Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1894-05-12
Correspondence.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Coxey's Army.-Tarifr Bill.-Absen-
teeism.

From our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, May z, 1894.
The presence of 500 men csmped
for a week within the limits of the
National Capital, banded together
under the name of an "army," and
threatening openly to remain until
Joined by sufficient number OF men
TO intimidate Congress into grant
ing the ridiculous demands of it's
self-appointed leader, and the cir
cumstances attendant upon their
coming and their stay here presents
quite as impressive an "obleet les
SOM as the financial "object lesson"
iuauguratec by the Cleveland adj
mitSsstration about this time last
wear and unless the difference be-
tween liberty and license is more
sharply defined may lead to quite as
much misery. That a majority of the
men that this man Coxey has entic-
ed into Washington and guartered
in a Deet hole from which he has
moved his valuable horses for fear
of their dying from the foul and ma
laria laden atmosphere are lazy,
good-natured tramps, only intent
upon avoiding work and being fed,
is apparent by their, refusal OF work
when offered them, but it IL equally
apparent that this M an Coxey means
mischief should his force grow strong
enough to make it, and the populis'
Senators and Representatives are
doing all they can to encourage 1t
When this man Coxey and two OF hif
followers were arrested for violating
law In their absurd attempt to speal
from the steps of the Capitol, every
populist In Congress who could
make any claim TO being lawye
appeared In the police court, nom1-
nally as their volunteer defenders
but in reality to intimidate that
court. This is the third day of thei
trial, which ought not to have last
ed more than an hour.
The manner In which the old law
docking the pay OF members OF th
House absent without leave. excep
on account of sickness, is being en-
forced Is extremely farcical. III
members are allowed to certify thei
own absence and the highest mum
Der of days that any member ha
owned up to being absent was SD
while any number of them who wer
absent at times during the month
April returned no certificate OF al
sence aid drew their full month
pay. The Speaker of the Hous
who under this law Is required to {
X, the certificates of the membe
before they are paid by the Sal
;geant-aS-Arms, declines to go b.
hind the returns made by the meI
beers. even If he has actual knowledl
Of their incorrectness, thus leaviI
the matter entirely with the cons
enees of the members. Experien
has proven that meas conscienc
are very much like rub Der wa
questions arise affecting their poe
ct books.
Sugar has certainly played a st
part In the tariff-tinkering fal
comedy that has been going on
the Senate for five weeks, and unl'
information that has been receiv
from louisiana is incorrect suR
is either going to get all OF the fo
ers In the last act or 1t Is going
break up the. show. Demands ne
been made upon Senators Caff'
and Blanchard, of La, by the
gar planters of that state, II
they repudiate tie forty per cent
yalorem duty put on sugar by
the present bill and demand
straight duty of two cents pot
forty per cent is q fraction
than one cent pound-and v
against the entire bill If the
cent duty is not put upon sue
This is very embarrassing to
Senators named, who have aires
In caucus agreed to support the
as it stands. They are, 1T Is 81
given their choice of obeying the
mand OF the sugar splanters or II
ing from the Senate. They
hold gubernatorial appointme
and the legislature that will mee'
the 18th inst, win elect Senator
fill both of the unexpired terms
well as one for full term. To
understand the situation 1t mus
remembered that the Louisiana
islature is said to be overwhelmil
I'm favor OF two cent duty on 81