Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-11-28
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
iIorular Correspondence of the stsndard.)
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Nov. y, 1890.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Nov. y, 1890.
Every Democrat in the country is
in Washington this winter,
because OF the important political
events certain to occur here. In the
first place, the Democratic minority in
Congress, feeling that the policy OF
their party has been endorsed by the
country, are determined to resist every
attempt Of the Republicans to pass
radical political legislation, and they
expect the me al support OF every Dem
ocrat.
1t is also proposed that the Republic
cans shall, ii possible, be made to pro-
vide for the big deficit in the National
Treasury, which their wastcful and eX-
travagant legislation has made a GER
tainty for the next fiscal year, instead
OF leaving it for the Democratic House
of the Fifty-second Congress to do.
At least, if they cannot be made to
adopt the necessary legislation to pro-
vide the money to meet this deficit, the
attention OF the country can be called |
to their refusal or neglect to do so. and |
the blame placed where it properly be-
longs. 1t is now admitted by Govern
ment officials that by the end OF the |
next fiscal year our annual payments
for pensions will have reached $500
100000.
The struggle which will take place
this winter between Mr.. Blaine and |
Speaker Reed for the control Of the Re-
publican party machine will be decid- |
edly exciting, and Democrats are very
much interested in it, because for one
thing, it embraces the fate of the Force
bill. If Mr.. Blaine becomes the dicta-
tor OF the party's policy the Force bill
will at once be shelved for good and
all, and reciprocity, which has in n |
sense, become Mr.. Blaine special trade /
mark, will be used as a salve for the
many and greviOus wounds that the
Republican party has inflicted upen
the country. If Mr.. Harrison in his
annual message recommends the mas
sage of the Force bill, as it is believed
here that he will, it will show that
Speaker Reed has more influence with
him than Mr.. Blaine: but if on the
other hand the message ignores the
the Force bill, then it may be pres1m-
ed that Mr.. Blaine is still in Supreme
command at the White House.
The immense vote cast by the Far
mers' Alliance in States which have for
many years been reliably Republican
has thrown the Republican leaders into
a panic, and they are pulling their be-
wildered brains to get up a scheme
that will get back their lost voters. At
a conference of prominent Republicans
held here few days ago MIR. Blaine
was deputed to ascertain whether Inv
making concessions, in the shane Of
legislation at this session of CONGRESS-
the Alliance men could not be pacified,
and the result is, that a confidential
agent of Mr.. Blaine has been sent to
the Northwestern States to confer with
the Alliance leaders, and it is believed
by my informant, who usually knows
what he talks about, that he is author.
lied to enter into deal with them if
they will agree, in return for the pas
sage OF bill for the free and unlimited
coinage of silver, or some other hill
that will largely increase the amount
OF money in circulation, to support the
National Republican ticket in 1899.
By the way, speaking of the Farmers,
Alliance, Representative Cultivate. of
Ohio, said here day or two ago that
if the combination, which has been
more or less talked about, between the
Alliance and the labor Organizations of
the cities could be brought about that
he believed they could elect the next
President. l know that the Alliance
people are doing their level best to
bring about that combination.
1t is now regarded as so certain that
tnere VIII De an extra session of the
Fifty-second Congress held in the
Spring that several of the gentlemen
who have announced themselves ms
candidates for Speaker of the newt
House have opened headquarters here
and begun their campaign for the no
sltion. Only small proportion of the
Democratic majority in the next House
are members of the present Congress,
but owing to the nearness of the Ma,
tfonal campaign and the great political
interests now centered at Washington
it is expected that nearly all of them
will be here within the next few weeks
so lar the contest for the Speakersbip
ID being conducted in the best of Inn.
NOR ana see no reason why it should
not continue to the end in the same
spirit, except the disposition on the
part OF certain newspapers to make it
appear as a fight between Governor
Hill and Mr.. Cleveland.
Only two of the Republican members
OF the House committee on WAYS and
Means, which is responsible for the
mckinley tariff bill, have received GER
tlhcates of election to the next House.
and one oil them-Burrows. of Mich.
gan-is to have his right to a seat con.
tested on the ground of fraud. The
other one is McKenna of California.
who, it will be remembered, made a
minority report against the sugar
schedule OF the tariff bill. So that it
looks as If none of the men who faith
, cred that bill as whole, received the
endorsement of their constituents. all
OF which shows the good sense of the
constituents.
NOT two years ago, by somethin g
ovor three months, the Republica MS
TOOK charge OF the Government. find
ing q big surplus in the Treasury.
since then our receipts have constant
, ~ increased and yet it is now necessary
10 consider how we may increase the
income OF the Government, in order to
raise the money to meet its annual ex-
pendltures. That tells the story.