Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-07-17
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON. d. c., July I. 1890
Senator Morrill,. chairman of the com
mittee on finance to-day called up the Nc
kinley tariff bill. as amended by his COM
mitter, in the Senate and made a speech
opening the debate the end of which no
man is rash enough to attempt to set
date for. There was disposition on the
part Of Senators favorable to the River
and Harhor bill to have that measure dis
posed of before the tariff bin was taken up,
hut owing to the fact that there Is n doubt
in the minds of many Senators as to ~heth-
er the President will sign the River and
Harbor bill. If 1t is passed by the Senate
aud the Senate amendments agreed to by
the House, but little was done towards an
tagonizing the tariff bill with il.
Democratic Senators are openly threat
cning TO talk out the rest of the Flfty-tirst
Congress on the tariff bill, unless the re-
pubicans will promise not to take up the
Federal election bill in the Senate at this
session. This can be done Under the pres
ent rules of the Senate. If the Democrats
have the nerve to carry out their threats.
OF course the Senate oab, X 80 disposed,
change its rules so as to upset this little
democratic scheme but from conversations
with number Of the leading republican
Senators think the sentiment Is at thi,
time against making the radical changes
In the rules which would be necessary to
do it. Many republican Senators are nm
der the impression that there is no general
demand by the party throughout the coJn-
try Tor the enactment Of Federal election
law. 80 that it may he said that the fate Of
that measure Is In the hands OF the repub-
lican voters of the country If they wish it
passed let them make that fact known NJ
their Senators, and il viii Be- done That's
the whole situation in nutshell
T. ). Treasurer Huston, who has been
i'll for quite awhile has recovered and re-
sumcd his duties Mr. Huston is de
servcdly popular official.
TX Representative Valentine, the new
= =
a jump into popularity by raising four
mammoth United States faGs at the feet
Of the goddess ~ liberty on the top OF the
dome Of the capitol on The Fourth. Strange
a ii may sound this Is the first time
that the national hag La been raised over
the capitol since that building was com
peted, except when he house or Senate
was in session, because of the rules which
say that the hags over the respective
houses of Congress shall be hoisted only
when they are IN session. consequently on
all holidays ami during thc recess OF Con
gre-> there has been no dag over the capi-
tol. This has been surprising to all visit
ors, particularly those from foreign coun-
tries. and Mr.. Valentine T. deserving Of
credit for having been the first one to solve
that problem of how - raise the flags lie
had four stats temporarily erected point
ing north. south. east and west, and 1t i
probable that they viii be made pcrma-
nent
The argument on tie silver hill still
hang. tire, aud if one listened to the opin-
Ion. expressed hy the cunferees 10 private,
he would pc convinced that DO agreement
were possible. Nevertheless Il is safe to
say that an agreement viii be reached, and
that it will either prnyidA for he purchase
and coinage Of 81 $40 600 worth OF silver
each month or OF $500 900 ounces. and it
{, probable ttat the bill will make the coin
certificates full legal tender good for either
gold or silver, although the last will not
be accomplished without a stubborn fight.
The republican coufcryr- are now trying
to ret together ID their IDEAS 70 as to act
as Unit in this important matter. and 1t
is hoped that they will succeed What
ever i adopted should be republican
measure pure and simple without any dem
ocratc suggestion, or assistance
To-day +, individual suspension day in
the House, and what l. 70 come up later
in the week is not yc, fully determined up
on, though the committee on elections will
try t. yet some or the contested election
cases disposed Of, If the appropriation
bills, which usually have the right Of way.
DO not prevent
Mr. Blaine ha- gone to Maine and Is not
expected 10 return for some time, unless
the complications with Great Britain In re-
gard 70 the Behring Sea fisheries Shall
reach crisis. There was rumor here
last week that the squadron Of evolution