Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1891-03-20
WHOLE NUMBER 1923.
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Irregular Correspondence of the Standsrd.)

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Irregular Correspondence of the standard.)
WASHINGTON, d. c., March 6, 1891.
The United States Treasury is bank.
rupt, as far as the reckless and extrava-
CANT appropriations voted by the Re-
publican Congress can make it so, and
1T would be actually so to-day if all of
the appropriations had to be paid at
once. In the dying hours of the Fifty
first Congress the Republicans threw
prudence, conscience, fear of hereaf-
ter and every other restraining in fiu-
ence overheard, and boldly voted for
every possible thing that promised to
assist in the lOOting of the Treasury,
which their leaders had agreed upon
for the purpose of confronting the
Democratic Congress with deficiency,
Old mouldy claims that had been re-
fused a hundred times were tackled on
the appropriation bills, and railroaded
through, extra salaries were voted to
employees who are already paid beyond
their deserts, and money was scattered
around in every direction as though
the Treasury was overfiowing with q
surplus, as it was two years ago when
turned over to the Republicans.
Where the money is to come from
to pay all OF these wild appropriations
Is more than any one can see at this
time; it isn't in the Treasury nor can
it possibly get there under the present
methods OF taxation. Two years of
Democratic economy in the House
and purging of the pension rolls Of
the frauds thereon may pull the coun-
try through without making it neces-
sary to put new taxes upon the already
tariff-ridden people.
The Republican ex-Representatives
are loath to leave Washington until
Mr.. Harrison has distributed the plums
now at his disposal, which includes
nine new U. S. Circuit Court judges as
provided by the new law, which pur-
ports to be for the relief of the Supreme
Court, but Mr.. Harrison proposes to
try their patience, as he is going TO
Maryland to morrow for few days of
wild duck shooting, and says he will
do nothing in the matter until his re-.
turn.
Ex.Speaker Reed has pretty thick
skin, but he couldn't hide the chagrin
he felt when every Democrat in the
House voted against the usual resolu-
tion of thanks that Mr.. Mckinley, after
vainly trying to persuade Democrat
to do it, had offered. Served him right
is the verdict among Democrats.
Senator Villas is here looking Just as
natural as when he so successfully pre-
sided over the Interior department
under Mr.. Cleveland. He saws that
Wisconsin has cut loose from the Re-
publican party for good and all, and
that her vote may be confidently
counted upon for the Democratic can
didate next year.
1t is pleasing to know that the Fif.
ty-first Congress did one good thing.
1t passed the International copyright
bill, although it was apparently done
under q misunderstanding, and Mr..
Harrison signed it with a Quill pen,
from the wing of an American eagle.
which had been provided for the occa.
sion by one of the editors of the Cen
tary magazine.
Senator Edmunds is entitled TO
thanks for having baked Senator
Plumb's scheme for transferring the
employees of the Census bureau TO the
regular classified departmental service.
without the iormality of civil service
examination. Mr.. Plumb attempted
to. hitch it on to an appropriation bill,
but Mr.. Edmunds raised a point of
order against it which was sustained
by the chair.
And while giving thanks must not
forget the Democrats in the HOUSE.
who with the aid OF a few Republicans
jumped upon the Pacific cable subsidv
"job," after it had been agreed 10 by \
conference committee, and strangled
the life from it.
The Democratic Senators also de-
serve well for the smartness they Sis.
played in preventing the mail subsidy
bill from being sent 10 q conference
committee, which would surely have
incorporated the tonnage subsidy bin
in it. 1t is much better TO accept the
least of two evils than to have 10 take
them both.
Senator Ingalls, made q very "small"
use OF his last official hour. He dis
missed the clerk of the committee of
which he was chairman and appointed
his son, Paul Ingalls,, clerk to the com.
mittee. The object lies in the fact
that the clerk draws his salary during
the recess, but does no work. Senator
Wolcott at once employed the dis
missed clerk as his private secretary.
There were some disgraceful scenes
at the last night session vf Coneress
caused by that old time offender, John
Barleycorn. The tipsy statesmen
were kept off the floor Of House and
Senate with some difficulty by their
friends, but their antics in the commit.
tee rooms and corridors were witnessed
by many. DEM