Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-03-14

Constitutions are made to restrain
majorities and protect minoriiies.- A
majority ruling without limitations or
restraints upon its power is pure des
potism and is inconsistent with our
system of government.
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence of the Standard.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. 2S, 1890.
Secretary Window is having hard
time just now owing to the pressure
that the friends of number of the
bidders for the privilege of taking seals
for twenty years are bringing TO bear
upon him to decide in their favor, and
the air is full OF stories connecting
various members of the Administra-
ton and other prominent Republicans
with one or the other of the bidders.
The matter is under the law left en-
tirely to the discretion of the Secretary
Of the Treasury, 50 that Mr.. Window
may, if he sees fit, give the privilege
to the bidder that offers the smallest
sum. As the privilege has been worth
more than a million year in net
profits for the past twenty years, it is
not strange that there should be q
struggle to obtain it, and trouble may
be looked for from the disappointed
bidders when the award is made.
Senator Call found it necessary to
show up Senator Chandler and his
peculiar methods when dealing with
Southern matters in the Senate this
week, and unfortunately was compelled
by truth to use language that was
slightly unparliamentary. Mr.. Calls
language was blamable, but the provo
cation was certainly great enough to
make it excusable. Rules cannot be
made by gentlemen that will be suit
able in dealing with such characters
as Senator Chandler.
So uncertain are the Republicans
about their tariff bill that it is impos-
sible to get them to talk about it. 1t
is not even considered certain now
that the tobacco tax is to go, and the
committee is said to be hopelessly
divided in sentiment as to what, ii
any, reduction shall be made in the
tariff on sugar. The bill, which is now
promised by the middle Of March, will
consist of compromises all through.
One of the latest schemes OF the
lobbyist is that providing for the pur-
chase by the Government OF the real
estate ON the south side of Pennsyl-
vania avenue between the Capitol and
the Treasury. The job is an old one
but this is the first time it has been
pushed by regularly organized lobby.
OF course the owners Of this property
can afford to pay big money for help
to unload their undesirable and I'M
profitable property on the Govern
ment, but Congress will do we'll to
move slowly in this matter.
Chicago people here are very jubi
liant, and they have a right to be.
They have gained victory that re-
fleets great credit upon them, but after
all the action OF the House is not final
and it is considered extremely doubt
full whether the Senate will pass the
bill as it is. Many Senators have ex-
pressed themselves rs thinking the
public sentiment here is in favor of
the Senates passing the bill as it is
and trusting to Chicago enterprise to
get ready in time.
The Senate Committee on Finance
has reported bill authorizing the
Secretary OF the Treasury to buy $4,-
50O,0O0 worth of silver bullion a
month, and all of the gold bullion Of
Tered, paying for both with Treasury
certificates. This bill will not pass
without considerable opposition. SEN
ators Mcpherson and Sherman of the
committee are opposed to it.
This week we had the second in
stallment of the civil service investiga-
ton. The star witness was cx-Com-
missioner e Bishop") Oberly, but con-
trary to general expectation his cvi-
dence was entirely favorable to the
commission. 1t does not now look
probable that the investigation will
amount to anything either way.
Everybody is asking what Mr..
Blaine's friend Carnegie, the Pennsyl
vania millionaire, wants of the Pan
Americans. The reason for asking
the question is that Mr.. Carnegie gave
the members of the Pan-American
Congress the most expensive dinner
ever given here, last Tuesday night.
1t is expected that the Senate Elec-
ton committee will decide tomorrow
what report it will make in the Mon
tana Senatorial contest. The Demo-
Gratis ought to have their seats, but it
is not thought probable they will get
them. Republicans seem to think
that all four will be thrown out and a
new election ordered. Nobody outside
has any idea that the Republicans will
be given the seats.
Instead OF abolishing the secret ses-
sions of the Senate certain members
of that body are now engaged in try
| ing to make them more secret than
ever.
Another Democrat, Mr.. Pendleton,
OF West Virginia, has been ousted from
| his seat to make room for a Republi-