Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1890-05-31
WASHINGTON.

IuS puIueh vi the SldteSmdn'S ldDOIS
the past week have been, silver in
the Senate and tariff in the House,
and think some Photographic in
terviews of members of the popular
branch of Congress during the strug
gle over the latter issue would prove
very interesting object lessons in
certain phases of legislative life at the
Capitol. Some of the more eXcitable
solons were as wild-eyed and violent
ly vociferous as bulls angered by the
waving of red rag. Many republi>
cans made wry faces and would have
voted adversely had they possessed the
courage of their convictions. These
dissatisfied gentlemen now console
themselves with pretended assurances
that the Senate will amend the bill
so that it can scarcely be recognized
by its best friends.
In the Senate the silver bill has
attracted much attention and a few
of the republican Senators, notably
Stewart of Nevada, whose long sill
very beard and great height make
rather picturesque personal
ity, said some very plain words by
way of reminding the party in power
of its violated pledges of monetary
reform. The silver statesman even
went SO far as to praise the demosra-
cy in a cautious way for its fidelity
to fiscal reform. The fate of the sill
yer bill in the Senate is a matter of
speculation, but its defeat is probable
in my opinion.
-Singularly enough Senator Carlisle
passes over to the Senate almost at
the same moment when the tariff
bill does, and his new colleagues in
admiration of his great services and
of his pre-eminent abilities have
waived formality and placed the
Kentucky statesman upon the finance
committee as the successor of his la
mented predecessor. This is the
second time 1 believe that any man
has been so honored in that respect.
1t is thought that Mr.. Carlisle will
spring from the House to the Senate
a full-fedged leader, and be so recog-
nized by both parties.
/ heard quite sharp passage be-
tween Senator's Blair and Hiscock
while the discussion of naval affairs
was progressing and both of these
usually cold-blooded men became
somewhat excited. The former as
usual spoke like a crank, and the lat
ter rather surprisingly spoke on the
demoralizing effect that navy yard
appointments had on both political
parties.
The river and harbor bill was un-
der consideration in the House day
or so since and Mr.. Henderson of H.
linOis, chairman of the committee
on rivers and harbOrs said the appro-
priation was nineteen million dollars
less than the estimates, and stated
that he believed that no money
which went out of the Treasury was
so much in the interest of the peo-
pie.
Speaker Reed, the chief bulldozer
of the republican party, has added to
his partizan laurels by consenting to
the decapitation Of two more demo-
cratic cOngressmen-Venable of Vir-
ginia, and Elliott of South Carolina,
and the substitution of two colored
brethren, one of whom, Langston, is
creditable type of his race, This
action gives three colored members
of the House. But there is one thing
that even the despotic intolerance Of
the Speaker was unequal TO, and that
is, the seating of the pestiferous
demagogue Chalmers, of Mississippi.
"That was the unkindest cut of alp
to the little renegade whom the re-
publicans named the butcher of Fort
Pillow, few years ago, but who is
now supposed to be in full accord
with that party.
There are two contests yet to be
settled, and the committee have rec
commended the unseating of the two
democrats. One of these unfortunate
gentlemen is Gen. Charles E. Hook
err, of Miss, who has won much dis
tinction during his three terms in the
House.
There have been a greater number
of changes in the present House by
death, resignation and unseating
than in any Congress since the Civil
war, for past and prospective, the to-
tai reaches %.