The Washington times., 1894-03-28
CLOAK ROOM AND GALLERY.

The heavy rains in the West and frosts
throughout the South have been constant
topics of discussion among the members OF
Congress from those sections and the large
Weather Bureau map in the House lobby has
been a subject Of constant study.
'Fully nine-tenths of the members come to
learn the state OF the weather in their con-
stituencies every day during this change"
said the weather clerk Yesterday, "and most
of them are from the South. Those in the
agricultural districts where grain and fruit
are the principal products are naturally
deeply interested in everything that concerns
their constituencies. There are fewer iu-
quirics from the members from New England
states, where frosts have less to do with the
prosperity of the state"
An interesting student Of tne situation yes
terday was Mr.. Springer, OF Illinois. He had
looked up the reports so fully from the diiIer-
ent parts OF the country that for nearly ten
minutes he stood at the chart enlightening
curious members az to the prospects for the
crops in their districts Mr.. Springer denied
being general economist, has an amount Of
special knowledge on agricultural and manu-
featuring conditions not surpassed by any
member of the present House.
Gen. Curtis, OF New York. is confident that the
Republicans will carry the state of New York
easily this Fall. In st. Lawrence county, the
General says, there are no politics at all this
year. There is no work there anyway, but
Democrats are as hard to find there now as
shad In the Penobscot. Concerning candi-
date for governor, Gen. Curtis said that Mr..
Morton would have a splendid chance, and
that while he was always strong in the state,
he would be stronger than ever this year.
"But,'' he added, 18th 're are about one hun
dred others who would like to be candidates" !"
In the amount Of internal revenue paid the
government, Illinois is far in advance of any
other state Of the Union. Last year it reached
the enormous sum OF s33 900. 900, about
double that of any other state The principal
reason for this unusual amount of revenue
lies In the fact that the whiskey trust has a
large number of its distilleries located at
Peoria. the Fifth district Of Illinois. The tax
on whiskey paid there last year was about
S1s. 800 GOO. Other districts in which a very
heavy tax is paid Uncle Sam are the Fifth
Kentucky; the Third New York, which turns
over $4,000 600, and the Eighteenth Ohio,
which pays S10.000.000.
But it must be remembered that although
these sums are for statistical purposes. credited
to the districts in which the duties are nomi-
nally paid. the incidence OF taxation really de-
termines who pays the tax on the whisky and
cigars manufactured elsewhere. SO that New
York and Chicago pay their share after all.
While their husbands are busy trying to
make quorums for the purpose Of deciding
contested elections, or working in their COM
mittee rooms trying to pick out the wheat
from the chaff in the bushels of bills which
have to come up for consideration. the wives
and children very often stroll up to the Con-
gressional Library for the latest novels. Or. il
too lazy to do that their husbands act as mes
sengers. and take a list in 10 the Librarian
every morning. to be sent up during the day.
At least twenty Congressman could be men,
toned who make a constant practice OF get
ting 'half a dozen new books" for their
families every few days.
When the Congressional Library is finished
there will be much less sending out books, for
the facilities for reading on the spot will be
sufficient to entice few. at least, up to Cap
itol Hill.
Chairman Hatch thinks the chances for the
passage OF the anti-option bill as at present
decided upon as excellent. He feels sure of a
large majority in the House, and says that he
knows personally of five or six Senators who
voted against the old bill in the Senate who
will vote for the present bill. As to the action
of the President. Mr.. Hatch believes that this
bill, being a revenue measure, and not, as in
the former case. prohibitory one. Will almost
certainly meet his approval, but he has never
talked with the President about it or heard
OF any expression Of opinion from him.
Speaking of the feeling of the leading
Democrats toward the President for his silver
attitude, Mr.. Hatch expressed the belief that
there were comparatively little emmity toward
the Chief Executivein comparison with certain
men in the West and South, who had expressed
their views in favor OF silver, been elected on
that promise, and were now refusing to do any,
thing and in some cases going over openly to
the enemy.
"Mr. Cleveland's position was throughtly
understood when we nominated and elected
him - says Mr.. Hatch. land has never gone
back on his promises or statements. No one
can complain that he was deceived by any
utterances of his. 1t is against those who
have failed to live up to their professions that
the real feeling of bitterness exists
POST OFFICE POINTS.