West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-12-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Prom our Regular Correspondent.

Questions affecting the financial
condition of the country arc at pro.
sent absorbing almost the entire nj
tention Of Congress. and the ad-
ministration has at last become
convinced that something must be
done. Opinions differ us 10 what
convinced MIR. Harrison aud his
Cabinet. but it Is moro than proba.
bic that tho action OF Senator
flumb, who, in Introducing bill
to replace the retired circulation of
national banks and providing for
the free coinage of silver, stated
that 1t was his intention, il the Fed.
cral Election bill was not speedily
disposed OF to move that It DO laid
aside and his bill and others rela.
ting to financial matters bc consid-
cred. IN order that something might
be done to meet tho just expecta.
tons of the people, had n great deal
to do with it. ltis an open secret
here that the republicans who DC.
lieve with Senator Plumb-thero
are lots of them--havc become
greatly dissatisfied at what they
consider the waste Of valuable time.
which the debate on the election
bill has taken mp. and there have
been mysterious hints about their
forming combination with the
democrats for the purpose OF pass.
ing free coinage bill.
All this has had an alarming eff.
Get upon Mr.. Harrison and those
Republicans who have appeared to
consider the election bill more i'm
portant than financial legislation
The fact Of the matter is that ut
least thrcefifths of Congress, ire.
spective Of party, have become con-
verted to tho idoas OF the Farmers
Alliance, rs far as financial matters
are concerned.
There is an evident desire on the
part of the administration to pre-
vent tie adoption of free coinage
bill by Congress, by Offering some.
thing in tho place OF it, in fact sew
eral something's. One of which is
the immediate purchase OF tho Gov.
ernmcnt OF the thirteen million
ounces Of silver bullion now stored
III various sections OF the United
States. IL Congress gets an op-
portunIty it will certainly author
ize this purchase, as the money
thus put in circulation would great
ly help the money market, but this
measure will not be accepted as u
substitute for free coinage by the
silver men, who are fully aware of
their strength III Congress.
The apportionmenc bill which
the Census committee of tho House
has reported places the mem Ter
ship OF the House at 35G, and is
generally regarded as fair mca-
sure. And owing TO the fact that
no state loses any members it will
be extremely difficult for the Dem
ocratic leaders to unite their party
in opposition TO it, even il they are
so disposed. At present their only
ground, as stated by themselves for
opposing il, is, that il docs not pro-
vide for the increase that New York
might DO entitled to by a possible
recount Of the population OF New
York city and Brooklyn.
The House committees have 80
FAR done an enormous amount Of
hard work, and one of the rcgarul
appropriation bills-penmons-has
been passed, and three Others re-
ported to the House. This is some.
unusual at this stage Of the session,
and yet those who ought to be best
informed arc predicting that an eI.
ira session of the Fifty-secoDd Con.
gress will b. absolutely necessary
and the Democrats arc beginning
to make things very interesting in
the campaign for the SpeakershiI
Of the next House.
Ths House has refused 10 oJop
the Plumb resolution for the reno
val Of tho remains Of Gen. Grant {,
Arlington cemetery.
II has been practically agreed b.
the Pension committees Of tb
House that no special pension legis
lation shall be passed th,s session
/ The idea Of revising the presen
pension rolls is making besdway