Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-02-26
Washington Letter.
From orr Regular Correspondent

; who at the last minute found it impossi
{ BILE to get away. returned late last nigh
from New York, where they went to at
tend the funeral of the late Gen. Sher
man. Mr.. Harrison has kept his own
council well in the matter of selecting 8
successor to the late Secretary Window
but a gentleman whose relations with
the administration are very close. in
forms me that he.has reason to believe
that the selection has been made, and
that it will probably be sent to the SEN
ate at once. This gentleman declined
to say who the new Secretary was. but
from certain remarks he made during
our conversation think that he believes
ex- Governor Foster, of Ohio, is the for
tunate man. The appointment of Gov
Foster would prove entirely satisfactory
to republicans here, and, / presume
throughout the country.
The House committee on coinage re-
ported the free coinege bill to the House
this afternoon, and its friends will make
desperate attempt to get it called up
for action to be taken upon it, but they
admit that their prospect of succeeding
is not very brilliant. Its opponents,
among whom are Speaker Reed and
majority of the committee that reported
the bill and number of prominent
democrats are just as fully determined
as ever that it shall not be voted upon
and in order to make assurance doublY
sure the republican leaders have tele-
graphed TO all of the republican absen-
tees, about twenty in number, request
ing them to come here, and to remain
until the end of the session.
This action was considered necessary
in order to prevent the democrats from
fillibustering in the House, making an
extra session necessary, as it is believed
that they will 90 ifthere is not quorum
of republicans constantly on hand
The Senate has, after amending it in
several important particulars. against
the protests of many of its advocates,
passed the copyright bill. Unless the
House will concur in these amendments,
which is doubtful, even if the bin can
get the right of way, which is still more
doubtful, the bill will be dead for the
present session.
The bill increasing the pension of
Mrs. Gen. Custer to 800 month now
only lacks the Presidents signature to
become a law. When it was voted upon
in the Senate, Senator Plumb asked
Senator Davis, chairman of the Pension
committee, il that committee had given
any consideration to raising the pensions
of the widows of private soldiers. Mr..
Davis replied that the matter had never
been before the committee.
Representative elect Jerry Simpson.
Of Kansas, and several of the Farmers
Alliance men who are to be his col
leagues in the Fifty-second Congress
are here. These gentlemen are here
ostensibly to familiarize themselves with
congressional duties etc., but am told
by democrats, friends of at least, two
of the candidates for Speaker of the next
House, that their real object in coming
here is to "dlcker' with several of the
candidates for Speaker in behalf of the
Farmers Alliance members of the next
House. According to the same infor-
mants matters have not yet gone beyond
the "dckering' stage. One of them
puts it this way: That fellow Simpson
is as sharp as you make them, and he
doesn't propose committing the ALI
auce men to any but a winning candi-
date for Speaker. hes after good
committee assignments for himself and
friends and he knows they can only be
had by picking the winner in the race.
As soon as he learns that any one of the
candidates has enough votes. with the
Alliance men added. to elect him bar
gain will be struck T"
Speaker Reed was quite i'll this week
from the effects of very hard chill, ant
for time there was some uneasiness
over his condition. but it is now hap
PLY past. The House by reclamation
elected Representative Payson, of III
inoise, Speaker protein during Mr.. Reeds
absence.
Admiral Porter's funeral on Tuesday
was one of the most largely attended
ever held. and thousands of citizens fol-
lowed the military and naval procession
all the way to Arlington cemetery where
he was buried.
The anti Cleveland letter is diminish
ing, and many democrats acknowledge
that he is bigger man than his party
and will be nominated for President