The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-11-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular correspondent.)
Washington. No. II, 1890.

Washington, No. II, 1890.
Mr. Harrison has shut his eyes To
the results of the recent elections, and
made up his mind to urge in his an
uual message to Congress the passage
by the Senate of the Force bill and by
the House of the notorious ship subsidy
bills. In short, he has, in spite of the
protests Of some of the most far seeing
members Of his party, including Mr..
Blaine, determined to cast his lot with
the radical wing of the republican
party. That however does not mean
that the Force bill will be passed. All
indications are against its passage, as
il is certain that more republican SEN
ators would now vote against it than
would have done so at the last session
of Congress had it then,reached vote.
Mr.. Harrison will also, it is said,
strongly endorse the Mckinley tariff
act in his message. Democrats fear
that these things are too good to be
true. They can hardly realize that
their opponents should be willing to do
80 much toward democratic success in
1892.
There are good reasons for believing
that as soon as Congress meets bills
will be introduced by republican Sen
ators from the Northwest, modifying
or repeating sections of the new tariff
law which bear down heavily upon the
citizens of the State they represent. 1t
is believed that bills placing binding
twine on the free list, and reducing the
duty on ready made clothing would re-
ceive the votes of every republican
Senator from west Of the Mississippi
| river; and there is some talk about the
combination which in return for the
votes of several republican Senators
from the Eastern States for these
measures, shall repeal all duties upon
raw materials. Such bills could easily
be gotten through the House, as it is
| fact well known here that at least
twenty five members of the House
voted for the Mckinley bill under pro-
test, and only because they lacked the
moral courage to stand the lashes OF
party whip which was g ven them un-
sparingly whenever they evinced dis
position to kick outside of the party
traces.
Mr. Blaine is now engaged in per-
forming his celebrated reciprocity act.
| He hopes TO save the moribund old re-
publican party by holding out glitter
ing inducements tn the people OF what
Will be accomplished in the future, and
by ignoring the injury inflicted upon
them at this time, which they have re-
sented SO effectually by their votes
Mr. Blaine has long head, and bis
brain is an active one, but he cannot
bambeozle the American people, who
know that real reciprocity with thD
whole world would be a grand thing
for us, but who know also that the re-
ciprocity with string tied to it, pro.
giied for, or rather alleged to be pro
vided for, by the Mckinley tariff law,
is fraud pure and simple. Oh 40
Mr.. Blaine, the people have been jug
gled with too long in the protection
line to be caught by the false glitter Of
your "reciprocity'.
The Treasury surplus has been re.
duced so low lately, that it is said com
leted pension cases are held up in the
Pension Office because the Treasury
wanted chance to get in some more
money before honoring another draft
of the Commissioner of Pensions, who
drew $19,OO0,000 last month. 1t be.
, comes palmer every day that the deficit
prophesied by the democrats at the
last session of Congress for the next
fiscal year will exist.
Not satisfied with having served no.
tice upon Senator Quay that he must
vacate his position as chairman OF
the Republican National Committee
there Is AN element 10 the repub-
lican party that wants to depose
Speaker Reed from the leadership of
his party in the House, and the p o.
position has been boldly put forth that
the complimentary nomination for
speaker OF the next House be given TO
some other republican. There might
be something in this if there was any
body else to lead the republicans, but
Reed is about the only prominent
republican that was reelected, and the
chances are that he would have gone
with the rest if the election in Maine
hau not taken place before the tariff
bill went into effect; and they will have
to follow him or nobody.