Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-09-05
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence of the Standard.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Aug. 81, 1880.

Senator Quay's resolution setting
aside the Force bill and naming a date
to begin voting upon the tariff bill has
brought about condition of affairs
among the Republicans in the Senate
not unlike that which existed when
the late Roscoe Conkling and "me too"
Platt resigned their seats in the Sen
ate. There is Il three cornercd fight
in the Republican ranks which was
first shown when Senator Frye, refer
ring to Senator Edmunds and the
other Republicans who early in the
summer refused to sanction a change
in the rules of the Senate to cut off de-
bate, said: 81 do not place tie icspon-
sibili'y for the defeat of the Election
bill ON Senators who are now propos-
ing that tine bill shall be postponed.
/ place it on those Senators who de-
clared in Republican conference held
earlier in the session that they would
not support rule for previous ques-
ton. Cowardice never yet won a bat
tie and never yet retained friend"
Senator Edmunds replied in the same
tone, comparing Mr. Frye to highway
robber.
Senator Hoar delivered long speech,
principally devoted to explaining the
Force bill and apologizing for bringing
it forward. He gave Senator Quay
several sharp raps in the course OF his
remarks, but Mr.. Quay paid not the
slightest attention to him. Mr.. Hoar
offered substitute for the Quay reso-
luton, which includes the original gag
rule that was endorsed by the Repub-
lican caucus some weeks ago, and in
addition provides that the Force bill
shall be voted upon September 4. So
much for the condition of things on
the Republican side.
Senator German has the Democrats
well in hand, and what they propose
doing or how they will vote upon the
Quay resolution, should it ever reach a
vote, is known only to themselves.
They have been too we'll aware of the
political advantages which the discus
sion OF the tariff bill has given them to
fall into a trap set by Mr.. Quay and
promise to wind up that debate OH the
Both inst, when three-fourths OF the bill
has not yet been touched. That would
be too great a price to pay for nothing,
and that is all that Mr.. Quay has to Of
fer. The adoption OF his resolution
would kill the Force bill for the present
session officially; but it has been un-
officially dead for all time ever since
the Republican caucus refused to adopt
tie gag law necessary for its passage.
The most radical members of the
Republican party in the House have
entered into an agreement to prevent
the consideration Of the Senate amend
ments to the tariff bill until the Senate
passes the election bill. 1t would not
be very surprising ii the Senate should
conclude to abandon the tariff bill en-
tirely as party measure and let it go
over until next winter.
The investigation by special House
committee of Mr.. Cooper's charges
against the Commissioner of Pensions
was begun to-day, and Mr.. Cooper pro-
poses to see that all the damaging
facts are brought out, so that the coat
of white-wash which the majority of
the committee has already prepared to
apply shall not prevent the public
from seeing matters as they actually
are. Good for Mr.. Cooper!
Mr.. Reed continues TO ignore the
committee, on Labor, which wants very
much to have several bills, which it
has reported, acted upon. One Of these
days the laborers will get an opportu-
nifty to ignore the Speaker, and they'll
do it.
Senator Carlisle characterizes the ar
rangement of the wire schedule of the
tariff bill as being an insidious and in
direct way of increasing duties. Sem
ator Mcpherson, ironically, says that
the Finance committee should not be
held responsible for a bill which has
been made up by the benefciaries
themselves, and only handed to the
committee for the purpose of having
it explained to the country and defend
ed in the Senate.
The house has passed the bill to in
spect fresh meats intended for impor-
tation; also bill extending aid to ag-
ricultural colleges. The compound
lard bill is to be voted on Saturday and
that prohibiting dealing in options and
futures next Wednesday.
The bill exempting mining lands
from the provisions of the alien land
law has been by vote OF the House laid
on the table.
Mr.. Harrison and almost his entire
cabinet have gone away. They left
for fear of being dragged into the SEN
atOrial fight. They will have to re-
turn before the fight is ended.
The Congressional Campaign COM
mittee are beginning to hustle things
little. Arrangements will be made
to specially look after all districts which
gave less than thousand majority
either way at the last election.
"THE Republicans in Congress have
good deal to say about majority rule"
says the Savannah Neus, "yet they do
not represent a majority of the people
of the United States. The Republi.
cans in the Senate and House repre-
sent 5,440,2l6 Of the 11,292,3S3 citi-
zens who voted when this administra-
ton was elected, being in the minority
by 5lO,05O votes. 1t is wrong, there