The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-06-14
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


they went on the U. S. Dispatch for
a short rest.
Speaker Reed has again displayed
his ability as a statesman in most
marked manner. and there are few
men now in public life who would
have had the courage to risk as much
as a failure would have cost him in
this case. A short time ago the Re.
publican House. caucus endorsed the
WinIom silver bill and it was re-
ported to the House. There were
quite number of Republicans who
were opposed to certain features of
this bill. and in Difference to them
another caucus was called last week
to consider the question. At that
caucus Representative Mckinley,
who is an able lieutenant to Mr..
Reed, proposed new silver bill as
compromise and it was accepted by
the caucus, although there were still
Ia few Republicans who were not en-
Itirely satisfied. The next day Speaker
Reed called meeting of the Com
hmtttee on Rules and rule was
adopted to call up the new silver
biz at once, and fixing upon Satur.
dayafternoon at three o'clock as the
time'for taking a vote upon it. This
wentthrough with rush in spite of
the kicking of the Democrats, who
saw all their hopes of Republican
split ulon the silver question vanish
into Willingness. Saturday after
noon thu bill was promptly passed
and another diamond was added to
Mr.. Reeds already brilliant diadem,
as party leader.
The Senate Finance Committee is
working steady upon the Mckinley
tariff bill, but no one now expects
that it will be reported to the Senate
much before July.
The Jones silver bill has lately re-
ceived some very hard knocks
from Republican Senators. Mr.. Nor
rilI led off with a speech in opposi-
ton and he was followed by Senators
Sherman and Hiscock and neither of
them minced words in opposing the
measure. Senator Plumb defended
/ the bill.
Representative Cooper. of Indiana,
has presented in the House a resolu-
ton directing the Committee on
Pensions to investigate certain news
paper charges against Commissioner
Raum. The charges are that Gen.
Raum has compelled employees of the
Pension Office to buy stock in cor
IporatiOn in which he is interested
and that he has favored certain firm
of pension attorneys here in the bus
mess of his Office. The whole thing
is simply a Democratic attempt to
manufacture political ammunition to
be used in the coming Congressional
campaign, and there is not the slight.
est proof in existence of the absurd
charges.
Some of the Senators who are de-
cidedly opposed to staying in Wash
ingtOn all summer are talking up the
idea of taking a recess from early in
July to October. The idea meets
with no favor on the House ti,te.
1t is now apparent that there is
deficiency Of 50 100000 in the pension
appropriation for the fiscal year end
ing with this month. No appropri-
alton will be made at the present
session of Congress to meet this. 1t
will he paid out of the regular APP
preparation which becomes available
July /. and will be provided for at
the next session of Congress.
1t is expected that the river and
harbor bill will be reported to the
Senate this week.
The President vetoed a bill for a
public building at Hudson, New
York, because he did not think it
was needed, He is giving the log
rollers in Congress some very strong
hints.
A very funny incident occurred
during the debate on the silver bill
in the House. Mr.. Walker, of Mas
sachusp,ts, was making speech and
Ne got so warmed up that he, seem.
ingiy unconsciously, removed his
coat and finished in his shirt sleeves,
to the great amusement of his col,
leagues and the galleries. 1t was
probably the first time that Con-
gresham ever made speech in the
House in that condition, and it will
not be forgotten soon.
The prohibitionists are to be given
a Joint hearing by the Senate and
House committee next Saturday, on
the joint resolution providing for a
prohibition amendment to the con-
stitution of the United States.
The Republican Senators are to
hold caucus to- morrow evening to
decide upon successor to Sergeant.