Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-12-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
tFrom Our Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 8, '94.

the tariff will be allowed. Even as rad
ical a free trader as Mills, of Texas,
who prefaced his vote for the German
Brice tariff bill with the statement that
he would follow it up with an attempt
to further extend the free list, now
confesses that he has little hope OF see
ing any of the popgun tariff bills passed.
1t is noteworthy that the most sen
sational stories concerning the alleged
danger of war with England, on &C
count of the diplomatic complications
arising out of the changed attitude of
England towards Nicaragua, eminated
from sources friendly to the admins
tration. There is absolutely nothing
in the situation so far as known here
that can not easily be settled by diplo-
macy, even of the bungling sort which
has heretofore characterized this ad-
mi%nistration, but there is little doubt
that the administration would gladly
welcome a serious disagreement with
England, or any other country, as any
thing calculated to arouse the patriot
ism of the country would distract pub
lie attention from the monumental
failure of the domestic policy of the
administration in all its branches. Mr..
Cleveland would much rather that the
Monroe doctrines be discussed in Con-
gress than some other things.
Mr.. Cleveland did not enjoy his
Thanksgiving day dinner, for several
good and sufficient reasons. He has a
bad attack of the govt, and everybody
who has had any experience with a
man suffering with that complaint
knows that it makes the most amiable
of men savage. Besides, he has a num-
Der of very troublesome questions to
deal with in his annual message to
Congress. He hasn't been to the White
House for ten days.
A lot of defeated Democratic Con-
gressmen thought they had a nice snap
to get sums running from 81 1900 and
upwards for each man from Uncle
Sans Golfers, without even making a
pretcnse of earning it. Present indica-
tions are that the snap will have to be
abandoned as unavoidable. These men
concluded that they would not come to
Washington to take part in the short
session of Congress, but would utilize
the time in trying to catch on" to
something out of which they could
live, meanwhile continuing to draw
their salaries as Congressmen-$416 66
a month-until the Sd of next March.
They actually had the audacity to write
to the Sergeant at Arms of the House,
directing him to forward them checks
for the mileage which would have been
due them for coming to Washington
and returning to their homes at the
close of the session. That demand has
probably broken up the whole scheme,
as the Sergeant at Arms has very prop.
erly refused to pay mileage to members
who do not come to Washington. and a
movement is on foot to stop the salary
of members who remain away from
Washington except when compelled by
sickness to do 30.
Although the members of the admin
istration pretend to be entirely indiffer-
ent as to whether Democratic Senators
and Representatives carry out their
threats of making an attack upon Mr..
Cleveland in Congress, it is known that
Mr.. Cleveland has, through third parties,
made oYertures to some of the most
vigorous kickers looking towards patch
ing up a truce, and intimating very
plainly that some of those who have
not been able to even name a fourth
class postmaster will be allowed to
control a certain amount of patronage
during the remainder of the admins
tration, if they will refrain from abus-
ing the President and the administra-
ton. Several have been promised, it
is said, that they will personally be
taken care of after their terms expire.
But there are some of the kickers whom
it will be difficult if not impossible, to
muzzle, with offices or anything else.
The Democratic Congressional leaders
might as we'll be deaf and dumb SO far
az giving any intimation of what they
propose to try to do during the coming
session, for publication, is concerned.
Among themselves, they express the
opinion that they will be fortunate if
they can keep a quorum of the House
here without the assistance of the Re.
publicans, in order to pass the appro-
priations. There is no occasion for
them to indulge in any fears on that
account. The Republicans will gladly
assist them in maintaining a quorum
to act upon the appropriation bills, but
not upon other legislation.
There are rumors of an attempt to
Kill the income tax law, either by di-
rect repeal or by Withholding the half
million dollar appropriation that will
be asked for by Secretary Carlisle to
put the law into effect, but they are
probably without material foundation.
There is likely to be- much talk against
the law when the appropriation comes
up, but there is no good reason to ex
pect the failure of the appropriation,
and no probability of repeal.