The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-04-19
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE WASHINGTON O.

| Probably it will not be many weeks more
before Representative Wilson, he of the new
tariff bill, will return to his seat in Congress,
in full restoration to the health he lost as re-
/ suit of the nervous strain over the measure
which bears his name. "Billy" Wilson will be
| 81 in May, and has q son larger than himself.
His personal appearance is what might be
termed scholarly. When he throws away his
inevitable cigar. puts on his Eyeglasses and
| pores over book, he is as much the professor
| to look at as if he were sitting in chair at
university. But MIR. Wilson is not so very i'm
| practical as he looks as his associates in COM
] mittee and Chamber have had reason to know
since he has been Chairman of the Ways and
Means Committee.
To the average member of Congress Secre-
tary is Indispensable for the performance OF
routine work, ard often represents Senator or
Representative pro tempore. When his chief
| is away he stays in Washington and looks
after everything necessary, and acting in every
capacity but that of voter aud attendant upon
meetings of committees. There are fully so
men in Congress who practically delegate their
| duties to Secretary, and who have seldom
been seen at committee meeting since the
| present Congress met. They appear to consider
that they should not be called upon to do any
work except when their personal interests or
the interests of their districts demand it. They
draw their salaries, however, with the same
regularity as those who attend Congress and
occupy their time daily with the consideration
of public affairs.
| What complete world the Capitol building
| is! The public know little of its Gins and
outs" Only those who have became habitues
realize the half of what goes on under the grand
dome. One might enter the Capitol and live
| there for weekswithout needing to communicate
with the outside, except to purchase clothing
| and dry-goods if he should need them. Often
| Senators aud Representative take up their
| quarters there for many days at time The
restaurants supply as many meals as the board
ers may desire; there are elegant marble baths
in both wings of the building, and the great
| leather. covered sofas of committee rooms make
| beds as luxurious as most men desire. Fire.
| quently bedding has been brought in, so that
| a few hours respose might be INDUCED in with
all the comforts of home. This has been when
an exciting night session was on.
4
| An idea of the expenses incidental to the
| production of that journal of enlightenment.
the Congressional Record, may be had by view
| ing some of the items of the $125, 846.36 ex-
pended last year. The largest sum, $86037.09,
was for wages, and the smallest, GO cents, was
for two gallons of oil. Eighty-fve reams of
marble paper, 574, 755 pounds of machine-fnish
paper, 40 332 pounds of manila paper and $3.50
| pounds of binders board were used. Other
funds were used for type, ink. roller compost
ton, blankets, icc gas, two barrels of four,s6O
packs of gold leaf one engraving for illustra-
tion, telephone rent, repairs to wagons and
harness. IS spools of thread, 1,400 pounds of
glue, 167 pieces of tape, "a pounds of Irvine, 90
| pounds of cast iron seven galvanized iron boxes
and one bicycle. OF bound aud unbound copies
of the Record, 1000 went to the Senate folding
room, IL SIG to the House folding room, 400 to
the House Library. 205 to the Library of Con-
gress Sc to officers of the House, 56 to the JUS
tees and officers of the Supreme Court, 90 to
the official reporter of the Senate and 200 to the
State and Territorial Libraries. beside COOL de-
livered unbound upon orders of members of
| Congress.
Gen. Russell A. Alger was ia town last week
and was found perfectly willing to talk on the
political situation. at takes no prophetic
VISION" said he, to read the early return of
the Republican party to power. This is
Republican year; the very air vibrates that
| fact and / shouldn't wonder but that it even
penetrated the South. The working people
have been doing some serious thinking in the
last few months.
"This year it isn't question with the work.
ingman whether his dinner-pail costs cent or
| two more, but of getting something wherewth
| to I'll the pail. The general desire is apparent
| everywhere to return to that policy under
| which the country prospered so marvelously.
| When the Democrats got in power they re-
versed that policy, and to-day we see a con-
| dition OF industrial and commercial palsy un-
| precedented in the history of this country. In
| such great and rapidly growing country, the
tariff laws undoubtedly need frequent revision.
| but the revision should be done by the friends
of the system and not its enemies.
"The situation is such that not only think
| it is justifable on the part of the minority in
| the Senate to use every honorable means to
defeat the pending tariff legislation, but in my
| opinion it is their solemn duty to do so. If
successful in doing this, they will deserve the
| thanks of grateful people"
X
| The bill for the purchase of cite for the
| Public Printing Office has been forced into the
background by the tariff bill, but will be
| brought up at the first convenient opportunity.
| When the Senate decided to purchase the
| Malone site, Mr.. Harris moved to reconsider
| the vote. The motion is now pending. If
| enough Senators vote for this motion to secure
a reconsideration Mr. Vest will then press his
committee bill providing for the extension of
| the present printing Office, and Mr.. Henderson
| will make vigorous attempt to induce the
Senate to decide in favor of the old baseball
| park.
"When will Congress adjourn?" was asked
| of Representative Holman, of Indiana.
1.-THE House." replied Mr. Holman, could
| adjourn the last of this month. There is no
reason why both Houses should not be ready to
adjourn by the 18th of June"
at is not believed" it was suggested, chat
the Senate will finish its consideration of the