The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-01-05
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

(From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31st, 1885,
Senator Allison went over to New
York one evening last week and re-
turned the next day, but short as his
visit was it was long enough to be
made the basis for any number of
cabinet stories all more or less affect
ing Messrs. Miller and Plat. When
these stories were repeated to Mr..
Allison he smiled in an amused way,
but said nothing. One thing may be
set down as certain, all the rumors
of Senator Allison's entering any
combination antagonistic to Mr..
Blaine are the merest nonsense. Mr..
Blaine has no better friend in this
country than Senator Allison, and no
cabinet complications that can pos
sibly happen are likely to estrange
these two men.
Cleveland in letter of regret sent
to the Tariff Reform League of Bos-
ton, gets after the faint hearted free
traders of his party in Congress with
a sharp stick. The effect of this letter
is already observable among the
Democratic members of the House
now in this city. Just before the re-
cess, many of them were talking
seriously of passing a bill repeating
the tobacco tax and the United States
license for retail liquor dealers. Now
these same men are saying that any
reduction made in the revenue of the
Government, must come from import
duties. and that under no circum-
stances will they vote for any meas
ure reducing the internal revenue
taxes. They also say that deter
mined fight is to be made on the Re-
publican tariff bill when it reaches
the House. All of which shows that
although Cleveland was defeated for
the Presidency, he still has the power
to force his views upon the members
of his party against their own con-
victions. Well,it will be all right any
way. OF course nobody expected the
Democratic House to pass any sem
sible tariff measure. 1t will remain
for the Republican House to pass a
tariff bill which will relieve the
Treasury of the surplus and at the
same time be just and equitable to
the business interests of the country.
Senator Stanford's fancy stock rails
ing is not altogether for amusement,
as he mas just sold weanling colt by
Electioneer, from the famous mare
Beautiful Belle. for $4,000. Four of
this mares colts have sold for 500, 900.
Apropos of the criticism heard in
some quarters about the enormous
expense of the Inauguration and its
attendant ceremonies, including the
ball. it seems proper to say that not
one cent of this money is paid by the
Government. 1t is paid by the peo-
pie that attend the ball, tickets to
witch cost So each. In order to facil.
itate matters in making the arrange
ments it has always been customary
to ask for private contributions to
what is known as the guarantee fund.
This time the contributions already
made to this fund amount to more
than $4,000. These contributions
were at the last Inauguration all re-
turned TO the donors ard the COM
mittee still had on hand surplus
which was donated to charity. Before
criticising the expenses of the Inau-
guration, fault-finders should remem-
Der that in this case the old Scotch
adage ''he that dances must pay the
piper" is strictly adhered to.
The contested election cases of
Smalls VS.. Elliott and Sullivan VS..
FELTON,, are expected to come up in
the House this week. The contest
ants are both Republicans, one of
them colored man, and there is no
probability that either of them Will
be allowed to obtain the seats to
which they were undoubtedly cleo
ted. The Democrats of the House
are notsin humor to do the decent
thing.
Senator Cullom says it is probable
that some important amendments
will be offered to the Interstate