The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-11-25
NATIONAL CAPITAL A.MS
Tom Reed Losing and Burrows Cain
ing in the Race for the
Speakership,
Secretary Blaine May Have a
Chance to Try His South
American Policy.
The Maine Man Figuring Already on 1892
Mr.. Carrere's Appointment Mon
tana People at Washington.

WASHINGTON, Nov. "a Especial. Wash
ington in this week before congress meets
is as still as the night before Christmas,
There are less than fifty congressman here
and not half that many senators. All the
candidates for speakers are on the ground,
bat most of the members who are here be-
long 10 the democratic fold. so as said, il |
is very quiet. II single bet has been made |
on the speakership both giver and taker are |
keeping il profould secret. The hotel |
lobbies resound with the echoes of midsum- |
mer emptiness. All the politics to be
heard can be caught with half an ear. All
the stir there is can be seen with both eyes
shut. Nothing il heard of combinations or
of States There are five lone fishermen
angling for high Office in very quiet
weather. That's all.
All the candidates have called on the
president. Mr.. Burrows took walk with
him, and MIR. Cannon claims that the
| White house desires an Illinois speaker.
| Mr.. Reed observes discreet silence, but II
| is well enough known that he regards Mr..
Blaine as the power behind the throne, and
asks no fayors. If the newspapers have any
more or any better information than any
body else, Mr. Reed has either lost ground
or does not have all he thought was his. III
the fact that the mugwump influence favors
Reed means anything it is likely that Wall
street has secretly passed the main candi-
date by TO help some other man. II any
man enjoys this advantage it is doubtless
Burrows. He has always been known AS
bold, unequivocal Pacific Mail statesman.
He believes in subsidies, large, constant
and unauthorized, and he believes in them
honestly. l think the Blaine influence will
be found behind Burrows before the caucus
gets very far ON in its work.
II is curious circumstance about the
men who aspire 10 be speaker that none of
them are rich. All the speakers and ex-
speakers ever saw or knew were poor men
with the single exception of Mr.. Blaine
and his wealth has come To him chiefly
since he laid down the gavel. Gen. Banks
has been wofully poor; Galusha A. Grow
has an old mans country law practice, no
more; Schuyler Colfax made some money
after he was speaker, but he left less than
$1,000; Michael G. Kerr was certainly not a
rich man; Mr.. Randall we all know lives on
his salary; Mr. Carlisle has been investing
what he could save from his salary in order
to get ahead a little, but he, too, is poor.
I None of the five present candidates are in
dependent of their salaries. doubt if one
of them ever had 5000 year to call his
! own until elected to congress. Some of
them could earn that now at the law, but
they could not before they came TO con-
gress
5 The supreme court has taken to walking
I home these pleasant sunny afternoons. II
is picture worth seeing 10 behold the tall,
massive frame of Justice Gray striding
? alongside the slow, dreamy Lamar, or the
l diminutiye, graceful figure of the chief
justice in company with uarlan's portly
corpus. As | was going down the avenue
yesterday ! saw Blatchford, the chief JUS
tice, and Harlan coming. Harlan is n free.
and-easy dresser, and he was walking az
carelessly as some of his ancestors ma,
have walked in the backwoods of Kentucky,
y Blatohford with his hat stuck stiffly ON the
back Of his head looked neither to right OF
left, but paced steadily on. The chief jus.
i: tice was fautless in dress and gait. As they
3 were crossing the street a big trnck came
laundering down on them.
"Hi there!" cried the big black driver.
"Hi yourselfr' retorted Harlan, but all
three judges shrunk back and let the heavy
wheels go by.
The supreme court is a ponderous body,
but il has 10 get out of the way Of trucks
r and buck negroes sometimes.
The revolt in Brazil is going to be an
issue in our politics. If successful, the new
republic must be recognized. and the presi-
i dent and the senate will have TO negotiate
new treaties. With the downfall of the
empire the relations between that country
and this are suspended in state resembling
e the modus vivendi Of which we heard so
a much last winter in regard TO the fisheries
trenty. But il Dom Pedro, ON reaching
/, Europe. does not take steps TO resolve the
monarchy, 1t will not be long before Mr..
g Blaine will recognize the new govern.
ment. Indeed, IL is believed he is ready
| INV W w NOs anu biAll MdAAH hn u lhAiNfl VI
q necessity de has South American policy
after all.
n The Pnn-American congress has begun
work without much fuss or stir. Mr..
e Blaine presides with his usual fine poise and
perfect stlf-cOmmHnd. What he says is so
happily iiui led thu / seems as il lac must
be recitinp what he had previously wrought
out. The delegates themselves are ms bright
n lot Of men ns you will often see. With
two exceptions they are lawyers and most
Of them are rich. II Mr.. Blaine or anybody
else thinks 20 catch them mapping he and
they are mistaken. They are here 10 look out
for No. /. They will 60 back 10 their South
American homes not TO urge the fullest free
dom Of trndc with the United States, nor 10
ask for money 10 suhsidize steamship lines
TO this country. They propose 10 buy our
machinery and Manufacture in their own
cities. They say so plainly. They are will
ing 10 trade with MS but they know Jug
hnndle when they see IL, Just as well as MI.
Blaine or any other smart man. In Janu-
AIRY the whole congress will make a trip
through the south. In the spring they viii