Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-02-12
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent
Washington, d. c. FEB. 6. 1891.

crossing a bridge until he comes to it,
and no man has even been authorized
by him to say that he would either sign
or veto the free coinage bill, shOuld thai
measure get through the House. Il
hasn't got through the House, and al
the present time the chances seem rather
against its doing so. The bridge which
the President is now preparing to cross
is the choosing of suitable man to ill
the place left vacant by the sudden
death of Secretary Window. and it was
10 enable him to cross in safety that be
asked Congress to extend the time fol-
making the selection, which had here
tofore been limited to ten days; and
Congress has sensiblY adopted his sug-
gestion, as it might profitably have done
in other instances, and passed a bill
extending the time for filling the va
cancy to thirty days.
MIR. Harrison is going about this diff
cult and important task with his usual
caution and elaboration; he has no favor
ite for the position, and is determined
to secure the best man that can possibly
be obtained, and in order to ascertain
who that man is he has invited the ad-
vice of prominent republicans in and
out OF Congress. When they have all
had an opportunity to present the claims
of those they think best fitted to per-
form the arduous duties of Secretary of
the Treasury, Mr.. Harrison will care.
fully weigh the merits of the gentlemen
suggested and make his selection. And
l run no risk in predicting that he will
make no mistake.
The Republican Senators held eau
Gus Thursday night to determine the
order of business for the remainder of
the Session, and it is understood that
the question of whether the Federal
Election bill should again be taken up
was also discussed but that no definite
conclusion was reached.
The more testimony that is taken by
the House committee engaged in the in
yestigation of the alleged Congression-
al silver pool or pools the stronger grows
the belief that there was no pool or
combine to influence legislation, and
that those Senators and Representatives
that engaged in specializing in silver
only two, Senator Cameron and Rep
resentative Abner Taylor, of Illinois,
have admitted being engaged in such
speculation-did so on their own judge
ment. This week J. A. Owenby, the
man who originated the charge, was a
witness before the committee. and his
testimony proved absolutely nothing
one way or tho other He seemed TO be
only an impecuneous adyenturer who
was himself trying to speculate without
capital. and as soon as he was dis
charged from the custody of the deputy
Sergeant-at-A Arms of the House who
had brought him from Chicago, he was
arrested upon criminal charge of hav-
ing obtained S17 under false pretense
by means of a worthless check. A nice
sort OF fellow to attempt to blacken
the character of Congressman.
Both House and Senate have in the
main been quietly jogging along on the
regular appropriation bill this week,
although the silver question was the
cause of some personalities on the floor
of the Senate between Mr.. Dawes, of
Massachusetts. and Mr.. Cockereil, of
Missouri, and also in the committee
room of the House committee on Coin
age. between Mr.. Bland, of Missouri,
and Mr.. Walker of Massachusetts, both
members of that committee. The cause
was practically the same in both instan-
ces the opposition to free coinage. which
is making itself felt here. Mr. Cocker
ell charged that the opposition was
being manufactured by kilograms sent
from here, and that Mr.. Edward Akin
son was engaged in working it Up. Mr..
Dawes defended Mr.. Atkinson, who al
though democrat is one of his consti-
tuents, and for few minutes it looked
as if there would be blows passed be-
| tween the two Senators. In the House
committee room Mr.. Bland charged Mr..
Walker with trying to smother the bill
| in CON mittee, and that gentleman
warmly defended himself and said that
his only object was to obtain the views
of competent financiers before reporting
| the bill, and for that reason he favored
granting hearings to all responsible
business organizations that wished to be
heard. The committee voted with Mr..
Walker, but Mr.. Bland said the matter
would be appealed to the House. There
/ Az