The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-12-02
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, Nov. %, 1S92.-The extra
session pendulum swings back and forth from
day to day. Last week tor time 1t seemed
that the sentiment in favor of an immediate
extra session was verwhelming among prom
ment Democrats, as for several days about
nine out of every ten Senators and Represen-
tatiyes that arrived and were willing to eX-
press decd opinion were in favor of an
extra session ut the earliest possible moment.
Then there was IL change the other way, and
about the same percentage of arrivals opposed
an early extra session, although many OF these
opponents OF an early extra session think it
would be an advantageous saving of time to
call an extra session about Septeln ter or OctO-
Der. If poll of all the Democratic Senators
and Representatives now in Washington were
taken on the question of an early extra SeS-
sion, it is extremely doubtful which side would
get majority, so evenly divided has the SEN
timent become.
Hon. Chauncey F. Black, of Pennsylvania,
President of the National Association of Dem
ocratic clubs is here to confer with Secretary
Gardner as to the associations future worK,
particularly that relating to the campaign of
1896, which was one of the most satisfactory
the country ever had, was prepared, and asked
good many Democrats il the next Demo-
cratic tariff could not be better prepared in
that way that in any other. lie was surprised
t % find that very few people remembered, IL
they ever knew, how the Walker tariff bill was
prepared. 1t was prepared during Il recess OF
Folks Secretary OF the Treasury, ana when
Congress met i'll regular session 1t was sub
stantally as prepared enacted into a law and
brought credit and honor both to its author
and TO the Democratic party. IL that plan sue
ceeded so well then, why not try 1t again, by
letting the Democratic Secretary OF the Treas
ury to be selected by Mr.. Cleveland prepare Il
tariff bill to be submitted to Congress when it
meets? is now being asked on all sides, Or.
dinarily the officials of the Treasury Depart
ment who have to deal with iInportatlons are
better posted on tariff matters than outsiders,
even among those who have devoted much
time and study to the complicated question,
and are consequently better prepared to ar
range the details OF Il tariff schedule, but II
must not be forgotten that nearly or quite all
of the tariff experts now in tho employ OF the
Treasury are hde-Dound prOtectiOniStS, and
that it might not be altogether safe to trust
/ them with the work OF making new tariff
bill on reform lines.
The relations of the Comptroller of the cur
acncy with the National banks are so close
that when Comptroller retres from Office he
usually enters the employ OF n National oank,
but all the same muon surprise WAS caused
when the annual report OF the present Comp
troler was made public and II was seen that
he had embodied therein an argument against
the establishment of State banks with auUhOri-
ty to issue currency. 1t is regarded as nearly
akin to insoleuce for Republican official thus
to attem pit TO tell the mocratic Congress that
it should not carry out plank of its National
platform, which the country has just endorsed
General RoSecranS, Register Of the Treasury,
and about the only Democrat now holding u
prominent position under the Government,
struck the civil service law knock-down blow
by stating in his annual report that the COM
petitive examinations Leld hereunder were
practically OF no use in determining the COM
potency of clerk. Not that this statement
was new or surprising but that it was made by
a big official. 1t has been fashionable among
officials for several administrations to bow
down to this civil service mumbo- Jumbo, and
t is refreshing TO find one that will speak
what SO many of them think.