported from the House
Ways and Means committee by
Mr.. McNIillin. In reality it Is only
the Mills bill with the cotton,
metal and chemical schedule left
out. Another bill has been re-
ported from the same committee
by Mr.. Breckenridge, which is
claimed by its authors to be a
compromise. 1t provides for free
wool, the repeal of the tobacco tax,
and contains the wooden and
worsted sche lules OF the original
Mills bill. All this is from the
free trade wing of the Democratic
marty. Now for the other side {;
Mr.. Randall has reported, from the
appropriations committee, the
Cowles internal revenue bill, which
repeals all tobacco taxes and modi-
6es some Of the internal revenue
laws relating to the manufacture
and sale OF liquors. All of these
bills have been referred to the
committee of the whole, and the
question Is which, if either of them
will be passed by the House. The
Democrats of the House Will hold
a caucus tonight to endeavor 20
settle this question, but owing to
the large number of CHECKERS" 1t Is
not thought probable that the
caucus will try 10 force members
into supporting any measure but
will rather try the power of per
suasion in the name of party
harmony. The first gan will be
fred tomorrow, when Mr.. Mills
calls up his resolution declaring
the Senate bill unconstitutional
The republicans will make a de-
termined fight against it, and they
may receive the support of some
Democrats, although none is ex-
pected. With only eleven work
ing days after today, there is
small prospect of any tariff legisla-
ton beng accomplished.
The progressive element of the
Democratic party, under the leader
ship of "Snuset Cox" joined with
the Republicans and instructed the
House conferees on the Springer
"Omnibus' bill, to accept the
Senate amendments dropping New
Mexico and striking out the pro
vision providing for another cleo
ton N DasOta. This will make
the bill provide for the admission,
by proclamation, of North and
South Dakota, Montana and Wash
ingtOn, and unless something now
unforeseen shall prevent, the day
is not far distant when four new
stars will have to be added to our
national flag, and the Senate cham
Der will have eight new desks, used
by good Republicans.
The new Secretary of Agricul-
ture, Norman J. Colman, was
promptly confirmed by the Senate,
and took the oath OF Office Friday.
Mr.. Colman says he cOntemplates
no changes; lie will leave that to
the Secretary that Gen. Harrion
shall select to preside over the
destinies Of the new department.
It's q fortunate thing that we
have had no war since Mr. EndicOtt
has been at the head of the Wal
Department. He is entirely toe
fast for this slow going age. Fol
instance sometime previous to the
presidential election, the Senate
passed resolution calling on the
Secretary of War for information
as to circular order sent out
prohibiting the employment Of Re
publicans under that department
lie has just answered that resOlu
ton. He says the department
issued the order ard that his ONLY
reason therefore was to give The
places to Democrats. And ye
some Democrats call Mr.. EndicUt
a mugwump.
Senator SpoOner has introduced
bill providing for system 0
farmers institutes, III various sec
tiOns of the country, under the con
troll Of the Agricultural Depart
meut. The Institutes are to CIV
instruction, furnish illustrations b,
lectures and discussions, make ex
perIments and in fact, TO endeavo
IN every manner to enhance th
value Of the farmers land and pro