People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 February 1894 — FROM WASHINGTON. [ARTICLE]

FROM WASHINGTON.

An Interesting Batch of Sew? From the Capitol. Froni our Regular Correspondent. Washington, Feb. 5, 94. Secretary Carlisle has sold those bonds, although it was necessary for him to invoke the aid of Wall street before he was able to do so, but it remains to be seen whether he will be allowed to use the money received for them to pay current expenses. Congress is very much di vided on the subject, and for that reason failed to agree upon anything previous to the issue of the bonds, but its members seem determined to do something. The council of the Knights of Labor, who had their application for an injunction thrown out of court, say they do not propose to abandon the fight. Senators Allen and Stewart, who ad vacated the former's resplution. declaring that the Secretary of the Treasury has no authority to issue bonds, received a recruit from an unexpected quarter when Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, said at the close of a few remarks on the subject: “I feel bound by a’ sense of public duty to declare that in my opinion the bonds issued and sold by the Treasury Department under existing circumstances will be illegal, and will carry no constitutional or lawful obligation sn the government for their payment.” ® ® © It is always difficult to make a contest exciting about the result of which there is not a particle of doubt. The close of the tariff debate was made interesting by able speeches from the best men on both sides, including exspeaker Reed, Chairman Wilson and Speaker Crisp, but there was little or no excitement when the time arrived for taking a vote. The full strength of the opposition had been known since last Monday, and the passage of the bill had been conceded by all except those who allowed their wishes to blind their judg'ment. Many believe that instead of being a source of weakness as charged by its opponents, the income tax amendment really strengthened the tariff bill. It certainly gained it ten populist votes that it would not otherwise have received. • ® © There is some uneasiness among the friends of the statelets of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Oklohoma because of the statement that President Cleveland was using his influence to prevent the admission of any of them, and would, if he failed in Congress, veto the bills. The statement has not been authoritively confirmed, but the result of the inquiries made show that Mr. Cleveland is unquestionably opposed personally to the admission of any more states for the present. Whether he will carry his opposition to the extent of trying to prevent Congressional action or of vetoing any or all of the bills, that may pass is a question not yet authentically answered. ® © 9

There are thrifty men in Congress as well as out of it, and the thrift of some of the Congressmen may soon develop a considerable scandal. The law provides for the payment of a clerk for each member of the House at the rate of §IOO a month while congress is in session, and some of the overthrifty members have been taking advantage of the hard times to employ clerks at much smaller salaries and pocket the difference. This has leaked out and the result may be an investigation. • • • The Senate has decided to end the unproductive debate on the bill for the repeal of the Federal election laws next Tuesday. There is little doubt of the passage of the bill, although it may be slightly amended in which case it will have to go back to the House. It is not believed that there is any foundation for the rumor that President Cleveland would veto the bill, in order to clip the wings of Tamipauy. • • • The most pleasing thing about the special Congressional election in New York city to those who are opposed to the lavish use of money in politics was the crushing defeat of the candidate who openly boasted of his intention to spenh §gO,(X)O to secure his election, 'phe other side may have spept as ipuch, but they didn’t boast of doing so, thus openly implying that votes are purchasable. • • • It is evident that the Senate Finance committee does not ex-

pect to dispose of the tariff bill in a few days or even a few weeks. That committee has sent out about 400,000 circular letters containing a long list of questions concerning the tariff and its general effect upon all branches of commerce and industry and it is still sending out more. According to a census expert, if all of these questions are answered and returned to the committee, it would take the en tire force of the U. S. Census Office, three months to so glassify and arrange them as to make the information they contain available to members of the committee. The committee has no such force of experts and has no way of getting them, if they were wanted; but the idea shows how big a programme Senator Voorhees has mapped out for his committee, and does not promise well for speedy action on the tariff in the Senate. © • • The House started in to-day on a three days hurrah on Hawaii. Those who don't like noise would better get into their bomb proofs until it’s over.