The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-09-22
(Frcm our Regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, Sept. rs, $50


One hundred years ago to-day the
corner stone of building which many
eminent foreigners have pronounced
to be the most beautiful and imposing
structure in the world was laid in this
city in the presence OF a few hundred
people. Tha; building was the Capi
tol, and to day a mighty host es;imat-
ed ct from 10000 to 7oo,o people
assembled around the statue Of
George Washington, which sits majes
;ically facing the rising sun upon the
plateau east Of the Capitol, to DO hon.
or to the centennial anniversary OF
that momentous occasion Congress
made the DAY a legal holiday and at
tended in a body. President Cleve
land as chairman Of ceremonies made
ashort speech in his happiest vein, intro.
ducing Hon. William Wirt Henry. OF
Virginia, a descendent of Patrick
Henry. whose GRAFTON was an epic OF
patriotism entirely worthy Of the oc-
casion; Vice President Stevenson
spoke for the Senate Speaker Crisp
for the House and Justice Brown OF
the Supreme Court, for the Judiciary.
A trained chorus Of 1900 voices sang
patriotic songs, the last OF which
"America'-was joined in by the en-.
tire audience, and it was truly sublime.
There is no material change in the
silver situation in the Senate. Sena-
tor Vorhees has given notice that he
will shortly Try to force vote by pro.
longing the sessions. Meanwhile the
Senator'S will continue to talk for and
against repeal
The attempt Of some OF the weak
kneed democrats in the House-fortu.
na;ely for the future of the party they
are few IN number, who fear the
wrath OF the republicans and advise
delay whenever move is made to-
wards carrying out the promises OF
the democratic national platform, TO
have the impression 60 out, If they 90
not openly charge that the House
committee on election OF President
and Vice President and Representa-
tives in Congress, in deciding to report
the Tucker bill for the repeal OF the
federal election laws, had not treated
the chairman Of that commit,ee-Rep
resentative Fitch of New York who
is now at the bedside of his mother
who IS dangerously i'll, with Proper
courtesy, Here are the facts: Mr.
Fitch was anxious to get the bill re-
ported to the House at the earliest
moment, and when he was called away
from Washington BY his mothers ill.,
ness he went to Speaker Crisp and re.
quested him to send for Representa-
tive Tucker of Virginia, the second
democrat on the Committee, and to
ask him TO see that there was no de,zr
in getting the bill before the House.
This the Speaker did, and flcu. ,.2,
time until now Mr.. Tucker, as acting
chairman OF the committee, has had
the advice OF Speaker Crisp upon his
every act, and in addition he has had
kilograms from Mr.. Fitch telling him
to push things. That the bill is not
already before the House is not the
fault Of the committee, but Of the ab
sent democrats If the House is to
do anything promptly a quorum Of
democrats must be in their seats every
day, and, in view of the large demo
cratic majority, it ought not to be diff.
ficult to keep them there. The repub.
licans have shown that they propose
taking advantage to the utmost of the
too liberal rules of the House to block
legislation whenever there is not d
quorum Of democrats on the floor.
The report that President Cleveland
was encouraging democrats to stay
away from the House in order to pre-
vent this bill being taken up is a wi.
famous libel brought out solely for the
purpose Of creating dissension in dem
ocratic ranks.
Representative Wilson, chairman of
the House Ways and Means commit.
tee, says lots Of nonsense is being
talked about the intentions of that
committee and about manufacturers
being afraid to continue at work lest
the new tariff should ruin them etc.
Now, as matter of fact, any manu-
facturer can ascertain by addressing
chairman Wilson or any democratic
member of the committee-the repub
licans on the committee also know it.,
but they would be tempted in order
to make political capital to suppress
or distort the facts-that the commit.
tee proposes to give ample time to
every industry before the new tariff
goes into effect for every manufacture
er to dispose of stock on hand and to
make his arrangements to meet the
new and lowered duties. The demo.
Gratis have no desire to ruin anybody
their aim is to make tariff that will
confer the greatest good on the great
est number, and in doing so it will, of
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