The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-12-14
wAsHINGToN LETTER.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
WARRINGTON. D. c.. Dec. 9. 1892
Mr., Harrison has always been credited with
being personally above trickery.but that beliet
has been little shaken by his acceptance OF
the tricky figures of Secretary Charles Foster,
concerning the finances of the government for
the next fiscal year According to these fig |
ures. instead of the deficit which nearly every |
body (including Secretary Foster himsel6 who
has given the matter careful study has pre-
dicted for the fiscal year ending June 80. 1894.
there will be surplus Of nearly $Ss 600.
This Is purely and simply Republican trick.
and 1t was incorporated in Mr.. Harrison'simes-
sage for no other purpose than to enable the
Republicans to charge when the expected def
cit comes that it was brought about by Demo
cratic wastefulness and extravaganza. MIR.
Harrison must have felt ashamed of the figures
himself for he took care to qualify them by sew
eral very important 'ifs' and "buts If that
deficit is avoided it will be by the exercise of
Democratic craftsmanship and economy in the
present Congress, and if the Republican Sena-
tors value the good will of the country they
would better not attempt to increase the appro-
priation bills as they will be passed by the
House.
Representative Hooker, of Mississippi, is
very sanguine thattbe bill introduced by him
changing the time for the meeting of Congress
from December to March will become law.
He is certain that it will get through the House
and has assurances from Senators which causes
him to believe that it will not be seriously op
posed in the Senate and there is reason to be-
lieye that Mr. Harrison would willingly sign
the bill. Should it become a law the first regu
lar session of the Fifty second Congress would
begin next March instead of next December.
/ Representative Allen, or Private John Allen
of Mississippi" as his friends call him. enjoys
the reputation Of being the wittiest man in Con-
gress. and his summary of MIR. Harrison's
message-"The message sounds like motion
for new trial, but do not think the country
Is going to grant it." has detracted nothing
from his reputation.
Republican Senators are to be given an op
portunity to show whether they have been hon
est in their talk against the present silver law
Senator Hill has introduced a bill for the re-
peal OF that law, and q similar bill has been In
troduced in the House by Representative Will
liams. of Massachusetts,
Senator Vest wants to know who is response
BILE for the '.pernicious activity" in behalf o
the Republican party displayed by employees
the Census bureau during the late campaign
and he has offered a resolution for a little in
-
stated that he had been informed that the chic
of census bureau division who was arreste'
and Jailed under an assumed name for tryini
to work scheme to keep $50 Democrats voter
in the state of New York away from the poll
had, after having his resignation asked for an
given, been rewarded tor his attempted dirt
work by being given a better place in the gov
ernment service.
There in some difference of opinion as
whether Senator Frye's bill providing for
compreheisive system of commercial enmit
to Canadian interests is a bluff made at tn
reauest of the administration. or whether
really embodies the Senator's sentiments on tn
spbiect The agitation about that old treat
with England prohibiting war ships on IN
Great Lakes is in the same category.s
The names of o number of gentleman. lncIut
tnr Representative McMillen. of TENNESSEE
Breckinridge of Kentucky; Wilson. OF we
virginia: and Bynum. of Indiana. have pee
mentioned as probable candidates tor Il
sueakership of the next House, but neither
them has announced himself as candldat
Speaker Crisp is the only candidate yet In Il
field. but it is expected that as soon as IL sna
be positively known when the next House WI
meet there will be others.
The bill which has been introduced IN
Hsuss by Representative Rayner. OF Maryian
providing for the establishment of nation
quarantine. has been very favorably receive
and the indications are that it will become
law.
A,Democratic senatorial caucus has appolnte
committee to look out for Democratic int
ests: also one to confer with Democrats IN u
state legislatures in which attempts are pelr
made to trick the Democrats out OF senators
Bills for the repeal of the obnoxious lav
ar,borizipg the employment of U. S. depu
marshals and election supervisors at the pol
nave been introduced in the House and senat
although 1t is not expected that the Republics
senate will be willing to deprive the Dem
cratic Congress of the honor of wiplng the
laws from the statute books Still the lntr
duction OF the bills at this time is an evldeA
of Democratic good intentions that will be
preciated.