Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1892-05-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Incapacity of the Majority-Public
Business Dragging.
Republican Campaign Literature.-.An
Instructive Map.

general satisfaction, even to the party.
There is widespread and growing be-
lief that the Democratic members of
Congress who were vested with the
power of office should remain in Wash
ington and attend to business. With
out regard to the merits of Mr.. Reed 8
quorum counting method, it can not be
successfully denied that the Democratic
members of the present House have
done much to make it popular with the
people. They have witnessed legis-
tive body with party majority of
nearly 15O unable to proceed with its
business, notwithstanding the fact that
it is governed by set of rules of its
own making. Such things could not
transpire if the Democratic members
of the House were reasonably regular
in their attendance.
AS there seems to be no disposition
on the part of the Canadian Govern
ment to abate its discrimination against
American commerce passing through
the Welland and st. Lawrence canals,
It may be well enough to try the effect
of a retaliatory policy on Canadian
commerce passing through the Sault
st. Marie canal. All that this Govern
ment desires is fair play, and if it can
not be had by asking for it, the next
and natural plan is to give only as good
as we get by exacting tolls in one di-
rection as an offset to the tolls we are
compelled to pay in another. This
matter of determinations has been
presented to the Canadian Commission
ers on more than one occasion, not very
long ago in terms of vigorous protest,
eliciting from them an assurance that
the wrong should be righted, but that
was the end of it. Either the Commits
sioners were here under false pretenses
with no authority to act one way or the
other, or having the authority, they
have not had the fairness to enforce it.
The Republican Congressional Cam
paign Committee have taken quarters
here, and are in charge of Capt. Thos.
H. Mckee, formerly Superintendent of
the House document room in the Capt.
tOl. From these headquarters Republi-
can campaign literature is sent out
daily. There are twenty one publica-
tions on the list, headed by Ingersoll s
why am Republican," and in
cluding contributions to the tariff
question from every conceivable source.
"One of the most ingenious and con-
vincing things we have issued" said
Captain Mckee yesterday, "is map
showing that in the Republican States
the prices paid to unskilled farm labor
ers who board themselves is higher
than in Democratic States. There are
twenty six Republican States, and the
wages average 81 33 day, while in
the eighteen Democratic States the
wages average eighty seven cents a day.
The map is colored, so as to show this
at glance, and it is getting wide
circulation" Quite a number of the
documents sent out have been prepared
by Captain Mckee, who also edits a
weekly paper, filled with Republican
pabulum conveniently arranged for the
digestion of the readers of country
weeklies.
The instructions given to our vessels
in Behring Sea, based on the new mo-
dus vivendi, are notably different from
those given last year to American crui-
sers, and ought to be much more effec-
tive. The Secretary of the Navy OF.
ders that sealing vessels shall be seized
whether previous notice shall have
been served or not; that the mere pres
ence in Behring Sea of a vessel having
on board a sealing outfit is sufficient
cause for seizure, and that all persons
found on board of such vessels shall be
sent with the vessel to suffer penalty.
By direction of the President the
United States Fish Commission has
been classified under the rules of the
Civil Service, thus putting 1870 addi
tional employees in the classified service
The order OF the President was ISSUED
some weeks ago, the time since then
having been devoted to the necessary
arrangement of the many details Incl
dent to the classification. Fish Com
missioner Mcdonald has urged such 6
classification of the employees of the
commission for some time past, and il
greatly pleased at the result of his eff
forts.
There is certainly vast difference
betw cen the figures made by the econo
rists of the War Department and thos,
made by the economists of the Hous,
Appropriations Committee on Fortfi
cations. While the latter seems will
ing to concede only S2,412,S76, or 81,
S62, ,427 less than last years bill, the es
Inmates call for an expenditure of near
ly seven millions more. The Hous,
economists are pairing close.
The situation in the House is very in
teresting. The Republican minority il
trying to force Speaker Crisp to count
quorum, and the Democratic majorit,
is evidently trying to furnish every pos
sible opportunity to assist the minority
Baron Fava is ON his way back {,
Washington. The entente cordiale i
TO be complete in every detail. R.