Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1889-02-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
IFrom Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb. =, 1889.

WASHINGTON, Feb. $, 1889.
The judiciary committee of the house oi
representatives has completed its consider
alton Of the naturalization bill, though
Messrs. Collins and Seney will present a
minority report, holding that the hill puts
applicants Ior naturalization to needless
expense and Inconvenience. The hill limits
naturalization powers to courts of original
jurisdiction, removing the power from lower
state courts. Thus the applicant might il,
the newer states be compelled to travel "A
couple of hundred miles to complete natu-
ralization papers. Although the provision
as To writing English has been removed the
requirement as To speaking English re
mains, and as this would be objectionable
To the Norwegians of Minnesota and the
various races represented in Wisconsin. 1,
big opposition may be expected from that
quarter. The minority will, in short, hint
that the present naturalization laws are all
right II only properly enforced.
Having accepted the secretaryship oi
state. James Gillespie Blaine has leased the
old Seward house for term of ten years.
The house is convenient to the state de
partment and one of the nearest privat.
residences to the White House. being No.
II Lafayette square. The mansion is very
old-fashioncd and the rooms unusually
large. 1t has recently been used for offices
by the war depart meni, and has been badly
treated. Still il can he greatly improved,
and, as it is close To the White House, will
enable Mr.. Blaine To- keep a great many
things in view.
Ex-Senators Plat aud Miller have both
been here this week, though anattempt was
made Ia conceal the presence of he former.
senator Palmer gave an elaborate dinner
ON Saturday to the Washingi ON correspond
ents Ter the purpose of rcNiying the Miller
boom, but it somehow failed to revive. The
talk is now all of platt, and the impression
is that Miller will have to beconten,ed with
the agricultural department, which will be
accepted with i'll grace.
Senator Evarts, who celebrated his seven
ty-second birthday Oh Thursday. says that
he has no idea "f accepting the attorney
III iIt nfN IIt i1t
will give way for younger men. The truth
is that an eN-sccretary of state could i'll
afford Ia take such drop, but Senator
Eyarts dislikcs To say So.
Gov. David B. Hills visit thi, week was
regarded with considerable interest. as hr
has not been in Washington before for eight
een years. He had IA long consultation with
Secretary Whitney. and the Democratic
congressman We'd with each other in doing
him homage. saw the governor riding by
the White House on Thursday and Mr..
Cleveland was just coming out, and il filled
my heart with woe to hear AN asthmatic
hand organ across the street actually play.
ing, We never speak as we pass by And
this despite the fact that toy. Hill and
President Cleveland met 50 warmly n
Wednesdays Whitney dinner.
Tom Reed is kept ON the ragged edge o'
his spca kership contest. No sosner has he
nailed one Of the lies Of his opponents than
another takes its place. just now the wise
ones are solemnly reasoning that so long AZ
Mr.. Blaine is going int the cabinet il would
giving Mr.. Reed his coveted honor. DO you
wonder that his rotund figure is wasting?
saw u bet of $50 made at Welcker' la st
fall that Col. Fred Grant would he avowed-
ly after an office before Gen. llarrison's in
auguration. The bet is settled by Col.
Fred's modest announcement that he is
willing to be minister to China. II shall
not, he said last week, "ask for the posi-
tion except in a manly way" People who
know Col. Grant best know that this means
that Gen. Harrison had better give it to
him or receive his left-handed blessing and
same Fred.
Commissioner of Pensions Black is hav-
ing hard time of il. After his recent fail
ure To secure the position Of legal adviser
to the army, he concluded To accept he APP
pointment as pension agent at Washington
and urged his claims upon President Cleve-
land. But he failed, for the president re-
nominated the present incumbent. Three
weeks only remain in which ten. Black can
continue his search for sinecure. aud that
il IA short time at best.
There are ~ certificates of congressmen-
elect that have not been tiled with the clerk
of the house. The delay is unusual, and is.
of course, mostly ON the Republican side.
The last Congressional Directory just is
sued gives the next house ~ composed oi
los Democrats and iG1 Republicans. The
present house contains l6G Democrats, >.
Republicans aud I independent and labor
meinbers.