Middletown transcript., 1894-06-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.

deceive every one.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. June 18th, 1884,
Republican Senators are not making
any predictions as to VIII n the final
vote will bo taken ON t.e tariff bill in
the Senate, but they take no stock in
the assertion of Senator Harris that the
Democrats will force vote before the
close of the present week. not because
they doubt Senator Harris willingness
to do so, but because they doubt his
ability to keep quorum on the floor
continuously for that purpose. The
Republicans have not altered their
position. They contend that eight
hours day is sufficiently long for the
Senate to sit, and that they are entitled
to debate each schedule of the bill as it
is taken up. Their willingness to ac-
cept the agreement to deba certain
schedules under the five minute rule
furnished convincing evidence that
they have no wish to fillibuster; but
they do not intend that such important
portions of the bill as the wool schedule
and the income tax shall be railroaded
through without debate. Senator
Henderson, of Nebraska, expresses the
opinion that it will be nearer a month
than week from this time when the
final vote is taken.
Senator Brice made one of the most
remarkable statements ever publicly
made by "a Senator when he sad:
"Whatever you may hear about dissen-
sion, | can tell you, that there will be
forty-three votes for the bill, whatever
there is in it. Senator Jones may make
notifications, but whatever he finally
decides upon will be voted for by forty
three Senators" In other words, if
Senator Brice knows what he is talking
about, forty-three Senators have agreed
to sink their own individuality and
prir ciples and to vote for whatever
Senator Jones tells them. Never before
has the majority of the Senate dele
gated such autocratic authority to one
man.
There are people who say that Repre-
sentative "Eill" Springer, of Illinois,
has no influence with the Administra-
tion, but l notice that he has been able
to get his son, R. W. Springer, life
time position as Chaplain in the army,
although the young man, who has been
drawing six dollars day as clerk of
the House committee on Banking and
Currency while studying for the minis
try, was only ordained to preach about
two months ago. Mr.. Springer may
not be able to get places for his consti-
tuents, but he manages to provide for
his family.
Ex Representative Abner Taylor, of |
Illinois, is regarded as an authority on
political matters in that state. He has
just been over the ground and this is |
the way he sizes up the situation: cit |
isn't question of Republican success,
but of how large our majority will be.
1 put the Republican plurality at 5O,-
900 in November, but shall not be sur
prised if it reaches 100000. There is
no longer the slightest doubt that the
legislature will be Republican, and the
Democrats may consider themselves
lucky if they get as many as five out of
the states twenty-five Congressman.
Representative Breckenridge, of KY,
has shown himself to be the possessor
OF skin as thick as that of rhinoce-
ros, but thick as it is it was penetrated
by direct shot from his Democratic
colleagues in the House. He has been
boasting of his intention to take charge
Of the general deficiency appropriation
bill when it was ready to be reported to
The House, by virtue of his being chair.
man of the subcommittee which has
charge of that bill. As soon as his
Democratic colleagues found out that
ne really meant to do so they lodged a
formal protest with chairman Sayers
IF the Appropriation committee, and
he result was that Mr.. Sayers informed
Breckenridge that he would not be
allowed to take charge of the bill, be-
cause of the refusal of Democratic men,
oers to recognize his leadership in even
10 small matter as the management
If bill which usually goes through
Without any serious opposition. If
Breckenridge were not entirely without
he sense of shame he would resign
rom Congress and withdraw from his
contest for denomination.
The Democrats of the House are
more susceptible to the influence of
public opinion than the Senators; they
rave to stand up for denomination and
eelection this year, and they are hear
ng from their constituents. Conse-
Iuently they are opposed s ll- sugar
rust schedule of he taIlff bill. and
many of them ale Oulsp'k-n in heir
lei erminatinn to defeat it even if it be
necessary to defeat the bill n,l, sn.
The Senate inves' i.aI ing committee
8 wasting muie time over II contuma-
iuuS Wi'neSS-a member of The New
Iolk firm of stock br kers through
which the Dtmocratic Senators are
upposed to have done their sugar
peculaiIng. He refuses to tell the
anne of Senatorial customers or t0I
roduce his bucks, and the Committee
ill ask that his case be certified to the
Irand Jury, which has not vet indicted