The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-08-10
Washington Letter.
From Our Regular Correspondent.


WASHINGTON, August eff a more exasper-
ating condition of affairs, from Democratic
point of view, ever existed in Congress than
the present tariff complication it has been for
gotten by the present generation. me princl-
pal issue i'll the campaign which gave the DEM
ocratic party control of the executive and legis
lative branches of the government was tariff
reform. Since March 4, 1898, we have had Il
tariff reform President, a tariff reform major
ity in the House and a Majority in the Senate
each member of which claims to be d tariff re-
former, and each of whom certainly represents
tariff reform constituency. Why then this
difficulty in getting tariff reform bill through
Congress? That is a question that ought to be
asked of more than one of the alleged tariff re-
constituents and probably will be when some
of them try to get reelected.
At several times during the last week it SEEM
ed that the conference committee was about to
reach an agreement that would be acceptable
TO both House and Senate. So promising was
the outlook that the proposed caucus of the
House Democrats was postponed indefinitely
SO as to leave the House confereeS unhamper-
ed. But each time demands were made by
Senators whose votes are necessary to get any
agreement through the Senate which prevent
ed an agreement being reached. After spend
ing the greater portion of the week in trying
to arrange sugar schedule that would be ac-
cepted by the House and the so-called con
sentative Senators, the conferees at last sue
ceeded, but no sooner was the announcement
made than it was met by the threat of the two
Democratic Senators from Louisiana to vote
against the bill if it were so reported, and in
addition they stated Senators Allen and Kyle,
the Populists, who had voted with the Demo-
Gratis to pass the bill in the Senate, would join
them in voting against the bill.
There is a general feeling that this week will
settle the business, not so much from anything
that is actually in sight as from the belief that
it will simply be impossible to longer prolong
the strain. Already Democrats are urging the
confereeS to agree upon some sort OF Dill, the
best that they can get, and to let it go to the
Senate and either be accepted or rejected.
So general is the belief in Congress that this
tlNGASa
Der of prominent Democrats have made their
arrangements to leave Washington, as ad-
journment will speedily follow the disposal of
the tariff. All Of the appropriation bills, eX-
cept two, have been disposed OF and those two
are in conference and will be sent to the Presi-
dent by the middle of the week. But among
those who have their doubts about adjourn
ment this week is Secretary Lamont, who re-
marked. when Senator Blackburn told him
that the tariff bill would be put through this
week and that Congress would adjourn on Sat
urday;" Il would not want to wager on that"
The Secretary is right After what has hap
pened no prudent man would want to wager
on any thing that this Congress would or would
not do.
Granny Blair, who has kept so quiet since
he managed to sneak back into public life by
getting elected to the House that people have
been disposed to forget mis- fool acts in the Sem
ate and to credit him with at last having come
into possession of the share of common sense
which naturally belongs to every man of vOt-
ing age. People were wrong. He is the same
old granny" Blair and, now that he has en-
llSUeQ unQer the banner OF lua L. w els, QulX-
otto charges may be expected of him at least as
often the moon changes. His resolution
providing that the Commissioner of Labor shall
investigate and report to Congress the number,
date, location and attendant facts and circum-
stances of all alleged assaults by males upon
females during the past ten years, for, or on
account of which organized, but unlawful vio-
lence has been inflicted or attempted to be in
fiicted: also, all lynchings during the same
period, is on a par with his silliest acts i'll the
Senate.
Speaking of his resolution, instructing the
House Committee on Ways and Means to re-
port bill for an income tax that will produce
500, 000, 900 annually, and bill placing all
sugar on the free list Representative BLAND
said: ''If tariff legislation is defeated. and it
now looks as though it might be. the tariff re-
formers will take Il new line in the direction of
my resolution. | am determined if we cannot
have tariff reform that the trusts at all events,
shall pay into the Treasury IL fair share of
their enormous profits That would benefit
the people indirectly even if they fail to secure
the reduction on the necessaries of life that
they demand. l know that the bills proposed
by my resolution would pass the House and l
believe that they would get through the SEN
ate"
Representative Bryan. of Nebraska, has
formally announced his candidacy for the
United States Senate. He will make personal
canvass of the State, and expects the support
of the POpulists as well as the Democrats.
G., A S: