The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-12-22
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


inquiry was made because IT was pos !
itively stated here that he had been |
rendered. and had accepted the State
portfolio. Among prominent Re-
publlcans in Congress there is still
considerable doubt as to whether Mr..
Blaine will be in the Cabinet, but
from the best information | can oh
tain | believe that he will be the
next Secretary of State.
Many New York Republicans here
are of the opinion that the rivalry
between ex Senators Plat and Mil
Ter of that Stare will prevent New
York from having a representation
in the Cabinet.
The Senate committee on the i'm.
provement of the Mississippi river
and its tributaries have decided to
make an adverse report on the bill
ito make the Lake Borgue outlet"
for the food waters Of the Mississippi.
This is the plan submitted by Capt.
! John Cowden, and which he has long
urged as substitute for the Eads
jetty system,
The House committee on Manu-
features, which has for a year been
engaged in investigating the numer-
Gus "trusts" throughout the country.
has not yet decided what should be
done with such combinations, and it
is not at all likely that it will ever
arrive at a decision. The election IS
now oyer and the Democrats can
make no more political capital by
fighting trusts. That's the plain
English of the matter.
During the last session both the
Senate and House passed bills for
feiting certain land grants to various
railroads, and yet there is little hope
of any legislation on that subject at
the present session. The two bills
passed, one by each House, are rad
icalIy different. They are now in the
hands of a conference, but as neither
side seems disposed to recede from
its position. l do not see how
any agreement can possibly be reach
ed
A concurrent resolution has been
introduced in the House providing
for holiday recess from next Fri
day until Monday, January 7, two
weeks and two days. There is little
doubt of its passage in spite of the
fact that short time ago members
were saying that this recess would be
dispensed with. Queer fellows, these
Congressman.
The Senate is not making very
rapid progress with the tariff bill,
anna many people are now prophesS-
ing that it will not be passed before
February.
The bill placing Gen. w. S. Rose
Grams, at present register Of the Treas
ury, on the retired list of the Army
with the rank of Brigadier- General
has been fayorably reported to the
Senate.
} The Democrats of the House, by
the action of a caucus held last week
acknowledge that they have tper
acting wrong in refusing admittanct
to territories eutitled to enter the
Union as States. Having been sc
, badly defeated in the election they
are now prepared TO confess theil
} past misdeeds, and to repeat them a.
} soon as they think any advantage
{ can be thereby gained. The caucus
> decided that Dakota may come in a,
D one or two States as tie people Of the
two proposed States may hereafter
J decide ignoring the fact that the
. people of Dakota have already de-
J cided in favor of two States also
that the Territories of Washington
. Montana and New Mexico may be
, admitted, provided that all shall be
. admitted in one bill. The caucus also
llldI u oCPCi ttC DllL piof iuih
. for the admission of Utah should bt
, proposed. Whether the Republican,
of the Senate will accept the House
bills providing for these admissions
or leave the whole matter to the Fiji
| tieth Congress cannot be said.
) Representative Butterworth, in in
q PRODUCING joint resolution lookins
q to the annexation of Canada by The
a United States, has given the country
and Canada very interesting sub
n iect of discussion. Most men whom
n | have heard speak on the subject fol
4 a year or two past have expressed
v the opinion that sooner or later the
o United States would absorb both Can
/. ada and Mexico. the only difference
: of opinion being as to how long anC
in what manner the absorption shall
take place, whether the country
) shall be secured by peaceable negoti
i atoms and purchase or by force o
a arms, Mr.. Butterworth's plan TO
: the annexation of Canada, is, it il
80 .nx, N nDnoAahIa nnn III