Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-12-05
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


fR,-ular orr, spondcncc OF thc Standard
WASHINGTnN. ID. C.. Nov. 2S. lN!D.
Mr.. Harrison, Speaker Reed, Repre-
Mckinley and all the other
advocates for "A continual
ton at the short session al Congress OF
the radical programme begun at the
last session, are going through a panic
just now. They fear that there will .
not he a Republican quorum present
in the House before Christmas, and
that it will he impossible to compel
many OF the Republicans who have
been defeated e. attend the session
and without a Republican /!
quorum they know that their game is
blocked As the Democrats are fully de-
tcrmincd that no political apportion- :
ment shall he made, unless it he done
by Republican votes entirely; and the
same thing holds good regarding the
notorious subsidy shipping bills.
The Democratic leaders have no de-
sire to see an extra session of Congress
in the Spring. and if there he one,
which now Stems altogether probable,
it will he the fault OF the Republicans.
The Democrats are ready and willing
to aid in passing the regular appropria-
ton bills for the support of the Govern
ment, but they propose resisting to the
last extremity any attempt to pass
party legislation.
1t is specially pleasing to the Demo
Gratis to learn that it has been decided
by bosses Reed, Mckinley and Cannon,
whose control Of the House committee
on Rules makes them absolute dictat-
Ors Of the business to come before the
House, that the tariff law shall not be
modified or amended at this session.
1t was feared that the Republicans
would be sensible enough at the COM
ing session to get back the votes they
lost, by revising the Objectionable fea-
Objectionable of the new tariff law in a
business manner. But they have elect
ed to stand or fall by the new law,
which makes their fall certain when
the people again get whack at them
in 1892.
A semi-ofiicial announcement has
been made by Mr.. Mckinley that no
silver or other financial legislation
would be passed this winter. The cry
of the agriculturist, voiced by the heavy
vote of the Farmers Alliance, for finan-
cial relief, is to be ignored until the
Democratic House comes in. Secretary
Window will, l am informed, propose
in his annual report a relief in the
shape of and 2 per cent bonds to be
issued by the Government, to be con-
vertible into cash upon demand of the
hOlder-this idea is borrowed from the
old greenback party-but of course it
will require Congressional legislation
before they could be issued, and if Mr.
Mckinley spoke by the card, and the
presumption is that he did, Mr.. Win
dom's recommendation will be good for
nothing.
Ex-Representative Warner, who was
here all last session as ar advocate Of
silver legislation says the silver men
will submit three propositions to Con-
gress-tirst, free coinage; second, free
coinage limited to silver produced in
this country until France and Germany
shall buy American silver; third, the
coinage of about $2O,O0O,OOO to equal
the amount of national bank notes re-
tired during the last year-and that
they will leave no stone unturned to
get one of them passed. Either of
them could be passed if vote could be
had upon them, but how the House
can pass bill which the committee on
Rules refuses to allow it to consider,
! cannot see.
One has only to circulate among the
leading Democratic members of Con-
gress now here to discover what bro
ken reed the Republicans are leaning
upon in expecting that Democratic
mistakes in the next House are to give
them an opportunity of winning in
1892. Present indications are that
there will be no Democratic mistakes,
at least not serious ones. The Demo
cratic programme will be, first of all, to
give the people more money by provid-
ing for the free coinage of silver, and
to revise the tariff in way that will
reduce the prices OF clothing and agri-
cultural supplies and implements, and
at the same time give the farmer prac-
teal reciprocity by enlarging the mar
ket for the sale of their supplies. No
mistakes in a programme CT that sort,
is there? The Democrats propose to
cOnfine themselves to legislating for
the people; that is all classes, and not
for few favored individuals.
Nearly all of the gentlemen who
have announced themselves as candi.
dates or who have been placed in nom
nation by their friends for the Speak.
ership of the next House are now here
and they are one and all greatly sur.
prised to learn Of the bitter fight each
and every one of them is making, in
the newspapers, for the coveted honor
and it is the source of no little amuse
ment among them.
Mr.. HarrisOn's annual message t.
Congress will, according to a gentle
man who ought to knew whereof he
speaks, be confined to an appeal to the
Republicans to stand by protection a.
exemplified in the Mckinley law, tt
pass an apportionment bill, Fedora
election bill and the steamship subsid,
bills, and not to pass any silver legisla
ton. Dem.
Z