Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-12-12
OUR LETTER.
Irregular Correspondence of the S!andard)

CIRCULAR Corro spondcnce OF t!ic S!anuaru.)
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec. ), 1850.
Senator German, who proved him. |
self such an able and capable leader
during the last session of Congress,
was by general consent recognized as
commanderin-chicf of the Democratic
army as soon az it became
evident that Mr.. Harrison and the rad
zeal Republican leaders had succeeded
in whipping the weakened Republi-
can Senators into voting to take up
the Force bill, and this spontaneous
choice was officially ratified by the
Democratic caucus which met Wednes-
day evening. The policy of the DEM
Ocrats in the fight over this infamous
partisan measure, which is likely to be-
come one of the most famous in Con-
gressional annals, is to reserve their
strength until the Republicans begin
the attempt to change the rules OF the
Senate, which is a necessary prelude
to the passage OF the bill. Unless rev.
dictionary tactics are adopted this
change cannot be accomplished, be-
cause it must otherwise be accom-
plished under those very rules. When
the attempt is made, as it is certain to
be, the Democratic watch-words will be
eternal vigilance and war to the death,
and the people of the country may rest
assured that nothing will be left UNI
done to defeat the intentions OF the
desperate and despairing Republican
leaders.
BY curious coincidence, Mr.. Blaine
CHANGED to be visitor to the diplo-
matte gallery of the Senate, in COM
pany with the Brazilian naval officers
who have been visiting us, just at the
time when the Force bill was being
read, and it must have required all his
self possession to prevent the contempt
he feels for that measure from showing
itself in his countenance.
Mr.. Harrison has caused it to be
semi-officially limited that he would
veto a free silver coinage bill should
Congress pass one, but that fact has
not prevented dozen or more Sena-
tors and Representatives, at least half
of them Republicans, from introduc-
ing bills providing for free coinage,
and Senator Teller has stated that he
has positive assurances that such bill
will pass the Senate, and that he be-
lieves it will also go through the
House. Mr.. Harrison seems to learn
nothing by experience. He made q
similar bluff at the last session in re-
gard to the River and Harbor bill,
which he afterwards signed notwith-
standing it carried one of the larg-
est appropriations ever carried by a
similar measure. He made no sugges-
ton in his political harrangue to the
Republican party, called by courtesy
his annual message to Congress, for
the financial relief of the people, and
he compelled his Secretary of the
Treasury to cut out of his annual re-
port q recommendation for the issue
of an incontrovertible II or 2 per cent.
bond, which might have afforded some
relief by increasing the volume of our
currency; therefore he should not be
surprised if the Senators and Repre-
sentatiyes fresh from personal contact
with the people and conversant with
their needs should attempt to supply
them.
One bill has been introduced in the
Senate by Republican-Senator Cul,
lom-which most of the Democrats
would gladly vote for, if they could get
a chance. It provides for one cent let.
ter postage, which Mr.. Harrison, in his
anxiety to talk partisan politics, forgot
to even mention in his message.
Quite a number of bills have been
introduced in the House and Senate
to repeal certain sections of the
Mckinley tariff act, one of the most
notable of which is that introduced by
Representative McCreary, of Kentucky
to put what he very APPLY calls the
seven blessings of mankind, tin anC
tin plate, cotton ties, agricultural i'm
plements and edged tools, binder,
Irvine, blankets, worsted for men ant
women's clothing and salt, upon tn,
free list. If Boss Reed and his bench
men would allow this bill to get befor,
the House it would 90 through tn,
House "quicker than a streak o
creased lightning" as the saying is
but you may be sure that they vii
not do it. 1t would hurt some of til,
wealthy men for whose protection
} the Republican party exists.
. The Pension appropriation bill TO
the fiscal year beginning July /, 1891
has been reported to the House. I
appropriates $135,O99,7S5, and thos'
J well informed say that it is less b,
from thirty to seventy millions of dol
lars than will be required to pay tn,
pensions during the year. Look on
for music when this bill is discusse,
, in the House. Some peculiar Repub
lican pension methods are to be shown
up by the Democrats.
The House, after one day spent il
fillibustering and one in discussion
> passed the International copyright bill
, by vote of 139 to IS.
Persuasion, threats, and bribery, OF
the part of the administration, by tn,
promise of future patronage, has S,
! far failed to get together a quorum O
Republicans in the House. Withou
that Republican quorum no partisan
legislation will be allowed to g
through the House. Dem.