The Delta independent., 1894-03-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From Our Regular Correspondent J

Nrrom Our heBuiar correspondent
WASHINGTON, March ., 1S94.-When
the riot act is read it indicates that things
are getting squally Well, the riot act,
figurativcly speaking, has been read ten
times to the various caucuses OF demo-
cratic Senators held this week, by as
many democratic Senators, each Of whom
declared that he would not vote for the
tariff bill unless it was changed SO as to
protect the interests Of his constituents.
1t is one Of the most formidable political
revolts that ever took place in Congress,
and there is good reason for the belief
that Mr.. Cleveland timed his hunting
trip SO as to be away from Washington
and beyond reach of the telegram when
the flag Of revolt was raised, he having
exhausted his influence in behalf of his
tariff bill without winning a vote. In
away in the caucuses, two populists-
Allen and Peffer-have publicly announc-
ed that they will not vote for the bill un-
less American sugar producers are as
well protected as they are under the
present law. While 1t cannot be definite.
ly stated how the tariff bill will emerge
from this storm, it can be stated to
certainty that it must be modified suf-
ficiently to get seven out Of those ten
democratic votes Or it's defeat is certain.
1t has been returned to the Finance COM
mittee for modification.
Pension Bureau officials are hopping
mad because Of the following resolution
offered in the House by Representative
Taylor, of Ind Whereas there is reason
to believe that certain officials and en-
ployes in the medical division Of the
Pension Bureau are, and have been,
making false reports Of evidence in pen
sion cases to their superiors in Office in
order to secure unjust decisions in such
cases; therefore
Resolved, That the committee on In
valid Pensions il hereby directed to in.
quire into the conduct Of business In tho
medical division Of said Pension Bureau
and to report to the House of Representa-
tives il systematic or manifest injustice
has been done to pensioners or to applic-
ants for pensions by any Of the employees
of soid division; said committee to report
to the House by resolution or otherwise;
also to report the names and political
afiliation OF said employees and by what
administration they were appointed"
The usual defence-"it is nothing but a
partisan political attack'-will not answer
In this case, as the resolution was offered
by a democrat.
Congressman Lafe Pence, populist. Of
Colorado, who was sat down upon by the
House, this week. for Incorporate Ian
guage and who publicly apologized to
Representative Hsiner, OF Nebraska, for
having said: "You are fuller of beard
than OF comprehension Of my ideas"
declined to apologize or withdraw his
statement that his democratic colleague,
Cooper, Of Indiana, had traded his vote
on silver for patronage. Whereupon Mr..
Cooper said that common decency should
have prevented Pence, who has money
invested in silver mines, criticising the
position Of other members. Mr.. Cooper
also said that Pence had no constitution
al right to vote on any question affecting
silver. As Cooper and Pence were raised
in tho same town and have always known
each other we'll their opinions Of each
other have been more generally accepted
than they would have been under other
circumstances.
Republican Senators arc. as Br'e'r
Rabbit would say, "lyin' low on the
tariff question. They are not ready just
yet to make public the tactics they pro-
pose using against the bill. They regard
1t as needless waste Of ammunition for
them to begin firing at it before tho dem
ocrats got through.