Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-03-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
A Newsy Letter from the Capital City
Of the Country.
What is Being Done in COngress--N otes
and Personals.
[From Our Special Correspondent

March 12. 1894.-The cloud of doubt
and uncertainty which surrounded Con-
gress at its convening still hangs over
the Capitol and paralyzes business
thoroughout the country.
At the adjournment of the extra ses-
sion it was thought that the silver ques-
tion was settled for this Congress at
least, but like Banquo's ghost it rises
up to plague the administration. The
Bland seigniorage bill, having passed
the House by decided majority, has
gone to the Senate, and there ruthless
ly pushing the tariff bill aside has taken
its place as first on the calendar, and
will occupy the attention of the Senate
during the coming week. This bill, it
will be remembi red, provides for the
coinage of all silver bullion now in the
Treasury in excess of the amount nee
essary to redeem the outstanding coin
notes at the present ratio of 16 10 1.
The unusual sight is presented of Sec
retary Carlisle and Senator Sherman
joining hands in opposition to the bill.
The latter denounces it as an effort to
impair trust fund; says that the bull
lion, now in the Treasury, is now Of
value equal to the outstanding coin
notes, and that the the socalled ''seig.
niorage" does not, in fact, exist except
in the minds of men blinded to the true
situation of affairs. Instead of the bull
lion representing an excess, Sherman
claims. that its present value is many
million dollars less than the outstand-
ing notes which it is held 10 redeem
In words of solemn meaning, he warns
them that the bill is but the entering
wedge of imitation and fat money, and
that the world is watching with an
anxious eye the determination of the
question, for it will depend on the
maintenance of the high standard of
credit which we now enjoy. The bill
will likely pass the Senate, but, that it
will receive the Presidential veto, there
is little doubt.
The Senate Finance Committee is in
the throes of its stupendous undertak
ing of reconciling conflicting Demo-
cratic opinion as to what the National
Democratic platform really meant in
its plank on the tariff question. There
are almost as many opinions, as there
are Democrats in the Senate. Each
Senator claims to stand with both feet
on the platform and each that his con
structicn is the only reasonable one.
There are free traders, ultra free traders,
liberal free traders, and liberal protec-
tionists, and protectionists with every
shade and degree of opinion. Nothing
but a platform which would extend
from, rising to the setting sun, could
accommodate all the diverse ideas of
what that platform really stands for.
On one point, however, they are all
unanimous, and that is, that the Nc
Kinley bill must be repealed; but as to
whether they can get together sufiic-
iently to repeal it, is question which
future events can alone determine.
For month past, Washington has
been enthused and delighted with the
great evangelists, Moody and Sankey.
Twice each day Convention Hall has
been packed with immense audiences
of seven thousand, and overflow meet
ings have been held on adjacent street
corners and in neighboring churches.
They are gone now, but Washington is
better for their having been here.
The newspapers which have been re.
porting the words of comfort and en-.
couragement of Moody and Sankey. are
now busy in dishing out to the scandal
mongers the disgusting details of the
suit for seduction and breach of prom
Use brought by Miss Pollard against
Congressman w. G. P. Breckinridge, oil
Kentucky. 1t will be remembered that
Mr.. Breckinridge is known as the silver
tongued Democratic orator of the House
of Representatives, and was one of the
delegates who found DR.. Briggs guilty
of heresy at the late General Assembly
held in this city.
Next week, Adaline Patti, the queen
of songsters will appear at Convention
Hall. Like the situation in Congress
no man dare predict when her farewell
trips will cease. Perhaps song ant
songstresses, for human good, ough
never to cease. Certainly we will mo-
call for Patt's retirement while sht
continues to sing "Home Sweet Home!'
OCCA SIoNAI