Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-05-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.

While the opponents of the new tariff |
bill outside of Congress are vigorous and
aggressive, there seems to be more or less |
lack of enthusiasman energy among its |
friends. Even that great Representative
Republican Organization, the Union |
League Club, of New York, is unable, at |
this late stage of the game, to agree upon
line of action and come to the support |
of the bill with alacrity which the friends |
of this important measure expected. At
the meeting of the club on Thursday
evening, which had been set for hearing
the report of the committee on political
reform in approval of the bill. there was
such small attendance that no report
was submitted, and it was decided to let
the matter 90 over till the June meeting.
In striking contrast to the action of the
Union League Club is the formidable de-
scent about to be made upon Congress by
the merchants of New York They rep
resent an annual commerce of over $780,
600 O,OOO and they are thoroughly organ
lied in antagonism to a measure which
in their opinion threatens the merchan-
tile interests of the country with general
paralysis. They have in hand all ready
to be dumped upon the House of Repre-
sentatives, the reports of not less than
| twenty-three committees showing the
probable effect of the passage of the bill
upon as many different branches of trade,
and early this week will send a delega-
ton to this city of about 800 of the lead
ing business men of New York, to be
strengthened by similar delegations from
other parts of the country, with the
view of bringing such pressure to bear
upon the Congressional mind as cannot
safely be ignored or easily resisted. The
fight will soon be on, and even with a
Republican majority in the House it is
not to be altogether a one-sided fight.
The friends of the bill must be prepared
to meet its opponents, not upon partisan
grounds alone, for these may weaken in
the contest, but upon the higher planes of
justice, reason and the public welfare.
~
Ever since the wonderful little Herr
schoff torpedo launch, the Cushing
came here the fore part of last week she |
has every fine afternoon taken party |
of Statesmen for spin down the river. |
The Statesmen have been those compos-
ing the Naval affairs committees of the |
House and Senate. Many of the COM
mitteemen are from inland States and |
their lack of familiarity with maritime
affairs seems to make matters pertaining
Western members of the committees,
perhaps because of the novelty on these
trips down the river. Lieutenant Win
slow, the commanding officer, takes the
streersman's place, and under his guild
ance the Gushing darts forward and
backward--she can stop in her own
length and back eighteen knots an hour
turns around as if balanced on a pivot
at her screws, whirls around and around
in circles scarcely larger than a circus
ring, all with quickness that is almost
catlike. A remarkable thing about the
remarkable craft is the almost entire alb
sence of vibration when being pushed to
her highest speed. Down in the fore
castle where the tumult of the water
churned into foam by the screws is less
noticeable; there is really nothin. to in
dictate that the machinery is working at
all, no vibration being felt Each of the
cranks of the five engines on each side
is set at different angle, and this fact
goes far, the engineer says, toward ac-
counting for the remarkable small
amount of vibration. The members of
the two Naval committees have evinced
the greatest interest in the Cushing and
more boats of her type may be built.
***
Speaker Reeds selection of Congress
man Blount to succeed the late Congress-
man Randall on the Committee on Rules
is fitting recognition of the ability of
the Georgian. Mr.. Blount's extensive
experience as a Legislator has well quail
fed him for the important position to
which he has been chosen, and the
Democratic party is to be congratulated
that it has secured the services of so able |
man to fill a position in which the late
Mr.. Randall was enabled to render his |
party such valuable service.
*x*
Justice l.. @. c. Lamar sat in the House
gallery for awhile Saturday morning and |
pointed out the celebrities in the pit be-
low to some Georgia friends who accom-
panied him. The Justice is beginning to
age rapidly. 1t is generally remarked
that he looks ten years older than he did
ten years ago, and he stoops painfully as
he walks. The bench is telling rapidly
on the Justice.
wv
1t is generally remarked that Secretary
Blaine looked in poor health at the fun
eral of Senator Beck at the Capitol the
other day. 1t is understood that the
President tries in every way to make Mr..
Blaine's duties as light as possible. He
is said to have informed an applicant
for office the other day that he was now
making the appointments to consular
places, and not the Secretary of State.
This consideration is, no doubt, deeply
appreciated by Mr.: Blaine. r.