Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1888 — THE NATIONAL CAPITAL. [ARTICLE]

THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

Public Printer Benedict is getting into hot water, says a Washington special to the Chicago Daily Netat. The Honse has ordered an investigation into th® aflairg of bis office, and the President has called upon him to explain the seeming unnecessary delay in work sent there for execution. A large number of reports have been delayed till the time ot their usefulness has passed and there is & general clogging of wheels in some quarters. Bills are not printed for Congress sometimes for a week or ten days after the usual time, and there are documents not yet issued which are more than a year behindhand. A Democratic member says the President called upon the Public Printer for an explanation and has received it, but is not satisfied, and has in contemplation the appointment of another man to the office.

A Washington special says the House Committee on Territories on Wednesday considered questions relating to the admission as States of Dakota, Montana, Washington, and New Mexico. It was decided to formulate an omnibus enabling act for the four Territories, and the preparation of the bill was referred to a sub-committee consisting of Messrs. Springer, Mansur, Hayes, Struble, and Symes. During the session the committee voted against ordering favorable reports upon Mr. Gifford’s bill for the admission of South Dakota and Mr. Baker’s bill looking to the recognition of North Dakota as a State.

President Cleveland will have the longest term of any President of the United States. The House Committee on the judiciary has reported favorably the proposed amendment to the Constitution changing the inauguration dry from tlie 4th of March to the last Tuesday in April, which, if it is adopted, as it undoubtedly will be, will add nearly two months to his term of office and to the life of the present Congress as welL Tho Senate has already passed the resolution unanimously, and the expectation is that it will go through the House in a hurry as soon as it is reached for action. The Washington correspondent of the Chicago Times telegraphs that— Chairman Mills promises a tariff bill within a few days. It is understood that as it now stands it will put wool on the free list, and reduce considerably the uuties on woolen goods, especially of the cheaper kinds. Ad valorem duties’ are to be substituted in many cases for specific duties, on the ground that the specific duties weigh heavily upon the cheaper classes of goods. Lumber, salt, coal and a number of other articles goon the free list. Iron ore and steel rails will not go untouched. It is believed the bill will provide for the reduction of about 20 per cent, on sugar duties. The internal revenue tax on tobacco is to be reduced—possibly repealed, and the tax removed from fruit brandies. The authors of the bill aim at a reduction in the revenue of between $70,01,0,030 and $80,003,003.

A decision affecting tho rights of tho colored man on railways has just been formulated' by the Inter-State Commerce Commission : In the case of William 13. Heard against the Georgia Railroad Company, the complainant, a nogro, had paid first-ulasa fare, but was compelled to ride in a car of inferior accommodations. The Commissioners are of opinion that it is the duty of the carrier under the law to furnish to passengers paying the same fare equal accommodation and protection, without discrimination on account of color. But, if sepation of white and colored passengers is expedient for adequate reasons, such separation is not unlawful if the accommodations and comforts for colored passengers are in all respects equal to those for white passengers paying the same fare.