Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-12-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.

W AhbiNoIoNb btc. ~ io'as'
The P)pullsts are having their inn
ings just now, and they nro being IA
plduously courted by both Republicans
and Democrats, not because they love
them more than they used to, but be-
cause the PoPulists are In position to
dictate the election Of United states
Senators Ia North Dakota, Montana,
California, Wyoming aud Nebraska,
and the politicians Of both Of the old
parties aru anxious 10 convince tie
Populists In Congress that II Is their
duty TO use their influence with the
members OF their party Ia the afore-
said legislatures to elect senators who
viii pledge themselves 20 act with one
or the other VI the old parties on politl-
cal questions. That is, u majority Of
the politicians are In the convincing
business. There Ia minority, how
over, In both the Democratic and Re-
publican parties who make no bones
Of saying they would prefer see
ing their opponents control the Senate
TO controlling It themselves; these are
not bothoring themselves nbout the
senatorial situation. Said one OF them:
"rhcro Is big money and persuasive
tongues to be used In this senatorial
business, and before 1t Ia ended more
than one Popullst leader Will have an
opportunity to prove his metal"
IL is not often that senator makes
an argument before n House committee
in favor Of bill, but that ia what
Senator Morgan did this week. He
made quite long speech advocating
the Nicaragua canal bill to the House
committee on foreign affairs. The
Senate cammittoo Is prepared to favor.
ably report the bill, but It prefers tina,
the iniative be taken by the House
committee, believing that It would
give the measure u moro favorable
standing In the House, where there Is
much opposition to Il; hence the up.
pearance Of Senator Morgan, who Ia n
member OF the Senate committee, be.
fore the House committee.
The senatorial discussion OF the res.
oluiion providing for commission to
negotiate an agreement with the
Indians OF the fivs civilized tribes,
whereby they are to take up land In
severllIy and sell the government
what Is left TO be opened for settle
ment, contained much Information
about those Indians which was not
generally known. For instance, how
many people realize that the $4,000
Indians In the Indian Territory main
tain i've separate, Independent sOver-
eign governments within the bounda-
riea OF tho United STATES, each OF which
Ia almost wholly foreign to us, owing
neither allegiance nor responsibility to
the United States, except that they
| shall make no laws inconsistent with
| the constitution OF the United States
or with the laws OF Congress
regulating trade anu commerce with
tho Indians? How many 10 lplr know
that the III, 900 whites now in the In.
dian country are there not rs right
but ms favor; that they have no say
in the government aud may legally DO
sent away Mt any time these Indian
governments might be disposal TO do
Il?
Representative Davis, OF Kansas,
has invorably reported to the House
from the committee ON labor bill pro-
hibiting the employment OF convict
labor upon public work, and the bill Is
NO nanifestiy Just that there Is 80 far no
open opposition TO II.
A bill has been Introduced into the
House 10 increase tho tax on whisky
from 90 cents to sl.25 per gallon, but
those who ought 10 know say there IL
no probability OF increasing this tax
more than 10 cents u gallon, II 1t be
increased nj all.
A delegation OF big railroad men,
among whom were Chauncey Depew,
President Roberts Of the Pennsylvania
road, and President ingalls, Of Chesa-
peake and Ohio road, were before the
Senate committee on Interstate com.
merce this week TO advocate an amend
ment 10 the interstate commerce law
TO permit the railroads TO form pools.
They claimed that large minority OF
the railroads OF the country favored
such All amendment.
a bill has been introduced In the
House and in tho Senate authorizing
tho acknowledgement 10 contract with
the 81. Louis and Chicago electric rail-
road for carrying the malls at exist
Ing rates for ten years between
those two cities, upon condition
that they shall be transported
at moi less than 100 miles an hour, anu
that the railroad company shall agree
to furnish to farmers and others along
the line OF It's road, whenever requested
TO DO 30, electrical power for agrcultur-
al purposes anu electricity tor light
anu motive power at reasonable rates.
Tho Senate continues 10 have daily
talks ON the anti.optlon bill, and not u
few of the frienus OF the bill fear that
the talking is to DO Kept up to the end
OF the session.
Secretary Foster pledges his word as
hnancitr that an available SUR lls OF
ut least s2O, 900, OOJ will be In the treas