The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-02-16
NO 7
WASHIN GTON LETTER.
tFrom our Regular Correspondent,
WASHINGTON, Feb. IL, 1894

gOOd democrats Cnarge0 Win the I'M
portant duty of preparing the amend
ments to the Wilson tariff bill which
are to be submitted to the Senate Fl
nance committee, have proven them
selves giants and earned the gratitude
of the country, which wants the tariff
disposed of at the earliest possible
moment, by completing their work,
and as the other democratic members
of the Finance committee have kept
in touch with them in their work it is
altogether probable that the amend
ments reported by them will all be
adopted by the committee and that
the Wilson bill will be before the
Senate before the close of this
week. This breaks the record in
committee work on tariff bills and
is highly creditable to the men who
did it, but there is another thing that
is even more creditable to them. The
bill they have reported will be support
ed by every democratic Senator. The
proposed amendments have not been
made public, but they are all in one
direction - that of increasing the
revenue which the new tariff will pro-
duce. There are reasons for the be-
lief that among the proposed amend
ments are duty on coal, and on su-
gar, both raw and refined. The SUBJ
committee made no change in the in
come tax. One of the principal reas-
ons for largely increasing the revenue
features of the tariff bill is that the
democratic Senators are opposed to
any further issue of bonds and pro-
pose to place the Treasury in such a
condition that no more will be need
ed.
Had the House not adjourned Sat-
on account of the sudden death of
Representative Houk, of Ohio, who
dropped dead Friday afternoon while
visiting friend, it is probable that
Representative BANDS bill for the
coinage of the seigniorage in the
Treasury would have passed to-day.
That it will pass early this week is the
general expectation. There is much
talk about the bill being vetoed by
President Cleveland, but it is admit
ted by those who say they expect it to
be vetoed that their expectations are
not based upon any information they
have received from the President.
There is also some talk about SUBJ
mitting the bill to a democratic eau
Gus and that may yet be done; not for
the purpose Of endorsing it but for the
purpose of SO changing it as to avoid
the danger of veto.
Senator Morgan, of Ala, who is
chairman Of the Senate committee on
Foreign Relations, was at the time the
annexation treaty was negotiated with
the Representatives of the provisional
government of Hawaii strongly in fa-
vor of annexation. For that reason
it has been feared that he might not
agree with his democratic colleagues
Senators Gray and Butler-on the
sub committee which has been making
the investigation, as to nature of the
report to be made on the evidence
taken by the sub committee. l have
just learned from trustworthy source
that those fears are entirely ground
less, as the three Senators named are
in accord and will all sign the majority
report. The investigation is closed
but the report may not be made to
the Senate until alter the tariff bill is
passed,
The remains of the late Represen-
tative Houk, were accompanied to
Ohio by joint Congressional COM
mittee composed of the following:
Representative Hare, Springer, Bryan,
Hulick, McKaig, Ellis, of Oregon,
and Richie, and Senators Brice,
Sherman, Dubois, Hunton, Martin
and Allen. Mr.. Houk was much
liked and the unexpected manner in
which he died, while apparently in the
best of health, has caused great sorrow
among his colleagues and friends.
The House committee on the Judi
ciary does not take any stock in either
the beauties or benefits of woman's
suffrage, as was shown by its prompt
action in making an unfavorable re-
port on the resolution of Representa-
tive Bell, Colorado, providing for a
womans suffrage amendment to the
Constitution.
At an enthusiastic meeting of the
democratic Congressional campaign
committee Senator Faulkner, of West
Virginia, was unanimously elected
chairman and Lawrence Gardner and
James l.. Norris, of Washington, sec
retary and treasurer, respectively.
Next week there is to be joint meet
ing of this committee and the execu-
tive committee of the National Asso-
citation of Democratic Clubs, for the
purpose of arranging the campaign
work of this year.
The time of the Court was occu,