The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-03-26
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., March, 20, 1890.
The Vice President has returned
from his southern trip, and has resumed
the duties of presiding officer of the
Senate. He says he enjoyed his brief
vacation very much and, judging from
his appearance, he has been benefited
Secretary Blaine is one of the Presi-
dents most frequent visitors these days,
and it is worrying that large class of
Democrats, who suffer with Blainepho-
bia, no little TO get up stories To ac-
count for these numerous visits. The
explanation is very easy and simple.
The two men have become very warm
~ attached to each other and enjoy be-
ing together.
The Silcott case was recalled this
week by the arguments made before
the United States Court of Claims in
the suit of Representative Grain, To re-
cover the amount of salary due him
which Silcott ran away with. The case
involves several very fine law points
and is attracting much attention. If
Grain wins, all the rest of the swindled
} Congressman will at once enter suits
for their money, and if he loses, that
will probably be the last we shall hear
of it.
The revised Worlds Fair bill has
been reported To the House 1t pro-
vides that the buildings of the worlds
Columbia Exposition shall be dedicated
on April Both, 1892, but leaves the date
of the opening and closing of the expo
sition itself to be settled later The
! impression is that 1898 will be adopted
The Republican Senators held IA con-
ference at Senator Edmund's house on
Tuesday night and discussed various
matters, including the Montana Sena-
tOrial case. No vote was taken, the
conference being held only for tn. pur-
pose of exchanging views on certain
pending legislation.
The bricklayers and stone masons
international unions are sending petit
tons to Congress asking that law be
passed prohibiting the employment of
an alien upon any Government work.
The new tariff bill is about completed,
though a number of minor changes
may be made in it before it is reported
To the House 1t reduces the revenues
about $50, 600, 900 per annum, about
half of which will be taken from sugar.
Higher duties have been placed upon
all agricultural products that come into
competition with those raised by our
own farmers The internal revenue
| features abolish the license tax, the tax
on snuff, and allows the farmer to dis
pose of leaf tobacco free of any tax or
restriction. The tax on manufactured
tobacco has been reduced from To 4
cents per pound and the tax on cigars
cheroots and cigarettes remains rs at
present 1t is estimated that the re-
duction i'm internal revenue will be
about $lS,000,00 per annum. Like
every tariff bill that has ever been
made up this one is meeting with lots
of oppOsition-it would be impossible
To get up one that wouldnt-but it will
all simmer down long before the time
comes to take vote on the bill, and it
will be passed.
Secretary Tracy's expressed intention
of recognizing the Navy department
and of making radical changes in the
methods of transacting business has
caused rafting of dry bones that can
be heard all over the city. Changes
are needed badly enough.
Representative Morrill's resolution
calling on the Secretary of War and
the Secretary of the Interior for in
formation as to- whether the transfer of
the Pension bureau from the Interior
to the War department would save the
Government any money, has been
adopted by the House. A resolution
offered by the same gentleman has also
been adopted by the House asking the
Secretary for data relative to the pay
ment of pensions, and for an estimate
of the amount which would be required
To pay arrearages if the limit is re-
moved.
Instead of stampeding the Republi-
cans by yelling eXtravagant appropria-
tons, as the Democrats hoped to do,
they really did the Republican leaders
great favor by calling attention to
many measures that were being some
what persistently pushed by certain
members. although there is no legiti-
mate demand by the public for such
legislation, and thus enabling the
Republicans to easily turn these meas
ures down. The country has never
lost anything by trusting the Republi-
can party, and il may be stated now
with absolute certainty that the major
ity in Congress will do nothing likely
to bring reproach upon the good name
of the party.
Representative Lodges ederal Elec-
ton bill, introduced last week, has
given rise TO great deal of talk.
Democrats are solidly opposed to it and
the Republicans are not unanimous in
its favor.
The House has decided that the seat
which has been occupied by Mr.. Comp
ton, of Maryland, rightfully belonged
to Mr.. Mudd, the Republican con-
testant.
The House has passed a bill trans
ferring the Revenue Marine Service
from the Treasury to the Navy depart
ment.
The Joint committee of the House
and Senate, went TO New York this
morning TO look into the immigration
question, persuant to the recent con-
current resolution.