Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-01-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
[rpn our r.rul.r core,popa.pl.l

lIrom our fo2uiaT Conetponoebtl
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. s. 1890.
Senators Edmunds and Sherman
have engineered q large number OF
audacious schemes to success during
their long legislative careers, but their
latest scheme Is the most audacious Of
all. It's, for the United States TO prae-
tically assume the entire responsibility
Of building the Nicaragua canal by
guaranteeing 500, ,000, 900 of bonds to
be issued by the company now at work
upon the canal. This scheme has been
very quietly worked, and the first
thing the public knew of IL was when
the committee on Foreign Relations
presented report to the Senate Satur-
day in favor of amending the law un-
der which this corporation was char
tered so as to guarantee these bonds, In
order, as the committee gravely In
forms the public, that they may be
sold at par, instead of at big discount
as they would If issued without the
Government guarantee. Thus 1t Is
proposed to make the United States
furnish the credit to build the canal,
while the profits should there be any,
are to be enjoyed by private cor
poration. These gentlemen may think
that lot of fine talk about american
interests being at stake will reconcile
the people TO such legislation as this,
but 1t will not. If the Government Is to
furnish the money to build the canal
let the corporation step aside and the
Government take charge.
Mr.. Harrison attempted to take a
small revenge upon Senators Teller and
WoIcott Of Colorado, for their daring to
oppose the Force bill and to favor free
coinage, by nominating ex-senator
placable enemy of the two Senators, to
be a member of the international
Monetary Commission, and this nomi-
nation has brought about unique state
of affairs in the Senate. 1t has always
been a custom in the Senate to confirm
the nominations of ex-members of that
body without the formality of referr-
ing them to committees, but Senators
Teller and Wolcott have succeeded in
breaking down usage and having this
nomination, which they both regard as
intended as personal affront to, them
hung up, and they will leave no stone
unturned to have 1t rejected.
On Wednesday of this week the Sen.
ate will vote on the new silver bill, and
there is little doubt that free coinage
amendment will be adopted by very
substantial majority, but that it can
get through the House in the face OF
the opposition of Gar Reed and the
administration, is not so certain
although the silver men in the Senate
who claim to have made a careful can
vas of the House, say that it is bound
to go through Reed or no Reed
But something is being Matched up be.
tween the anti-silver republicans and
the administration that may have some
effect upon the House. I can't say jusl
what it is, but know that conferences
are constantly being held, both at the
White House and at the residence o.
Senators and the silence of the anti-sil
yer Republicans when asked as to theil
intentions is of itself suspicious.
Some people think that Mr.. Harrison
IS trying to make bargain with the
republicans who voted against theil
party to lay aside the Force bill by
promising.to sign the free coinage bill
If it passes the House if they will prom
ise to vote to take up the Force bill
again when the financial bill is dis
posed of and to vote for its passage. I
this be true, he must have made a fail
ure with the Colorado Senators, or h'
would not have affronted them b,
nominating their most bitter enemy tc
an important position.
It is denied that there is any friction
between Secretaries Proctor and Nobl
over the Indian policy that has beel
adopted by the administration of put
. ting army officers in charge of tn
f agencies. All the same it is know
, that Mr.. Noble publicly stated his op
position to the change before it was or
| dered by Mr.. Harrison.
Whenever anybody in Washington
gets possession of an Improbable piec
of real estate they Immediately begin t
lay wires to- unload it upon the Govern
. ment. Here's case in point: Sewers
) years ago capitalist built hotel or
posite the Senate wing of the Capitol
it bankrupted everybody who tried
run itand,for year or more it has bee
tenantless. On Saturday bill wa
favorable reported from the Senat
committee on Public Building an
8 Grounds to purchase this building fo
1925, 900 to be used as committee room
and to accommodate the Senate folC
, ing room.
It now looks as if the ship subsid
o bill job might be defeated in the Hous
q It's opponents are increasing on tE
republican side and it is making n
gains among the Democrats.
1t now turns out that Spain isn't ha
as anxious to negotiate reciprocit
+ treaty with us as has been stated b
T Mr.. Blaine's friends. and that she wi
, demand the big half of the bargain
!. any treaty that is proposed by M
q Blaine.
! Representative Turner, of Kansa
intimates that the letter offering
bribe to Mr.. McGrath, to which h
name was forged, was instigated b
! friends of Ingalls,.