The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1894-08-17
Washington Letter.
From our regular correspond.n,.
WASHINGTON, Aug 8, 1894


Ii more exasperating condition Of
affairs, from a democratic point of view,
ever existed in congress than the present
tariff complication it has been forgotten
by the present generation. The principa
Issue in the campaign which gave the
democratic party control of the executive
and legislative branches of the government
was tariff reform. Since March 4th 1898,
we have had a tariff reform president, a
tariff reform majority in the house, and
a majority in the senate each member of
which claims to be tariff reform con-
s,ituency. Why then this difficulty in get
ting tariff reform bill through congress?
This is question that ought to be asked
of more than one Of the alleged tariff re :
formers of the senate by their misrepre-
sented constituents, and probably will be
when some of them try to get reelected.
At several times during the last week it
seemed that the conference committee was
about to reach an agreement that would be
acceptable to both house and senate. So
promising was the outlook that the spro-
posed caucus of the house democrats was
postponed indefinitely so as to leave the
house eonferrees unhampered. But each
time demands were made by senators
whose votes are necessary to get any agree
nent through the senate which prevented
an agreement being reached. After spend
ing the greater portion of the week in try
ing to arrange sugar schedule that would
be accepted by the house and the socalled
conservative" senators. the conserees at
last succeed, d, but no sooner was the an
nouncement mace than it was met by the
threat of the tEo democratic senators from
Louisiana to vote against the bill if it were
so reported, and in addition they stated
that Senators Allen and Kyle, the popu-
lists, who had voted with the democrats to
rass the bill in the senate, would join them
In voting against the bill.
There is general feeling that this
week will settle the business, not so much
from anything that is actually in sight as
from the belief that it will simply be i'm
possible TO longer prolong the strain. Al
ready democrats are urging the conferees
to agree upon some sort of bill. the best
they can get, aud 20 let it SO TO the senate
and either be accepted or rejected
So general is the belief in congress tha,
this week will be the last Of the session that
a number Of prominent democrats have
made their arrangements to leave Wash
ington, as adjournment will speedily fol-
low the disposal Of the tariff. All Of the ap-
preparation bills, except two. will have been
disposed of by the middle of the week,
But among those who have their doubts
about adjournment this week is Secretary
Lamont. who remarEed, when senator
Blackburn told him that the tariff bill
would be put through this week and
that congress would sdlourn on
Saturday. Il would not wager on that, -
The secretary is right. After what has
happened no prudent man would want to
wager on any thing that this congress
would or would no. do
Granny Blair. ~ho has kept 20 quiet
since be managed 10 sneak back into public
life by getting elected TO the house that
Peop'e have bean disposed to forget bis
fool acts in the senate and to credit hin
with al last having come into possession
OF the share of common sense which na-
turallY belongs to every man of voting age
People we're wrong. He is the same old
granny Blair. and no~ that he has en-
| listed under the banner of Ida u Wells,
Quixotic charges msy be expected OF hiT
at least as often az the moon changes.
His resolution providing that The Commis'
sioner OF Labor shall investigate and re
port to congress the nnmbsr. dale, location
and attendant facts and circumstances oi
all alleged assaults by males upon females
during the past ten years. for. or on ae
count of which organized. but unlawful
violence has been inflicted or attempted u
be inflicted, also, all lynchings during ih'
same period, is on rar with his stiles
acts in the senate.
Speaking of his resolution. instrue'inl
the House committee of Ways md Means Il
report bill for &C incolSe iss ;bss vii
produce sIoo.ooo,ooo annually. and bill
placing all sugar on the fee list, kspresen
tative Bland said: "It tsrsa Legislation
defeated, and 1: now LOCKS as though
fright he, the tariff rsfosmeIs aili take
new line in The direction Of my resolution
an determined if We cannot have tATi
reform that the trusts, At ali event. shsI
pay into the treasury fair sha'e Of thei
enormous profits. That would benefit h
people indirectly even If they fail 10 secur
the reduction on the n, eessaries OF life iha
they demand. knox that The bills pro
posed by my resolution would pass III
House and believe that trey ~ouid G,
through the Sens'e:"
Repr, sentative Bryan, OF Nt5r, has foi
tnally annourctd Lis candidacy for th
United STATES S=na'es. He will max
personal canvas Of the Stale, an
exp.ets the support Il The porulis,s as we
as the democrats