New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-17
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
NO FOUNDATION FOR TIE REPORTS OF A
CALL FOR AN EXTRA SESSION.
OF TIE SENATE.
GOVERNOR HILL AND II sENATE-A CoNsUMP-
TIVE WHO FINDS A CURE IN SOUTH AFRICA
PORTEE. AND GENERAL
SHERMAN - THE PRESIDENTS
CONTEMPLATED VISIT
TO CALIFORNIA

SHERMAN THE PRESIDENTS
CONTEMPLATED VISIT
TO ~FORNIA.
Washington, Feb. l5.-Thcre is no foundation
for the widely circulated report that the President
intends 10 call the Senate together in executive
session after March 4. That is 70 say, there
&c no present necessity for such a call. II is not
an unusual thing for the Senate 10 be called to-
cether after a short session. IL Is always called
following the Inauguration OF a President. Eat
where il is called during a Presidential term, there
is ALWAYS some special cause. The reason which
has been given for n call now does not exist.
IT, has been said that Mr.. Blaine has a number
of reciprocity treaties which he wishes to submit
to the Senate, and that this body will be called
together for the purpose OF considering several
additional treaties. Mr.. Blaine's visit to the Capt.
tol for the purpose of conterrlng win senators
unon this subject has been described with elab-
oroto detail. Those who have circulated this
report have overlooked the fact that the treaties
being made now under the reciprocity policy OF
the Administration do not require any action OF
tho Senate. The President has full authority.
under the Mckinley bill, to negotiate these treaties
and his proclamation following the negotiation Is
all that is needed to secure their ratification IN
this country. The reciprocity treaties now pend
ing will follow the lines of the Mckinley Tariff bill.
They will be confined exclusively TO the articles
of commerce which the President was authorized
to consider. If at any time any treaty should
he negotiated outside Of these lines, it would
have to 90 to the Senate. as a matter Of course,
One of the reasons for giving the President special
authority was to avoid delay. If a treaty had
been negotiated under the former conditions of
the law. then it would have had TO 90 to the
Senate for consideration and possibly for change.
If changed, il would have had to 20 back to
the foreign Government for acceptance. and then
Congress would have to provide means aftcrward
for carving il out. If it had not been for the
amendment to the Mckinley Tariff bill, the treaty
with Brazil and those which are now
being negotiated might not have reached compile
ton before the end of this Administration AS IT
is. the coming year will probably see the full
completion of treaties of reciprocity with all the
South American countries.
The President is gradually reaching a decision
in the matter of the Secretaryship OF the Treasury.
One Of the Presidents advisers said to-day:
Z" The matter is narrowing, and it is now between
three men," The President keeps his own counsel,
however, and has not, up 10 the present time,
indicated even 20 one of his Cabinet associates
Just what ne will do. lie is watching the course
OF affairs in Congress. 1t is possible that he may
take some one from there. If he does, it is not
probable that he will make the appointment
until after Congress adiouinS.
The friends of Governor Hill have been much
worried over the possibility of an executive session
of the Senate being called. Several of them
have been in Washington in the last two or three
dOys for the purpose of finding out what would
likely be done. These gentlemen have said.
whether by authority or not, that Governor Hill
would not in any event resign his Office rs Gov
ernor and would not come 10 Washington until
next December. They were free 10 say, however,
that he would much prefer not 10 have such a
disagreeable contingency presented. Governor HUI
is pictured by his friends as having the future
New-York delegation TO the National Democratic
Convention absolutely within his grasp, AMI theY
declare that it will vote solidly for him or for
anybody that he may select. This IL n great
claim to be made for any party leader, 50 long
in advance of the time. The veterans of National
politics say that Governor Hill is a great man
now in New-YorS local affairs, but that the day
he is removed TO Washington he will lose his hold
upon the machine which lie now has under control.
These veterans show that this has always been 50
in politics. Tie local dignitary. when he leaves
his place Of local power and goes TO n new field,
cannot hope TO maintain his home influence. He
HlIDU ~ W vi a y inv " NNH' -
his new field.
DR.. Wilson, a former officer in the Navy, who
served with Admiral Farragut during the war, IS
is Washington for the winter. DR.. Wilson found,
soon after the war, that he was troubled with
consumption. He sought medical advice and he
was told that he could not at best live more than
six months, if he should remain in this country.
He is to-day tall, broad-shouldercd, with the
rud6v annoaropcc If "a man who has ucN-cr known
a day of sickness, and he says that he cured him
self by what is known as the Out-of-doors treat
mcnt. lie went first to the Cape Of Good Hope
and wandered about through South Africa. lie
in agriculture and hunting. He spent
a good many years in the Transvaal. lie would not
live in a house until his lungs became thoroughly
healed. He now owns the half Of the Island Of
Johanna, one Of the CamOrc Group. IL is an
island perhaps twenty-five miles in circumference
lie has a large SUGAR plantation on this island.
which is 900 feet above the sca-levcl. The only
other white man on the island is an Enelishman,
also a sugar-planter. DIR. Wilson is a bachelor. |
lie has built up a comfortable place for himself
on this island. The climate is perfect and his
business good. There is no place in the world
so enchanting to him as this island in the South
Atlantic. The climate is cquable, His pleasure
and recreation are found in huating in the Trans
lie mas SPll away nearly seventeen wears |
from this country, and when nc first came back
the English language was not easy TO speak, so
long had he been associated with the natives. |
dialects be was Obliged 20 speak. He can
now go anywhere in any climate, as his lunys are
as strong as any.
The death of Admiral Porter renders vacant the
one of the great Offices created by Congress
after the war as a special reward for distinguished
.u.-;nnc A. fbn o1,eo % al. .. -
such rank as Admiral or Vice-Admiral Of the Navy,
and the highest rank in the Army was that of
M~ajor-General, as il is now. The rank of Lieu
tenant-General was first created for General Grant
and then Congress established for him the grade
Of General, to which he was promoted. Sherman
to the title of Lieutcnant-Genera and
became General when Grant was elected to the
Presidency. Sheridan succeeded 10 the Lieutcn-
Ut ann lALln - La...- L.-.L. -