Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-01-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Written and compiled for the HERALD
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. 19.-The
present situation in both Senate and
House may in a nut she'll, be summed up
thus: 7 7 7 7
Everybody is asking everybody else
questions without number, and the an
swers usually depend upon the personal
desire of the speaker The Republicans
in the Senate are again apparently work
ing together IN the attempt to force a
vote upon the Federal Election bill, as
party measure, by tirlng the Democrats
out in continuous session. The session
has now lasted day and night SINCE Fri
day morning. with the exception OF q
Sunday recess, and the question OF
whether the bill will ever be voted on
seems as far from being answered as ever
One thing favorable to the final passage
of the bill is the fact that the Republicans
who voted with the Democrats for free
coinage are now voting with their party
on questions affecting the election bill.
The Democrats say the bill can never be
passed unless the cloture rule is adopted,
and there are still number of Republic
can Senators who will not agree to go to
that extreme. In the meantime the fight
goes on, and all absent Republicans have
received urgent kilograms requesting
their immediate presence here.
But after all the subject about which
the most questions are asked is the tree
coinage bill, which was adopted by the
Senate as substitute for the Republican
caucus financial bill. 1t has been referred
to the House committee on Coinage, q
majority of which is known to oppose
tree coinage. Will this committee make
an adverse report upon the bill, or will 1t
be pigeon holed and no report made at
all From the best obtainable informa-
ton believe the committee will report
the bill, because its members know that
if it is not reported a motion will be
made on the floor of the House to dis
charge the committee from its further con-
alteration, and the success which attend.
ed a similar move in regard to the inves-
tigation of the Congressional silver pools,
proves how easy it can be done when a
majority of the House 50 wills it. But,
after it is reported to the House, will
Speaker Reed allow it to be voted upon !
That is very important question, second
only in importance to that of Presidential
veto. Mr. Reed is personally opposed to
tree coinage, and believe will do all In
his power to defeat it by preventing 10
one way or another vote being taken
upon it, although it is only fair to state
that some of his closest friends say that
he Will not resort to any extraordinary
methods to defeat the bill.
It is now stated by those who ought to
know, that Nr. Harrison will veto the
free coinage bill if it goes to him as it
passed the Senate, but that he has ex-
pressed bis willingness to sign bill pro-
yidlng for free coinage under certain re-
strictions. Just what these restrictions
are no one seems to know, which gives
the first statement a fishy look.
1t now looks as if some big fish might
be caught in the drag net of the House
committee that is investigating the
silver pool charges. The committee
was informed at its first meeting, held Sat
urday, that Senator Stewart had stated
that he had personal knowledge of Sena-
tors speculating in silver; it was also In
formed that an official Of the House had
stated that he knew of Congressman who
would get into trouble if the investlga-
ton was pushed. These two gentlemen
and Others whose names have been furn
ishe the committee, will be invited to
tell what they know about silver pools,
and if they tell there's squally times
ahead for some people.
BY the death of the historian, George
Bancroft, which occurred here Saturday
afternoon, America loses one of her most
distinguished sons. He was in bis ninety
first year.
Mr.. Wanamaker's postal telegraph
scheme is not making much progress in
the House committee on Postoffices 1t
barely escaped being permanently pigeon.
holed day or two ago, the vote on a
motion to indefinitely postpone its con-
sideration being to 7. In fact this vote
is taken to mean its practical abandon
ment. which after all would be no loss to |
the people at large.
The Democrats in the House have
adopted policy of delay, which will be
kept up until the Senate disposes of the
Election bill. They wish to be in posi- |
ton to antagonize the Election bill, If it |
should pass the Senate, when it returns |
to the House for action on the Senate |
amendments, with the regular appropria |
ton bills, aSr,S1 ,ttiner-will succeed, if the
Re5auiicans Tail IN the etforts$they are
now making to get quorum OF their own
members in the House.
Senator Teller has again denied that |
any combination was made by HIM and |
the other Republicans that voted for free |
coinage with the Democrats to secure the |
passage of that bill.