Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-06-06
VOLUME XXXI.--NUMBER %.
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER,
Regular Correspondence of the Standard.

WASHINGTON, ID. C., May 23, 1890.
This is a very common impression
among the American people, especial
ly those who disdain to bother them
selves with the tiresome details Of
Congressional action and public fin
ance, that the United States treasu-
ries are filled with inexhaustible loads
Of gold and silver, and that the prob
lem of reducing the surplus is the
great urgency of the times. All man.
ner OF schemes have been suggested to
this end, and by those who should
know better. A few billions for sea-
coast deienses, with a neat fortune for
every soldier, and u good farm, modest
ly stocked, for every poor man, it is
thought, would somewhat relieve this
state of affairs. But it re-
mained for Senator Plumb, of Kansas,
to bring out the most fantastic
He has introduced two bills
in Congress providing for an organiza-
ton called the Grand Army of La
bor." All citizens OF twenty-one years
Of age are entitled to membership.
No one shall work more than five
hours day, nor more than five days
a week, nor more than six weeks with
out an intermission of two weeks.
Every county in the United States is
to be provided with a governmental
farm. The government is also to un-
dertake public enterprise for the pur-
pose of providing labor for members,
whose daily recompense is to he 81
Where is all this money coming from?
The last statement from the Treasury
showed the amount of available cash
on hand to be about $35, ,OOO, ,OO0.
German, a member of the ap-
committee, stated before
the Senate that the pension payments
from 1891 for several years will
amount to $500 100000, and nobody
him. The new tariff bill
is said to reduce the public revenues
about 81, 100000. This will leave for
ali public purposes, except pensions,
about $780, ,OOO, 600 of the annual reve-
nue., and which is also about the size
of the deficit that will be found in the
Treasury at the end OF the next fiscal
year, if the bills calling for expendi-
lures which have passed one house
and are likely to pass the other, are
perfected. Besides, the importers are
organizing and are determined to cut
down the rates ON every article in the
tariff schedule.
A delegation of two hundred and
fifty, representing all the wholesale
importing houses of New York City,
will besiege the Capitol this week,
and the importers of other cities will
also be, on hand. In view of the in
difference of the majority in Congress
to money matters, these visiting dele
cations will no doubt be graciously
received and accommodated.
One hundred and eighty-five private
pension bills have been passed by
Congress this session.
Senator Ingalls, has introduced a
bill 10 put the minimum rate for in
valid pension 1t 81 per month.
Senator Sherman has introduced o
bill providing for special pension OF
e25 per month to the surviving
sailors and marines who were
on board the steamer Sultana when
her boiler exploded April 27, 1865.
sou enlisted men who had been pris-
oners in the South were packed on
board and sent North. About eight
miles above Memphis, the boilers Of
The steamer exploded at 2 o'clock at
night. About 100 were killed or
drowned, and about 200 died next day
from exposure in the water, 14l sur
givors have signed petition for the
OF the bill.
Senator Butler presented the petit
lion of the heads of nine families, ag-
70 persons, that Congress
appropriate 500 per capita to enable
them to emigrate to Liberia and main-
lain themselves six months. The pc.
Eition had a printed heading, and it
was said that an organized movement
in the South indicated q scheme of
wholesale deportation of the colored
people of South Carolina. II these
are not good and respectable citizens
they have no claim upon public
charity. If they are good citizens
why should the government pay $500
Or 5000 to get a family of them out
when it lets any number of bad citi-
zens in, and charges them nothing!
In the House the tariff debate this
week was no better than a squabble,
the amendments being regularly voted
down as they were offered. The bill
was voted on Wednesday and passed
the House all right. But wait till it
gets TO the Senate. Senator Allison
is waiting for it. The west will show
its teeth. He says that he is pro-
foundly convinced that "the condi-
tions have changed" and will handle
the Mckinley bill so that the author
won't know it when he sees it. In
the Senate Mr.. Teller denounced the
Window silver bill in vigorous terms,
and promised that with free coin
age, wheat would 60 up to $1.lO. He
didn't say that it would 60 to that
price in Liverpool, where the worlds
price is made, but virtually confessed
that initiation was the object.
DEN.
THE Democratic Stats Convention
of Vermont, last week, made the
following nominations for State Of.
ficers: Governor, H. d. Brigham !;