The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-03-23
THE DEMOCRATIC PRESs.
WASHINGTON LETTER.


WASHINGTON. D. c.. Mar. IS. 1892.
Mr.. Blaine's alleged Illness" said an anti
Harrison Republican of national prominence.
- is at this time nothing but an attack of the
" sulks.' brought on by his disgust for his SUE
perior in office. He was sick for day or two.
but he would long ago have resumed his duties
if he had not become offended at the high. hand
ed manner in which Mr.. Harrison took hold of
the Behring Sea business and made a mess of
it. SO to speak, which he has not improved by
taking the very unusual course of requesting
the British Minister to ask Lord Salisbury to
hurry up his answer to the note of protest sent
him the other day. Notwithstanding my belief
that most political prognostications are rot of
the worst sort, will venture. to make one. and
that is. that as soon as Mr. Blaine settle in
his own mind upon the man to beat Harrison
out OF the nomination, he will resign from the
Cabinet and throw all his influence to that man.
1t will not be the fault of the democrats if
Arizon ma and New Mexico are not admitted to
the Union at this session of Congress. Bills for
the admission of both of them have been favor
ably reported to the House. and will certainly
be passed.
Representative Fithian's Ibill for the free ad
mission to American registry of ships built in
foreign countries after Jan. l. 1898. will be ia
vorably reported to the House.
The subcommittee TO investigate the Worlds
Fair expenditures have decided to go to Chica-
go instead of bringing the witnesses to Wash
ington. and they will start as soon as the vote
on the free coinage bill is taken next week
The democrats on the House Postofice COM
mittee have authorized Br Enloe to report a
vorabIy to the House his bill repeating the mail
subsidy act of the billion dollar Congress. Mr.
Enloe's report, which has been presented to the
House, argues that the law, il carried out dur.
ing the ten years provided fpr. will cause the
government TO pay out So 5C0.000 per year more
than would be required for the same service il
the law were repealed. In other words. thi:
law will give away that amount each year.
1t has been steadily apparent during the last
few days of the debate on the free wool bill
that vote could not he taken upon 1t as early
as the 21st inst, as was the original purpose
without preventing numerous members del1v-
ering speeches which have abeen carefully pre-
pared, so the majority of the committee on
Ways and Means have decided not to press 9
vote upon the bill, which will be temporarily
laid aside when the silver bill is taken up next
week. The free wool bill will again have the
right of way as soon as the silver bill is dis
posed of, and it is now hoped and expected that
Mr. Springer will be well enough to deliver the
closing speech on it. He has devoted much
Commissioner Raum's own admissions in the
Pension Office investigation should be sufficient
to cause his removal, and would be with the
right sort of President. He admitted without
blush that he allowed politics to influence
him in conducting the business of the Pension
office, and that favors were habitually extended
to republican candidates for Congress that were
denied to democratic candidates; that he had
borrowed money from attorneys practising be-
fore his Office, or what amounts TO the same
thing, OIL notes endorsed by them; and he then
refused to answer questions relating to the
shady business transactions he has been charg-
ed with.
Housekeepers who have to pay the increased
price of Venezuela coffee. which the merchants
will be compelled to ask by reason of Mr.. Har
rison's proclamation placing duty of cents 6
pound thereon, because Venezuela has declined
entering into reciprocity agreement with the
United States. will be able to judge from per
sonal experience of the benefits we are getting
from the reciprocity clause of the Mckinley
tariff law.
Representative Dockery, of Missouri. says the
tariff scheme, so far as it relates to agriculture
is fallacious, misleading and unavailing tc
assist the farmers in lifting the mortgages thai
now cucumber the farms of the great West. ane
that the reciprocity scheme which proposes tt
disregard the natural laws of trade and to reg
ulate commerce by correspondence between
State departments, will also prove tallacious
He says that reciprocity in order to be of genu
inc avail to the .agriculturist, must not be re
stricted to the meager and insufficient market
of South Ame rica, but must be enlarged in it
scope so that the farmer may have opportunity
to make profitable exchange in any market il
the world.
The most of the State delegations in tn
House have selected their representatives CT
the Congressional Campaign committee, AM
the rest will do SO this week,