The Coconino weekly sun. [volume] (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1891-1896, 1892-12-01
WASHINGTON LETTER
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Nov. 27. 1892.


Among the large number Of senator's
aud representatives of the present con-
gress already in town are sprinkled
few of the representatives-elect Of the
Fifty-third congress. Fully nine-tenths
OF the congressman now here are dem-
ocrats, and If there is single one Of
them who is not bubbling over with
ideas of show to do it" and ''how not |
to do it" he has not been found. A
great majority of them favor holding
an extra session as early as April, but
1t is extremely doubtful whether a
dozen of them agree upon what that
extra session shall do when it is called.
Some of them favor an immediate re-
peal of the present tariff law, which il
carried into effect would bring the tar
III of 1883 into force again, which,
while it would lower the duty on a
great many articles, would also restore
the duties on great many other arti-
cles now on the free list, among them
sugar. Such move would unques-
tionably result in largely increasing
the revenues of the government, but
would itnot be practical confession
of inability to make tariff schedule
all its own by the democratio con-
gress. as the law of 1888 was a repub,
lican measure, just as the present law
is.
There are prominent democrats who
are earnestly advocating as the first
thing that ought to be done at the extra
session, the enactment of law author
izing an increase in the public debt by
a new issue of bonds, but the more
conservative men of the party will
probably squelch this idea early, as 1t
would certainly be unpopular.
One of the queerest things about the
situation is that some Of those demo-
Gratis who have within the past six or
eight years made some of the most
radical low tariff speeches is congress
are now the loudest shouters for going
slow aud not making the changes in
the tariff too radical or too sudden.
Il demonstrates that the adage ''give
man responsibility and you make him
conservative" Is not without wisdom.
1t is expected that an attempt will
be made at the coming session of con-
gress to take up and pass the bill pro-
viding for tax upon all annual in-
comes in excess of 5000. Those who
had ought TO know express tho opinion
that the bill would pass the house If
brought TO vote. The senate as at
present made up would not, it is be-
lieved, even report the bill. Still, II
the house passes it the effect upon the
next congress and upon Mr.. Cleveland,
who is understood to be opposed to it,
will not hurt its chance in the next
congress, when the necessity for rails
ing money will be much greater than
during this congress.
Speaking of Mr.. Cleveland, the dem
ocratic congressman did not receive his
recent remarks expressing disgust for
office-seekers with very good grace,
and number of them did not hesitate
to say that he might have waited until
such episodes of his own office-seeking
as that dinner with the Tammany
bosses had been forgotten by the pub
lie before he became disgusted with
others who are ambitious of becomiu e
oifice-holders.
There as some big surprises in
tstore," said gentleman who support
cd Gen. Weaver in the late campaign,
'.for majority of those who helped to
make Cleveland president. / predict
that if he fails to control his party in
its congressional legislation that he
will make free use Of his veto power.
/ regard his position .on the great
questions Of the day as being so near
hat occupied by President Harrison
that am certain no will sign no bill,
excepting such as relates to federal
election laws, that would not have
been approved by Mr.. Harrison had he
been reelected and the democrats
only secured both branches Of congress.
1t is merely change of figure-heads;
the same influences that have domi-
mated Mr.. Harrison will dominate Mr.
Cleveland. and the much talked about
tariff reform will, in my opinion, turn
out to be very mild affair compared
with what a majority of tho democrats
expect it to be"
A hard fight IL to he made at this
session of congress on the present sill
yer law, which appears not to be par
ticularly satisfactory to anybody. 1t
would not be difficult to repeal the law
if an agreement could be reached on
substitute for it. Several democratic
members Of the house say that return
to the Bland bill, which proceeded the
present law, will be preferable to
leaving the present law on the statute
books, but it must not be forgotten