Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 March 1889 — CAPITAL POT-POURRI. [ARTICLE]

CAPITAL POT-POURRI.

WASHINGTON SOCIETY'S GAT WHIRL AND AMBITIOUS SOLON'S. Legislative Monotony Broken by the Smalls-Elliott Contest, 'Which Resulted Favorably to the Latter —Internal Kev«. nue and External Events of Interest. (SPECIAL COREA-POX PENCE.] Washington, D. C., Feb. 19, 1889. The House is again w restliug with the tariff bill, which has been reported back from the Mills committee with the somewhat startling resolution that tho action of the henate in substituting a now bill for that sent for its c< nsideration is in conflict with section 7, article i, of the Constitution, which provides that all bills lor raising revenue shall originate in ihe House of Representatives. Tne report also directs that tne fcknate tariff bill l e refeircd back to the body bom which it came. Mr. McKinley wanted to file a minoiitv rotor,, but his lesolution making the request whs laid on i he table. The House Appropriations Committee, to which Mr. Cowles’ internal ieven e bill was referred, contrary to ail precedent, has favorably reported a substitute, prepared by Mr. McMilliu, and lively times aie anticipated over its consideration, as ihe Ways and Means Committee declare that it shall not go on the calendar if they can prevent it. The bill, as it now stands, has eliminated all moonshiner clams, and provides that after July next all laws now in foice whereby farmers arid producers of tobacco aro restricted in tl e sale and disposition of the same, and all laws re ating to the internal revenue taxes ou manufactured tobacco, snuff, cigars, etc., and the special taxes required by law to be paid by manufacturers of and dealers in leaf tobacco, peddlers of tobacco, snuff, cigars, and manufacturers of snuff and cigars, shall be rep .ub d. Congressman Springer s ups Riid downs over tho omnibus bill ar rather tantalizing. In the flush of victory his collea ues went back on him, as Mr. Cox, the leader of the revolt, has been known to do before,and instructed the conferrees ou tho Territorial Committee to concur iu tho S nate report and to so amend the measure as lo provide for the admission of South Dakota under the Sioux Falls Constitution by proclamation of the Tresident without, a new vote being taken on the question of tlivis oa, and to provide for the almission of North Dakota. Montana, and Washington Territory by proclamation, which, in the case of No.tli Dakota, is more than the Senate demanded admission for in this way. New Mexico is to be dropped irom the lurther deliberation of the conference committee. Commissioner Obtrly has been here for some time fn relation to the timber cutting grant 3 in the Northwest, and tho mi ter has been attracting much attention. It all grew out of n di-a-greement between the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and Secretary Vilas as to the trustworthiness of Agent Gregory. It is said that an effort is on foot to induce General Hardison to re am Mr. Oberly in his present position, n» anew m in c uld not possibly acquire the knowledge of the lights of Indian claims w hich that genileman possesses, without long service and close study. Tho appropriation by Cougress of s2si),uuo for the protection of American citi/.enß at Panama gives general satisfaction. Two years ago the present administration sent vessels of war to make the transit tree and to protect American citizens who had been stranded on the island without means or work. Elliott has been finally seated as a Representative in Congress, after the most exciting scene witnessed in the House during the fiftieth session. When Johnson, of Indiana, sought to interrupt Crisp, who was chief spok Bman for Elliott, the latter met him w ith the remaik that the gentleman hailed from a t-tate where thoy resorted to “blocks of five." This brought the Indiana Republicans to their feet. Mr. Crisp declined to permit interruptions, and in the midst o> the uproar his time expired. Then a scene of intense tumult and co.iiusion ensued. During the delivery of Mr. Crisp's speech t le main atsles of the House had become thronged with members of both parties, who kept up an incessant demuud for tho regular order. The Speaker pro tern, atiompted vainly to quell the tumult, which was gradually assuming the proportions of a riot. He was finally compelled to c ill upon the Sergeant-at-arms, who, with the silver mace of authority, proceeded up the main aisle, scattering the members on all sides; but even with his assistance it was many minutes before the presiding officer could bring the legislative haft to a comparative quiet. Republican leaders are prone to oriticise the manner in which the contest was precipitated, ai they consider that it led to a split on party lines which killed the chance they had for Smalls. The Oates bill for the reformation of naturalization laws has been favorably reported, and it is generally conceded that there is imminent need of some action being taken in this direction. Numerous complications have arisen with other countries from foreigners taking out naturalization papers here simply to escape serving in the army o, their native land, to which they return upon accomplishing their mission to the United States. Cndir the existing laws thtre is nothing to deny citizenship even to idiots, insane, paupers criminals,or others who lmve come into the United States in flagrant violation of our immigration laws. This might bo a good time to traverse Mrs. Olymphia Brown a recent suggestion, which sets forth that the only means by which it is possible for us to preserve our American institutions and counterbalance the number of foreign votes is to give woman the right of suffrage. Tho Department of Agriculture is a thing of certain y, and Norman J. (Jolman is the fullfledged Cabinet officer who will preside over it the next few days. It is altogether too bad of the present administration to add further to President-elect Harrisons dilemma of ths yet enigmatical Cabinet slate, which now, so it is reported, has written indelibly across its face the names of Blaine, Rusk and Wanamaker. t The other five are in shadow sketches, discernii b!e to the eye of the coming President only j Mr. Thomas’ boom for Secretary of the Navy I grows apace, notwithstanding Mr. Cnandler’s strong opposition, which ho recently took occasion to exhibit fly having the paragraph providing for the construction of an armored steel , cruising monitor, hci ording to the pluns furi uisheil by Congressman ’Thomas, struck out of | the navy appropriation bill. Perry Belmont’s predicament In Madrid cause! quite a ripple of fun when it became known th i other d ty. When Mr. Belmont prepared himself for presentation to tbe Kir g he was informed that the t-punish Government had i received no official notification of the withdrawal of Mr. Curry as tho United States Mia- ' ister. The Spanish court is nothing if not forj mal, and in tho absence of this notification Belmont's cred ntials possessed no significance. Under the circums'ances, it was not good form for him to remain in Madrid, or appear in public. Therefore, he weut into letirenient at Seville, to wait until the State Department should furnish the requisite notificat on. ; Hon. A. E. Stevenson, First Assistant Postj mast or General, was not so fortunate in his late nomination by the President to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia as was Mr. Colman in his appointment co new honors. Colonel Stevenson is very popular with both Republican and Democratic Senators, but his nomination will bo allowed to hang unacted upon in the r om on the Committee on Judiciary. There are one t hies Justice of the District Court and five associates. Shoud Stevenson be confirmed, there would be three Democrats and three Republicans on the bench. Should the nomination be enacted upon, there will be a vacancy for General Harrison to fill, which will cause the court to stand four Republicans and two Democrats. This wou’d be a state of things much more to the taste of Senator George F. Edmunds, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and he can be trusted to allow Colonel Stevenson’s judicial ambition to remaining unrealized. Tho fever-heat of society is beginning to cool ns the outgoing administration nears its end. But it will flare again into a flitting, hectic brilliancy with the incoming glory of the inaugural before it finally dies in the fastings of Lent, wh ch begins Marchs. The social triumph ol Mrs. Chief Justice F iller is one of the leading topics of conversation in fashionable circles. At Chicago, her former home, si.e took very little part in society on account of family cares, and her daughters were not much interested in such pleasures, being of studious inclinations and brought up to habits of usefulness. The principal social entertainnnnts of Mr. Fuller’s household were then confined to dinners to his gentlemen friends. As the first lady of the National Judiciary, Mrs. Fuller at once entered into the performance of the social duties of her position, so important in the politico-social affairs of ihe capital. Her i first appearance, surrounded by her four daughj ters, on New Year’s day, was an ovation. Her parlors were crowded wij£i representatives of

the highest branches of the Government. Her drawing-rooms sir.ee have been tbe rendezvous of fashion. Hers, If and daughters have received spec al social honors, particularly at the Executive Mansion. Before tne end of the first season the ladies of the family of the C ief Justice ha\e taken a place in the first rank of the social sphere at the capital, whioh is all the more interesting as their tenor of social longevity will be limited only by liie. The President's card reception to the officers of the army, navy, and marine corps was unusuallv well attended. After the Presidential party had descended irom the upper corridor at V o’clock and passed mio the Bine Room, tbe crowd which hail tx en forced back to allow them to go through closed in. and anything like volun. ary movement alter that time to the close of tbe reception was a literal impossibility. Mrs. Cleveland’s gown was of black brussela net with dir->ctoire basque of scarlet faille, the 1< ng pos ilion ends <>l which led to the edge of the train. Revers o while silk finished tbe low neck corsage and be d in place the Rhort puff d sleeves of scartet faille A spray of- diamonds was worn on the corsage Miss Bayard sirod next to Mrs. < leveland, and wore peachblow satin I rocade and lace, with pearl ornament*. Tbe niair age of Mis i Sophia 1). Markoe.whose fa her w s thefir.-t secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, to Prof, I mmons, of geological fame, was one of the so ial events ot the week and was a very pretty wedding, indeed. A valentine lilac lunch was given in honor of ex-Gov. Alger’s daughter, of Michigan, and the Misses Dare, at which Miss Blaiue and Miss Quay were notable guests. The Bavards, whoe home has been noted during tbe admin is ration for its hospitality, have closed their entertainments with the last of tneir Monday night receptions. Mrs. Trances Hodgson Burnet is at her new home on Massachusetts avenue and has resumed her Tuesday receptions. The noted dinners of the week were the one given in homr of James Russell Lowell by Secretary and Mrs. Eudicott, the second Cabinet dinner by Postmaster General and Mrs. Dickinson in honor of tbe Tresident and Mrs. Cleveland. and ti e third dinner dance of tbe season by Mr. and Mrs. John McLean. Mrs. Ha risen bon'innrs to riceive a large number of le ters tbe m ority of them asking her to intercede wi h the Genmal to secure the writers an office of some kind. As soon as sue gets far enough along in tfie reading of a letter to ascertain that it is of an office-seeking ebara ter, sue stops right there, consigns the epistle to her waste-ha ket, und the appeal is never under any circumstances brought to the a tention of ih > General. This is in accordance with a role adopted bv her short!v after the General’s elec ion. and sue has stated that she proposed to observe it scrupulously and impattially during the entire time oi her result nee in Washington. Mrs. Harrison emphatically states that “when the wife of the President wants to go anywhere, she is roifig, and ttotis all there is of it.” It is probable that Mr 3. Harrison will shock some of the snobs at Washington. If the General will do the 6arue by tbe men who think they are specially commissioned to run him there will be some fun ahead. Mobse.