The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-07-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
W AsHlNGToN. Iuly 0. is

! ders at that place BY men in the EN-.
rloyment of the Pinkertons, is very
much IN earnest about getting to the
bottom OF the horrible affair. He
could have taken the committee to
Homestead sooner, but he wished tc
give Carnegie's men an opportunity tc
| bury their murdered comrades before
calling upon them for testimony
Alter getting statements from the
worklngmen and from Carnegies rep.
resentatlves the committee will return
to Washington where the two Pinker.
tons have been summoned, to be put
through a most rigid examination as
to their share and responsibility for
the Homestead tragedy. A number
OF labor leaders, including Mr.. Pow.
derly, have also been notified to ap.
pear before the committee when il
returns to Washington. Congress has
made up its mind, in advance of any
report from the committee, that the
Pinkerton method Of employing and
arming bodies of men is vicious and
unAmerlcan and must 20.
Upon being shown that more money
would be needed during the current
fiscal year than had been appropriated
by the House, the House conferees
agreed to Senate amendments to the
Pension Appropriation bill increasing
the total amount carried by the bill
nearly SIs,ooo,o 900. The bill as it
now stands appropriates Sr46.7s7,3so.
Senator Wolcott agrees with Senator
Vest and others Of his colleagues in
believing that the L. S. Geological
Survey is Of very little use aside from
furnishing snug berths for friends of its
Director, and, as it costs about a mil
lion a year, he has introduced q RESP.
luton authorizing an investigation as
to lis usefulness and the necessity for
Its continuance. The lobbying ex-
perIence of the Director will make it
easy for him to chang up" this resolu-
ton.
For some time a subcommittee Of
the House committee on Manufactures
has been engaged investigating the
numerous trusts and combines. Its
report to the full committee, just made,
says that trusts, combinations and as
sociations are in control Of the pro-
duction, distribution and prices of very
many of the articles Of most general
consumption that prices to the con-
sumers are increased, while wages of
those employed by the trusts are re-
duced that all past legislation on the
subject is insufficient and impractic-
able, recommends as a remedy the
placing of all articles which are under
or may come under the control OF a
trus, upon the free llst. This recon.
mendat;on is neither new nor novel.
but it is good, hard, horse sense all the
same, and if carried out would throttle
nearly every trust now existing in this
Country.
The House Worlds Fair committee
presented a supplementary report con-
tanning additional reasons for making
that S5o.ooo,ooo appropriation for the
Fair. A minority report, signed by
Representative Little, of New York,
and Wheeler of Alabama, declares
that the exposition is in no sense a gov
eminent undertaking and that no
money should be appropriated there
for, except for the expenses OF the
national commission. Congressional
sentiment Is largely in favor Of the ap.
preparation, and there is little doubt OF
Its being made.
Senator Mills has gone to Texas to
take the stump against the third party
movement which, in the absence Of
serious opposition, has been making
considerable progress in that State.
As indicated in this correspondence,
weeks ago the House committee which
investigated the Pension Office has
recommended the dismissal of Com
missioner Raum from Office, on the
ground Of his general unhtnesss to su-
pervise and govern large number of
employees, and because he has prostl-
tuted his Office for private gain and for
political purposes. The committee
also recommends numerous reforms
in the business OF the Pension Office,
including a reduction in the Attorneys
fee to S., without authority to stipu-
late for more. This report which will
be approved by the House makes
pleasant summer reading for Mr., Har-
rison, who is solely responsible for
Raum's continuance in office.
One days record OF the House, un.
der suspension Of the rules Passed,
the tin plate bill, the silver lead ore
bill, the bill amending the land grant
act OF 1890, the bill giving Utah home
rule, the bill limiting the quantity Of
clothing that may be brought in free
Of duty by returning travellers, and the
bill providing for the use OF automatic
car couplers on all freight trains.
The House committee on Rules
will report special order for the con-
sideratiOn of the free COINAGE hill on