Mower County transcript., 1889-01-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our REGULAR Correspondent.)

6lClOn. ne reason OF senator ALI
sons declination is that ne prefers his
duties as Senator to those Of the po-
sition offered him. The Iowa Sena-
tor would have made an excellent
Secretary Of the Treasury, his posi-.
sltion as chairman af the Senate FL
nance Committee having made him
thoroughly familiar with our system
wants in that direction, and besides
he is entirely free from any faint Of
Wall Street influence. Senator ALI
son wants Hon. j, S. Clarkson to
Iowa in the cabinet.
Senator Sherman evidently believes
that American interests in Samoa are
not as we'll taken care of as they mi ght
be, Notwithstanding the effort Of the
State Department to make light Of
the recent news from there giving
the details Of insults to Americans
and the American flag by German
officials. He has-otfered an amend
ment TO consular and diplomatic ap-
preparation bill, appropriating $780,
900, and authorizing the President
to spend so much thereof as may be
necessary for the execution Of the
obligations and the protection of the
interests Of the United States under
the treaty with the Samoan islands.
1t is proposed to construct a United
States coaling station with portion
of this money, the right to do so hav-
ing been given under the treaty.
Secretary Bayard is being very
harshly criticised, even by his own
party associates, for the manner in
in which he has conducted this mat.
ter. Mr.. Sewall, u. s. consul gen.
eral to Samoa, who is a Democrat
and was appointed by Mr. Bayard,
is here and has been giving testimo-
ny before the Foreign Affairs Com
mittees Of the House and Senate as
to the condition Of affairs in Samoa.
He blames Secretary Bayard for the
humiliating condition the. Americans
in Samoa find themselves, and he
produced correspondence to prove
his statements.
The Senate tariff bill was duly
passed according to program, and has
now gone to the House Ways and
Means Committee, where it is gener-
ally thought it will be smothered to
death. There had been rumors to
the, effect that several Democratic
Senators intended to support the bill
and that several Republicans would
oppose it, but the vote showed both
parties solid, the Republicans for and
the Democrats against the bill. Sen
ator Riddleberger who was paired
with Mr.. Blodgett, Of New Jersey,
stated to the Senate after the vote
that had he been free he would have
voted against the bill, and Senator
Blair said to friend that he would
have voted against it if his vote could
have defeated the bill. AS matter
Of fact if Senators Blair, ,Blodgett and
Riddleberger had voted::against it the
bill would have been defeated.
Vice President elect Morton has
purchased the elegant residence in
this city which was erected several
years ago 10y Prof Bell, Of telephone
fame. 1t is strikingly elegant man.
sion and is in the fashionable West
End quarter.
Candidates for Office are getting
very numerous around Washington
One day this week there were five
candidates for Public Printer in thu
Capitol at one time. They repre-
sented the States of Illinois, Indiana
Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio.
Commissioner Of Pensions Blac]
was badly disappointed in his am
bition to become Judge Advocat
General of the army. There is
slight obstscle to his appointment
The board of army officers that ex
amined Gen. Swain for retirement
reported that gentleman to be in goo'
health and not eligible for retirement
Gen. Black will have to get some
thing else, and will have get 1t pret
: ty soon too, if he does not want t
become private citizen again.
The twenty-trst annual conve1
tion Of the National Woman's Su
frage Association, was in session her
this week. Year after year this bod
has been meeting here with no sign
of fatigue. No matter what ma
may think about woman suffrage h
is compelled to admire the. Dlucl
patience and perseverance Of tn
] members of this Association. Ha
they been an association of men the
would have given up the fight Ion
. ago.
The organizations that have a
ready been assigned positions in tn
Inaugural procession muster nearl
10000 men, and still the application
are coming in.
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