The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-02-23
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
iErom our Regular correspondent.l


long remembered. The question at
issue between these two eminent
Democrats is the seemingly never
to-be.dispOsed-of tariff. Mr.. Mills.
from the Committee on Ways and
Means, has reported the Senate sub.
stitute for his tariff bill to the House,
accompanying 1t with a resolution
declaring that the Senate bill is un-
constitutional. and directing the clerk
of the House to return it to the Sen.
ate. This of course is just so much
CANNON, and only means that the
committee will oppose the Senate
bill in every wsy possible.
Here is where tive real fight begins :
A bill which puroorts to be an en-
tirely new tariff measure has been
reported from the House Ways and
Means committee by Mr.. McMillin.
In reality it is only the Mills bill
with the cotton, metal and chemical
schedule left out. Another bill has
been reported from the same COM
mittee ny Mr.. Breckenridge. which
is claimed by its authors to be COM
promise. 1t provides for free wool,
the repeal of the tobacco tax, and con.
tains the wooden and worsted shed.
ules of the original Mills bill. All
this is from the free trade wing of the
Democratic party. Now for the other
side: Mr.. Randall has reported,
from the appropriations committee,
the Cowles internal revenue bill,
which repeats all tobacco taxes and
modifies some of the internal reve.
nue. laws relating to 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 pas
sed by the House. The Democrats
of the House will hold caucus to-
night to endeavor to settle this ques.
ton, but owing to the large number
of "kickers" it is not thought prob.
able that the caucus will try to force
members into supporting any meas.
ure but will rather try the power of
persuasion in the name of party har.
mony. The first gun will be fred to.
morrow,..when Mr.. Mills calls up his
resolution declaring the Senate bill
unconstitutional. The Republicans
will make determined fight against
it, and they may receive the support
Of some Democrats, although none is
expected. With only eleven work.
ing days after to-day, there is small
prospect of any tariff legislation be.
ing accomplished.
The progressive element of the
Democratic party, under the leader
ship of "Sunset 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 provision pro-
viding for another election in Da-
kota. This will make the bill pro-
vide for the admission, by Presiden.
tial proclamation, of North and South
Dakota, Montana and WASHINGTON.
and unless something now unfore-
seen shall prevent. the day is not far
distant when four new stars will
have to be added to our national flag,
and the Senate chamber will have
eight new desks, used by good Re-
publicans.
The new Secretary of Agriculture.
Norman ]. Colman. was promptly
confirmed by the Senate. and took
the oath of Office Friday. Mr.. Col.
man says he contemplates no changes;
he will leave that to the Secretary
that Gen. Harrison shall select to
preside over the destinies of the new
department.
1t is a fortunate thing that we have
had no war since Mr.. Endicott has
been at the head of the War Depart
ment. He is entirely too fast for this
slow going age. For instance. some
time previous to the Presidential
election, the Senate passed a resolu-
ton calling on the Secretary of War
for information as to circular order
sent out prohibiting the employment
of Republicans under that depart
ment. He has just answered that
resolution. He says the department
issued the order and that his only
reason therefor was to give the places
to Democrats. And vet some Dem
ocrats call Mr.. Endicott mugWump.
Senator Spooner has introduced a
bill providing for system of farm.
ers' institutes, in various sections of
the country, under the control of the
Agricultural department. The in
stitutes are to give instruction, furn-
ish illustrations by lectures and dis
customs. make experiments and in
fact, to endeavor in every manner to
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