The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-01-06
WASHINGTON .LETTER.

WASHINGTON, d. T., j. an !, 1872.
A prominent Deocratic member of the House
Committee on Appropriations talked very inter
estingly of the situation to your correspondent.
He said: I am afraid that there's a disposition
on the part of Democrats to expect too much
from the present House. Reforms under our
form of government must necessarily be slow.
even when both branches of Congress and the
Executive. but we hope to bring about some re-
forms in the tariff and in the expenditure of the
government. There may be slight difference of
opinion in the party about whether it would be
best for the House to prepare and pass an entire
tariff bill according to Democratic ideas of what
such measure should be, or to pass number of
bills correcting the inequalities of the present
tariff law: but there can be none as to which of
these plans the most likely to bring practical
results. The first could. of course. be passed by
the House. but it could not possibly get through
the Senate. while there is reason for believing
that several of the latter can be gotten through
the Senate. thus throwing the responsibility for
their defeat upon Mr.. Harrison.
Now as to appropriations. do not know
what will be the result of the effort to have all
the appropriation bills restored to the Appropri-
alton Committee. but personally I agree with
Mr.. Holman in believing that its accomplishment
would materially aid in cutting down the to-
shall make reductions. but I will say that every
Democratic member of the House who has care
fully studied the subject, is of my opinion-that
we can make very large reduction in the total
amount appropriated without interfering in the
slightest with the workings of any useful branch
of the Government service. and that is the task
which we have set for ourselves, and it is by nc
means light one. as we shall have to do battle
with the Republican Senate over the many ex
travagant amendments certain to be added tt
the appropriation bills by that body. which con
stantly grows more extravagant in its IDEAS"
Speaker Crisp has so far recovered from hi
attack of the grip as to be able to do little talk
ing on the new rules of the House with his Dem
ocratic colleagues of the Committee on Rules
, Messrs. McMillin and Catchings; but it is no
thought that the new rules will be reported t.
the House for a couple of weeks, but that will
not retard business much las the House will worl
under the rules of the Fiftieth Congress unit
, the new ones are ready.
Mr.. Mills has almost entirely regained hi
health and is daily seen on the streets. building
himself up by taking long walks.
There are no new developments in the Chilial
situation. The Administration having sufficient
ly stirred up the country. is now waiting to max
up its mind what to do next.
The Republicans cannot hide the anxiety the.
feel about Mr.. Blaines intentions they want t.
know just what he intends doing, in order iha
, they may trim their sails accordingly; and al
sorts of devices have been resorted to in tn
hope of getting the willy Secretary of State t
declare himself. At dinner party this week
attended by score of Senators and Representa-
tives belonging to the Republican party. it wa
decided to send an embassy to Mr.. Blaine. in tn
person of W. W. Dudley. who. ever since hi
|
Blaine man. with request for positive yes o
no. as to his becoming his party's candidate
Dudley called on Mr.. Blaine and devoted almos
an hour to the most persuasive arguments b
knew how to make, and left as wise as when b
came. Mr.. Blaine declined to commit himself.
Representative Springer says he has receives
many letters from all sections of the country
commencing his plan of attacking the McKin
ley tariff bill in sections. by means of separat
bills providing for the amendment, or outrigh
repeal of the worst sections of that law. Mr.
Springer thinks that the Committee on. Ways ant
Means will report a number of these separat
tariff bills early in the session. and that the!
will be put through the House without any un
necessary delay.
The Republicans shouted too soon about whea
being put on the free list by the hereciprocty treat!
with the British W est India Islands. The oficia
schedule of the treaty has been made public,an
theS best that wheat, corn oats. salt. or picked
pork and beef gets. is reduction of Is per cent
in the existing duties.