Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-04-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, April II, 1897.

The Democrats of the House n caucus
endorsed the statements made by Repre-
sentative Bailey, Of Texas, when Repre-
sentative Dingley, in response to Represent
alive Jerry Simpsons protest, bluntly
stated that the Republicans did not intend
to allow any general legislation by the
House at this session. Mr.. Bailey said: awe
are not inclined to insist upon the Re-
publican party legislating. We feel that
the country suffers when the Republican
party legislates. We have commended this
all our lives, and we sincerely believe it.
We have no desire to urge the Republican
party to make laws, but we desire to
understand its policy. We are here ready
to discuss any measures you desire to
bring up, but believing that nine out of
ten of them would be bad we are ready to
help You if your policy is TO do nothing"
In the death of ex-senator d. w. Voor-
bees, which occurred Saturday morning at
his Washington residence, the Democratic
party lost one of its ablest and hardest
workers, man who has, for nearly half q
century occupied place in the front ranks
of Democracy in every National campaign
Mr.. Voorhees, had been in failing health
for several years, but his death was en-
OAAotJ ucApcCtoui aiSuOuSu no was IA MS
SEVENTEEN year.
Hon. W. j. Bryan arrived in Washing
ton today from Florida. This evening he
was given a reception by the Old Dominion
Club and delivered an address before the
law school of Columbian University, and
tomorrow evening he will be the guest of
honor at the big Democratic Jefferson
celebration.
Among the many prominent business
men who are in Washington for the pur-
pose of pointing out to the Senate Com
mittee on Finance, the bad features of the
Tariff bill, is Marshall Field, the widely
known Chicago merchant. Mr.. Field was
asked If he cared to make statement for
publication concerning the tariff bill, and
he replied: "Nn, except the one general
remark that it is the worst tariff bill ever
saw, not only as regards the rates of duty
imposed, but in the complicated and
ambiguous methods of imposing them.
There is scarcely line in the bill that
will not have to be interpreted by the
Supreme Court"
Speaking of whether the Democrats in
the Senate ought to resort to fillibustering
to delay or defeat the tariff bill, ex-Repre
sentative Clunie, of California, said: 81
am in favor of allowing the Republicans
absolute sway and full scope in the making
of tariff. The freezer they are left to
work their will the quicker will the
country repudiate their acts. for l hold
that prosperity can never come from taxa
ton, but only from reimbursement of our
financial system that will put silver back
to it's old footing of equality with gold
This is substantially the position taken by
Senator Jones, Chairman of the Democratic
National Committee, in letter made pub
lie a few days ago, and which is endorsed
by most of the Democrats in both branches
of Congress.
The Republicans are doing considerable
worrying about the civil service rules, and
they are going to get around them, at least
those who are after Office are. About the
only man who has already got his Office
who has shown any special interest in this
matter, is Public Printer Palmer, who has
been practically discharging Democrats
from the Government Printing Office, by
asking for their designations, every day
since he took charge. Ex-Congressman
Bowden, of Virginia, who is willing to be-
come a Federal office-holder, voiced the
opinion of the office-seekers when he said
nave AACO NY pICcCuu tlblU "
Washington with Republicans from every
part OF the Union, and almost to a man
they are opposed to civil service reform, so
called. 1t is fact that there is revolt
against the whole system, and I for one,
would be glad to see it demolished for all
time. / believe President Mckinley is
going to do what he thinks is right, but
do not believe he is going to ignore the
claim of those who stood by him in the
campaign" That sort of talk is heard
every day, but Mr.. Mckinley has given no
sign, and it is doubtful whether he will set
aside any of the extensions of the civil
service rules made by Mr.. CleYeland, unless
authorized by Congress to do so, and the
average Republican Congressman, while
willing to talk against the civil service law
to please their ofice-seeking constituents,
will hesitate about voting against it, and
there are a number of them who will stand
by the law through thick and thin.
Boss Platt's henchmen are much exer-
cised over a report that Mr.. Theodore
Roosevelt, who will qualify as assistant
Secretary of the Navy in a few days, having
already been nominated and confirmed,
will investigate the Brooklyn Navy Yard
1t was because they feared this very thing
that they fought RoOsevelt's appointment
to this place.