Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-05-18
From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON LETTER.

est habtue of the Capitol has the ma
jority of the senate allowed itself to be
nagged by the minority as the repubi-
cans have nagged the democrats since
these four hundred amendments to the
tariff bill were presented to the senate.
Although Senator Brice claims that 43
democratic senators are pledged to
support the tariff bill after those amend
men,s are adopted, not single demo-
crat has had the courage to defend the
amendments. The nearest any one of
| them came TO it was when Senator
| Harris said: The democratic party be-
! lieves in tariff for revenue with such
incidental protection as revenue duties
| Afford but he had not a word to say
when Senator Aldrich asked him what
then became of the declaration of the
last democratic national platform. that
protection was fraud and was uncon-
| stitutional. The democratic senators
are very much at sea, and none of them
make any serious attempt to hide it,
while Mr.. Cleveland has gone fishing
to hide his disgust. The republican
senators will caucus tonight to talk
over their future course on the amend
ments.
CoXey's nondescripts were compelled
! by the health authorities to leave the
pest hole in which they were encamped.
and being unable to secure any other
place in Washington they are now
camped in Maryland, five miles from
town. The Marylapders do not relish
their presence even a little bit, and
threats are being openly made of COM
polling them TO move on. Sufficient
rations to feed the men is getting to be
a serious problem with CoXey; he has
got about all from Washington that he
Will get, and the Maryland people say
they don't intend to encourage their
their stay by helping to feed them.
The argument for new trial for CoXey,
Browne and Jones, convicted of violat-
ing the law for the protection of the
capitol building and grounds, will be
heard tomorrow. 1t is regarded as
certain that new trial will be refused
them.
Senator Hill of New York doesn't
mince words in expressing his opinion
of tariff bill No. 1. He said LET the
odium of its passage or praise for its
defeat rest upon the shoulders of Sena-
tor German for aught | care. One
thing is certain, the tariff bill now be-
fore the senate should never become
law. There is no justice in it, and it is
simply subterfuge and a makeshift."
Hon. John Patton. Jr, the new sena-
tor from Michigan, has made a very
favorable impression upon his col
leagues and the public. Although he
had had no actual legislative experience
previous to his appointment as the sue
cessor of the late Senator Stockbridge,
his wide general knowledge and his
grasp upon political affairs have made
him feel at home in the senate, where
he will certainly make himself heard
later on.
1t may not be entirely just to charge
Representative McGann, chairman of
the house committee on Labor, who
voted to favorably report the resolution
providing for the appointment of a Joint
Congressional committee to investigate
the industris depression, with dema-
gogism; but if that resolution, fol-
lowing as it did the hearing granted
CoXey by the Labor committee, does
not bear the genuine ear marks of dem
gogry it has some excellent limitations
of them. 1t directs the appointment of
committee of seven-three senators
and four epresentatives-"to investi-
gate and report to congress within 80
days the cause of the industrial de-
preston responsible for so much dis
tress throughout the country and what
legislation will preserve industrial and
financial conditions which will Offer
speedy, permanent and lucrative en-
ployment to the citizens of the United
States Think of the enormity of the
task imposed and of the time given
80 days-within which it must be done,
and you will see the point.
The House Judiciary committee, or
rather the democratic majority of the
committee, has had another attack of
states-right fever, a disease often
scotched, but never entirely killed,
and the result was the ordering of a
favorable report on bill introduced by