Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-12-28
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Democratic CansnsSmen Pear to Deal
with tha Senate Bill.
Some Treasury Problems for Solution

NAsHISsros, Dec. 81.
The certainty that the Senate Tariff bill
will be before the House January 22 is Gre
ziing some ansasinsss in democratic circles
The members from Virginia. Mary land
and other tobacco z.o~ing states do not like
To 70 homs srd tell their constituents that
they refused 10 pas, bill -hieh repeals the
tobacco tai. In bo!h Maryland and Virgin
ia this alone might give the republicans a
ma ioriiy in the neu election. As long a
there was a chance that the bill would not
get to the Honse. the democrats from these
States were eentented. Nos the situation
is changed and their denunciation of the
democratic senator's increases as they realize
the dagger they are in.l lit vas an emi-
nently stupid piece Sf wlrk" was a comment
Of Virginia member on the action of the
democratic senators.
What Awaits the q ew Secretary.
The next secretary of the treasury may
have 10 deal with some serious problems
The antsgonism between East and West has
80 long prevented any legislation that il may
finally bring on dangerous hiatus. Any
measure for strengthening the national banks
Or for refunding the national debt Is sure to
be antagonized by Western and Soathwe stern
members with som. Amendment, in no way
germane to the subject, for decreasing the
silver coinage or pa, ing out the coin reserves
held TO secure the legal tenders. The silver
coinage has not p owed so disastrous as many
feared, because the rapid retirement of
the national bank notes has left
a void which silver certificates have very
well filed. The champions of cheap silver
pride themselves good deal on the way in
which events have disappointed the predic-
tons of the New FORK bankers that their
silver dollars would fall below par and drive
gold out of the market. There are still
good judges. however, who fear the event
will come when he perpetual coinage
passes the point where it can be absorbed by
the business demands of the country. 1t
seems impossible to secure a suspension Of
the coinage by vote of the two houses of
Congress. Indeed, the friends of a soind
currency count themselves fortunate to hold
enough votes in the House to prevent a
longer leap into the gulf Of cheap money
and to sustain presidential veto.
Chief Justice Fuller at Home
Chief Justice Fuller is one of the striking
figures in public life in Washington. As he
asss is his predomin sting characteristic. He
continually twists his mustsche or strokes
his fne flowing locks of white. He turns
over the pages of books without reading
them, or toys with pieces of paper. He is
all alertness and attention, and presides with
admirable dignity and without too much stiff
ness. He has wat is called 4 fine"
face, and his friends never tire o gazing a,
him in the high place which he occupies. |
think the Chief Justice is seen at his best in
his home. lie is essentially a home man,
and the demands of society are more irksome
to him than to most public men. 1 saw him
in his library the other night in his dressing
gown and slippers. He had book in his
hand and noticed it was a novel. He is
very fond of novel .eadng and he keeps up
with the best current fiction of the doy. As
entered he was reading along, seemingly
in blissful inconsistencies of the presence
and rather boi.terous play of his younger
children. He delights in their companion
ship and frequently takes most lively part
in their games, in their reading, and in their
cross examinations Of each other in their
studies.
Rouse the chief Justices interest in some
subject and get him to talking and you will
have a wonderful display of vivaciiy,
thoughtfuness and nervous activity. As he
warns up to his subject he begins pacing the
floor with his hands b, hind him. Ths great
er hi. interest becomes the faster he walks
and the more rapidly he talks. He raises the
pitch of his voice, too, until it becomes fair
ly shrill but still pie easing. Round and round
his library table he PAGES, faster and 'till
faster like a Madison Square Garden pedes-
trian on his laps. You wonder how he fluids
breath for so much walking and so much
talking at the same time, but you are not
anxious to have him stop. Despite his her
vousness you are Charmed with him. He has
the attract seness of enthusiasm coupled
with rare analysis and felicity of speech
which is far above the common.
Sometimes when not in too much of a
hurry he INDUCES in one of his pretty pro-
pensities and states his case in three or four
differ Mt ways one after another. He
appears to like to discover for himself in how
many ways a thing can be said, how IT can
be turned over and over, and this side and
that brought out to tn, light. But you DO
tice that each time it is beautifully done,
and strongly, and that each succeeding pres
entation clinches the argument and leaves
less and less opportunity for doubt or an
swer. | suppose this 10 the lawyer in the
man, the result of many years of training
and habit disportinE itself unrestrained. But
YOU see none of ii on the bench. There
he i. condolences, directness, brevity itself
And in spite Of his nervousness he is STU
dent. philosopher, and altogether one of
the most admirable figures ever seen on the
bench in this country
Peru and Chilli
Dispatches fIom Peru received at Wash
ington show that a serious crises exists there
more serious than has been kno since the
close of the war with Chill. The latter ma
ton has second time interfered to prevent
the settlement of the foreign debt of Peru
and it i, now very plain that she will permit