Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1890-05-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Two Progressive Bills--OkIahOma-
Interesting Items.

"oohhhe9 Otl, u Y. May .. 1851
Senator Frye has reported from
the Senate committee ON Commerce
two bills in which the President is
known to be very much Interested;
one OF them provides for the pay
ment OF bounty 30 cents a ton for
every thousand miles sailed by Ameri
can built and owned vessels of more
than 800 tons burthen, and the
other provides for the formation of
an American built and owned ocean
service by authorizing the Post mas
ter General to make contracts for
carrying ocean mails with four class
es OF vessels at from 81 to So n mile.
according TO class, for the outward
voyage. Mr.. Frye stated when max
ing his report that if these bills be-
came laws he had reason to know
That within three years a line of the
BEST ships IN the world would be put
on between New York and Liverpool.
and that another line would be run
nlng between New York and South
America In less than two years, and
these would be but the beginning.
these bills have been Endorsed by
boardi of trade and Chambers of
commerce all over the country and
also by the National Grange aud lthe
farmeSs Alliance, but that did not
prevent two democratic members of
the COmmittee-Sanators Coke and
Vest-stating that they did not agree
to the report of the committee. The
idea is too progressive for dem
ocrats.
= The idea of an argument between
the Senate and House republican
caucuses on silver bill has, practi-
cally been abandoned. The House
Will pass the bill agreed upon and
the Senate will amend it and leave it
to a conference committee to ar
range compromise.
The House committee which has
been Investigating the civil service
commission devoted the greater part
OF Saturday to hearing arguments
by both sides. A report is expected
from the committee this week.
Senator Beck dropped dead Ct
heart disease in the PENNSYLVANIA
railroad station here, Saturday af
ternoOn, but few feet from where
President Garfield was shot i'm 1881.
Mr.. Beck has returned with his
daughter and his private Secretary
from New York City. He was the
ablest democrat in the Senate. but
Tor several years past he has not
taken an active part in Congression-
al work on account of his health.
The House has defeated the inter
national copyright bill, and poor
people who occasionally buy cheap
books have no reason to grieve
about it.
The House has passed the diplo
matte appropriation bill. also the
legislature executive and judicial ap-
preparation bill.
The President has signed the bill
providing a temporary government
for the territory of Oklahoma.
Representative Henderson of Iowa.
has introduced a bill providing n
penalty of 1000 and imprisonment
for five years, or both for sending
obscene literature through the mails
Representative McCreary of Ken
lucky is one of the few level-headed
Democrats in the House. Saturday
afternoon he made strong speech
IN favor OF reciprocity with the South
and Central American republics. and
stated his belief that the recent PAN
American Congress would be record
ed in history as a success. and that
1T would be remembered as the first
step IN the social and commercial un
ion OF the American republics. The
speech was frequently interrupted bv
the applause of the house.
EX-President Clarkson's visit to
Washington the latter part of last
week, has furnished the political COS
sips with something to talk about
for some time to come. He came os-
tensibly to attend case before the
Supreme Court, but as the case in
which he is counsel was known To
have been put off until the fall term
OF the court before he came it is evil
dent that, that was not the real
cause of his visit. He called at the
White House and paid his respects
to the President. He also did q
good deal of circling around among
the democratic politicians and that
Is probably the real reason for his
coming here; he has entered against
the field for the nomination in
1892.
The date when the Mckinley tariff
bill will go into effect has been chang.
ed to July /, 1891.
Secretary Window thinks the
amount of money in circulation
should be increased at least $50 1000.
900 year.
Senator Stanford has returned
from California but his health not
having improved he has announced
that he intends going to Europe, the
latter mart IF f,his month
The House has passed the Senate
antitrust bin WITH an amendment
which is aimed at the dressed beef
monopoly.
Senator Vest has made lengthy
report upon the Investigation made
by his committee of the fresh meat
traffic. He says the r, ilroad and
steamship companies discriminate
against the shipment of live cattle
in faver of the dressed beef people all