People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 May 1894 — FROM WASHINGTON. [ARTICLE]

FROM WASHINGTON.

An Interesting Batch or News From the Capitol. From our Regular Correspondent. Washington, May 4, ’94. Coxey’s arms has gained notoriety, but it has dearly paid for it, and if the men are allowed to remain in their present camp many of them will surely pay for it with their lives. If the authorities had condemned four hundred criminals to be imprisoned in the enclosure that Coxey’s men now occupy the humanitarians of the country would be up in arms about it. Why Coxey took those men there is a mystery. A more unfit place could not be faund, and Coxey knew it, because the health officer told him. It is alongside of an old canal into which empties a number of the largest and filthiest sewers of Washington. And that is not all by half, the soil is made up of dumpings of filth and inside the enclosure are pools of stagnant water covered with green scum an inch thick. Already a number of the men have been taken to hospitals, and if they are allowed to remain there they will soon begin to die like sheep. Coxey, who stops at a hotel and lives on the best, talks glibly of the men’s dying there being an “object lessor*but the men don, t seem any more anxious to die than any other men. When Coxey failed in his very mild attempt to speak from the Capitol steps and together with Browne and Jones was arrested, the movement collapses; but he still insists that he intends to keep these four hundred men here until they grow into four hundred thousand, when he will again make the attempt. He charges an admission fee to the camp, hut only he and Browne know where the money goes. He says it is used to feed the men, but the are getting mighty poor feed.

• • © The question of legislation that will make some sort of definite settlement of the debts due the government from the Pacific railroads isn’t making much noise in Congress but it is exciting the the deepest interest, and the Congressmen know it. The money spent within the last decade in the employment of high-priced legal talent by the various interest on these debts. Several propositions are being considered by the House and Senate Pacific Railroad committees, ranging from practically presenting the roads with the amount of their indebtedness to the Government’s taking possession of the roads and running then. It is not yet certain what will be done, nor even what will be recommended by the committees. These railroads have never yet failed to head oft in some way all Congressional legislation that they did not approve, but they will find the job more difficult this time. ® • 9

Senator Hansbrough, of North Dakota, says he has always favored Government ownership and control of all telegraph lines, and that he will do all in his power to aid the movement of his fellow-craftsmen, the printers, to bring about that result, o © a The statement made this week by Representative Rayner, of Md., that Wall street influences are being used to assure the repeal of the tax on State bank currency, because money can be made by showing the notes that would then be issued,has not improved the chances of the repeal bill. Mr. Rayner says a careful canvass of the House made by himself and Representative Springer, of 111., shown the passage of the bill to be an impossibility, unless there is a chance of opinion on the part of a numbers. It is understood that the populists will vote solidly against the bill; also the republicans.

Somebody is a long ways from the truth as to the present tariff situation. Although Secretary

Carlisle announced the first of the week that a compromise had been arranged that would make the passage of the amended bill certain, Senators still deny it vehemently and even call each other ugly names about it. Senator Voorhees, chairman of the Finance committee, says the income tax has got to stay and that he will make no further concessions in the interests of trusts. Senators Hill, of N. Y., and Smith, of New Jersey, make it very plain that they will refuse to vote for the bill with the income tax in it, no matter what other changes may be made. Senator Teller is the only republican who has openly declared in favor of the income tax, although it is believed that five or six of them will vote for it when tfte motion is made to strike it out of the bill, but on the final vote on the entire bill the republicans will probably vote solidly against it. As may be inferred from the above the situation is decidedly mixed, and it will probably remain so until the democratic Senators settle upon their programme.

We have appointed Simon Fendig as our authorized agent at.Wheatfield, and any order for job printing, advertising or subscription will be attended to at the same price we furnish it at here. Give him your orders.