The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-02-27
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. %, ,.

Lie SclcCUlOu Ol I1Ou. CQdrloS Eos
ter, of Ohio, for Secretary of the
Treasury, to succeed the late Mr.. Win
dom, reflects credit upon the wise
Judgment of the President. 1t will
be sure to favorably impress the coun-
try, and whatever differences may eX-
ist as to the financial policy of the
administration, all parties will agree
and be glad, that position of the
highest responsibility has been placed
in the hands of man worthy of their
confidence and known to be honest,
sagacious and capable.
No apprehension need be felt that
he will not administer his new duties
with the same fidelity to a trust i'm
posed that has always characterized
him. He will enter upon his great Of
flee fully conscious of its obligations
and well equipped to assume them, by
his financial knowledge and familiari-
ty with excisting conditions. His
policy will of course be shaped upon
the same general lines that have here
tofore been indicated by the Prcsi-
dent, and with which the conserva-
tive sentiment of the country is large
ly in concurrence.
Politically the appointment will be
acceptable to Republicans everywhere,
and in party sense be adjudged ex-
ceedingly judicious. In a broader and
non-partisan sense it will be regarded
as popular choice, and under the
circumstances probably the best that
could have been made.
Representative Wickham, of Ohio.
chairman of the house committee on
coinage, on Saturday submitted to the
House, by authority of the committee.
an adverse report On the Senate bill
for free coinage of silver
The report holds that the present
law is sufficient, and concludes: In
view of the feeling that there is no
need at present for further legisla-
tion, and at the same time being not
unmindful of the fact that this Con-
greSS at its last session upon a direct
vote rejected free coinage of silver.
provided for in language identical
with that in this bill, and recommends
that it do not pass"
Mr.. Grains joint resolution proyid-
ing for constitutional amendment
requiring that each Congress shall
open on the first Monday in January
after the Congressional elections, and
that Presidential inaugurations shall
take place on the 30th of April, can
not be adopted too soon. The reason
OF both propositions is obvious. The
long and awkward holiday break will
not only be avoided, but the sessions
of Congress will probably be made of
nearly equal length under the provi-
sion. The Inauguration of President
and Vice-President has often happen
ed to fall on cold, bleak or disagree
ably wet day, such as frequently oc-
ours in March. April 80 which has
historic associations in the American
mind on account of the Inauguration
OF President Washington on that day,
comes nearly two months later, when
the sunshine and the flowers have al
so come. Health, comfort, conven-
fence, all dictate a change from the
4th of March to April 30. On bust
ness grounds the first part of the
amendment is impregnable. The hurry
of the short session causes imperfect
legislation at great discomfort to the
working members of the two houses.
The great advantage of abolishing the
long delay between the election and
assembling of Congress is also obvious.
Speaker Reed and large number Of
the leading Republicans held a con-
ference last night, the object being to
arrange an order of business for the
eight full working days which now re-
main of the session. From this time
until the 4th of March the committee
on rules will be the masters of the
situation, and although the program
which it will follow is not absolutely
determined upon, it is known that
the shipping bill and the direct tax
bill will be among the most important
measures that will be passed. The
most important result of the confer
ence, however, was an agreement up
on coup d'etat which will place the
minority absolutely at the mercy of
the majority.
1t has been decided that if Demo-
Gratis insist this morning on the read
ing of the journal in full, not to offer
any objections, although with ten roll
calls that were taken ON Saturday, the
reading of the journal will occupy at
least three and half hours. But
this instance will be regarded by the
Republican leaders as an indication
that the Democrats propose to con-
tinue filibustering, and tomorrow
morning the coup will be put into
operation. Naturally enough, the
Republican leaders would not disclose
their plan of last night, but enough of
it's details are known to indicate an
interesting scene in the House.
1t does not often happen that the
departments of government are closed
on one day to observe the death of one
great man, and also on the secular
day following to commemorate the
birth of another. America grieves
for Sherman and remembers Washing
ton.
There's good deal OF guarantee
business in the store-keepfng of to-
day. It's too excessive. Or too reluc-