The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-05-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsH1xGToN. u. G.. Nav %. 1885

WASHINGTON, u. e.. May s3, 1880.
There is q very common impression among the
American people. especially those who disdain to
bother themselves with the tiresome details Of
Congressional action and public finance. that the
U. S. Treasures are filled with inexhaustible
loads of gold and silver. and that the problem of
reducing the surplus /" is the great urgency of
the times. All manner of schemes have been
suggested to this end. and by those who should |
know better. few billions for sea coast dcfenses
with a neat fortune for every soldier, and good |
farm. modestly stocked, for every poor man, it is
thought would somewhat relieve this bulging |
state of affairs. But it remained for Senator |
Plumb. of Kansas. to bring out the most fantas-
tic remedy. He has introduced two bills in Con-
gress providing for an organization called the
Grand Army of Labor" All sitzens of 81 years
are entitled to membership No one shall work
more than 4 hours day. nor more than 5 days
week. nor more than six weeks without an inter-
mission of two weeks. Every county in the US.
is to be provided with governmental farm. The
government is also to undertake public enterprise
for the purpose of providing labor for members.
whose daily recompense is to be 81.
Where is all this money coming from? The
last statement from the Treasury showed the
amount of ayailible cash on hand to be about
00.CO0. Senator German. a member of the
appropriation committee. stated before the SEN
ate. that the pension payments from 1891 for sew
eral years will amount to $500, 1000. and nobody
contradicted him. The new tariff bill is said to
reduce the public revenues about 81 600 900. This
will leave for all public purposes. except pensions
about $lS0,O0.OGO of the annual revenue, and
which is also about the size of the deficit that will
be found in the Treasury at the end of the next
fiscal year if the bills calling for expenditures
which have passed one honse and are likely to
pass the other, are perfected. Besides. the i'm
porters organizing and are determined to cut
down the rates on every article in the tariff
schedule. A delegation of $50 representing ali
the wholesale importing Houses of New York
City. will besiege the Capitol this week. and the
importers ofother cities will also be on hand. In
view of the Indifference of the majority in Con
gress to money matters these visiting delegation
will no doubt be graciously received and accom-
modated.
1s5 private pension bills have been. passed b!
Congress this session.
Senator ingalls, has introduced to put the min
imum rate for invalid pensions at 81 per month
Senator Sherman has introduced a bill provid
ing for special pension of SIS per month to tn
surviving soldiers, sailors and marines who wer
on board the steamer " Sultana" when her boile
exploded. April a. 1865. 2S0e enlisted men VIII
had been prisoners in the South were packed O.
board and sent North. About miles abov
Memphis the boilers of the steamer exploded Q
Q O'Clock at night. About 200 were killed Q
drowned. and 200 died next day from exposure i
tho water. 141 survivors have signed a petitio
for the passage eff the bill.
Senator Butler presented the petition of th
heads of nine families. aggregating 72 person
that Congress appropriate 800 per capita to eni
BILE them to emigrate to Liberia and maintai
themselves six months. The petition has
printed heading. and it was said that an orga1
lied movement in the South indicated schem
South Carolina. If these are not good and r
spectacle citizens they have no claim upon pul
lie charity. If these are good citizens why shou
the government pay $50 or $500 to get a fami
of them out when it lets any number of bad cit
zens in and charges them nothing?
In the House the tariff debate this week was /
better than a squabble, the amendments beil
regularly voted down as they were offered. II
bill was voted on Wednesday and passed Il
House all right. But wait till it gets to the Sc
ate. Senator Allison is waiting for it. The We
will show its teeth. He says that he is profoun
ly convinced that " the conditions have changes
and will handle the Mckinley bill so that t
author won't know it when he sees it. In. t
Senate Mr.. Teller denounced the Window silv
bill in vigorous terms. and promised that wi
free coinage, wheat would go up to $1.1O. ]
didn't say that it would go to that price in Live
pool, where the worlds price is made. but Writ
ally confessed that imitation was the object.