Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-12-31
From our regular Correspondent
Warrington Letter.

WASHINGTON. d. c.. Dec. 81, 1891.
| The Presidents selection Of Hon.
Stephen B. Elkins, of West Virginia, to
be Secretary of War is generally recognized
| here as the most important nomination,
from political point of view, made since
| the session Of Congress opened. 1t furn-
| ishes indisputable evidence that there is q
| perfect understanding between the Presi-
| dent and Secretary Blaine, and it unques-
| tlonably adds great political strength to
| the administration, as Mr.. Elkins, in ad-
dition to being the possessor in an unusual
| degree of executive ability, is one of the
| shrewdest politicians in this country.
Aside from the few gentlemen who were
| pushing candidates of their own for the
position, the appointment is entirely salts
factory to the Republicans, and equally
unsatisfactory to the Democrats.
Wednesday of this week Congress will
adjourn to January 5. for the Christmas
holiday, and it is expected that Mr.. Crisp
will on that day announce the committee
| assignments. He hopes that the joys of
the season will help to assuage the many
disappontments among the Democratic
members before they will have an oppor-
tunity TO display their chagrin on the floor
of the House. This adjournment might
as well have taken place on the day that
Crisp was elected Speaker, as the House
hnp htt aI;
| for periods of three days.
The friends of Representative Mills feel
| that Mr.. Crisp has added insult TO injury
| by writing a note to Mr.. Mills asking him
to take the second place on the Ways and
Means committee, instead of offering him
the Craftsmanship, which, they say, he
would have declined anyway. Mr.. Mills
in his answer to the note of Mr.. Crisp, de-
| clined serving on the Ways and Means
| committee, and said that he had no prefer
ence as to other committees. He will prob
| ably be made chairman on the committee
| on Commerce.
There is quite howl among the south
ern members because the chairmanshps of
the two most important committees-Wa
and Means, and appropriations, are to 90
to northern men. it being about settled
that Springer and Holman will secure these
two plums; but the opposition will not
give up hope until the appointments are
actually made.
II the adage He who hesltates is lost"
he Mr. frris &c aI,
hope of ever being discovered. From the
day Of his election to the present time he
has done nothing but hesitate, although he
cannot hesitate much longer as he has
promised almost positively that he will
announce the committees on Wednesday.
Senator Paddock has originated
scheme which speaks well for both his
business sagacity and his largeness of
heart, and Secretary Rusk has entered in
to hearty cooperation with him to carry
the idea out. 1t is proposed that the farm
ers Of the great corn raising States of the
northwest shall contribute a train load of
corn, which shall be carried to Russia free
of freight charges, and be presented to the
starving peasants of that country, who, bv
practical demonstration, will then know
that American corn is first. class food
product, knowledge that we have been
vainly trying to impart to them for
number of years.
Naval officials will not admit that war
with Chilli is among the probabilities, new
ertheless the Navy Department is taking
the preliminary steps necessary to getting
in readiness for such war. Not only have
all of our available war vessels been or
dered to the Pacific, but arrangements are
being made which will give the depart
ment the control of large number of mer-
chant vessels at short notice should they
be needed. Yet all this is regarded as
merely precautionary, as those who ought
to be posted are Of the opinion that Chilli
will apologize as soon as She finds that we
are in earnest.
1t now looks as if Secretary Fosters
Christmas gift would be restoration to
health, as he daily improves and his physi-
clan says all the dangerous symptoms
have disappeared.
The Democratic Senators from Indiana,
are making themselves ridiculous in their
efforts to work up sentiment against the
confirmation of the nomination of Judge
Woods of that State TO seat on the
bench of the new Circuit Court. There
isn't the slightest probability that single
Republican Senator will vote against Judge
Woods.