, 1889-10-31
TALK IN WASHINGTON
A Belief That the Session Will
Be a Stormy One.
OPINIONS OF CONGRESSMEN.
The Tariff. the Interstate Com
merce and OWL Service Laws
and Other Matters.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20.-Congrossmen
are gradually arriving in the city. Most
Of them are uncomfnunicative. They
arc not prepared TO talk upon the issues
of the coming session. All admit that
long and stormy one. There are few ex-
pressons of opinions on tho situation
from congressman who have arrived.
Mr.. Hit OF Illinois has these views as
to the probable drift of the legislation:
"The question of the interstate COM
merce law is surrounded with so many
intricacics that 1t is almost impossible
to know what is really needed to perfect
II until review is had of the short COM
ines Of The law as II is in operation.
But IL will stand with amendments. As
for the civil service law. too many sena-
tors and congressman of both parties are
pledged In its support to allow OF its re-
peal. To be- sure IL Is not apt to be en-
tended to ALL but If anything is done it
will only be in the line of an amendment
that the great sugar trust Of the United
States depends for support On
the proper adjustment of the tariff 80
that II may be manipulated when the
tax Is high enough. If there were no
tariff on sugar here there could be no
trust TO raise the price of that staple.
Without doubt the attempt will be made
to lower the tax on sugar. The poor
planter gets the credit for all the oppo-
Sition 10 the sugar taS, but as matter
of fact the real influence brought to bear
is that of the capitalists interested in
the hundred millions of dollars worth of
sugar every year for refining purposes.
There would be no difficulty IN eiiecting
u proper adjustment of the tariff II IL
were not for the fact that the Southern
democrats who are so ready to make re-
ductions on all other kinds of goods
bring solid objection when sugar cane
is mentioned. But il seems likely that
the coming congress will be stormy
one"
Senator Dolph, speaking of the inter
state commerce and civil service laws,
says: ~ believe some important
changes are required in tho interstate
commerce law, but upon the whole the
operation of the law has been beneficial
to the country, and congress having en-
tered upon the exercise of its power to
to regulate interstate commerce will not
relinguish that right. Whatever may
be said OF the methods pursued by the
civil service commission, too many OF
the people of this country believe in
civil service reform for congress to disre-
gard their influence. The civil service
commission may be considered perma-
nent institution"
United States Judge Matthew p.
Deadly of the district of Oregon is in
Washington. His health has not been
good for some time, and he will spend
the winter season here If the climate
agrees with him. He is great friend Of
Justice Field, and 1t was at the lattcrs
ingion. Judge Deadly sat with Justice
Field and Judge sawyer in the Hill
Sharon case ut the time the marriage
certificate of Sarah Althca Hill as the
wife of Senator Sharon was declared in
valid IL was out OF the decision In this
case that the Terry. Field difficulties re.
suited which ended in Judge Terry's
tragic death.
Congressman Browne of Indiana is of
the opinion that the tariff question is
the most important in the coming con-
gress. He says: "The first thing to he
done, in my opinion, is to revise the rev.
onue. The revenues from that source
need only be reduced by the repeal of
the tax on tobacco and snuff and the tax
on alcohol used in the arts which, to-
gether with q reduction of the tax on
sugar similar to that proposed by the
Mills bill, | think would he adequate for
all the purposes of the government. |
think this might he done under motion
to- suspend the rules" Mr.. Browne was
a member Of the committee on ways and
means in the last congress.