Smyrna times., 1890-10-01
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON Sep. %.


Are we on the eve of a foreign war?
One would judge so from certain mys-
terious remarks made on the floor of
the House and Senate by members of
the naval committees. The occasion
of these remarks was a joint resOlu-
tion introduced and passed within a
week, apprOpriating $l,OOO,OO0O to
purchase all the nickel the Canadian
mines, which supply the world with
that metal, can produce for some time
to come, to be used in connection with
steel in making armOr plates for the
cruisers now being built. The men,
bers of the committee talked myster-
iously of the urgent necessity of the
immediate appropriation of this money
in order to enable this government to
control the supply of nickel and pre-
vent its going elsewhere, and they
must have talked much palmer priv
ately, for the opposition which was at
first formidable. quickly disappeared.
On Saturday, just before the passage
of the resolution, Senator German
stated that he had opposed it the day
before, but that he had been assured
that its passage was an absolute neces-
sity in the interest OF the public service
and he would support it. 1t was
passed and it has already been signed
by the President. The cause of this
unusual haste was the recent tests of
metal armOr by the Navy Department,
which proved that only plates COM
posed of nickel and steel could stand
shot fred from improved guns. It was
stated privately that a representative
of the Krupps had attempted to pur
chase entire the products Of the nickel
mines for some European power, pre-
sumably England or Germany, but
that the owners, being citizens of the
United States, patriOtically gave this
Government the first chance to corner
the worlds supply of nickel. 1t is not
for me to cast imputations on the pat
riotism of these mine owners, but from
the prices they are to receive for the
nickel ore, it is certain that their pat
riotisN will pay big dividends.
The Mckinley tariff bill as reported
from conference was restored to al
most its original condition when passed
by the House, about the only diferen-
ces being that the amounts were slight
ly lowered where changes were made,
and the reciprocity amendment. The
very best amendment added to the bill
by the Senate was struck out entirety
by the cOnference-that providing for
the formation of a permanent tariff
commission. The conference report
was adopted by the House last Satur-
day afternoon, and an attempt being
to carry it through the Senate at once,
but there were number of Republi-
can Senators who wished to make a
few remarks of an explanatory nature.
This is particularly applicable to the
Senators from the northwest. who
want the tariff of seven-eights of a cent
per pound on binding twine explained.
The Republican opinion of the bill
was well expressed by Representative
Fanston, chairman of the House com.
tee on Agriculture, who said ''There
are some things in it that migt be bet
ter and there are many which might
be worse, but taking broader view Il
is a good bill and one am willing tc
go before the country on" The Dem
OcTats are unanimous in condemninG
the bill as utterly bad.
For the first time in several month";
all of the big guns of the administra
ton, including tie President and hi
entire cabinet, are in Washington a
once. They have come TO perform
their part in the lowering Of the cur
tain on the FIRST act of the Fifty.frs
Congress.
The capitol is thrOnged with partie
interested in the hundreds of bills no,
hung up in various legislative condl
tioDs, and they are all hoping again,
> hope that the particular bill in whic
they are interested may by some hoo
or crook be acted upon before adjourn
ment. Some of them will draw legi
f lative prizes, but by far the great,
r number will get blanks.
}, The Raum investigation has take
b fresh start. The committee is no
{ engaged 10 trying to and out wi
: gave the New York Tribune some Il
formation.