Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1892-04-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
lFrom Our Regular Correspondent


WAsHISsToN, March 81. 1892.
The presidents backbone is made oftrue
blue American material. When he re-
ceived Lord Salisbury's evasive answer 10
his plain request Tor information as to
what Great Britain proposed to do in re-
gard to the preservation OF the sealing in
dustry in Behring sea, he sent what was in
efftc AN ultimatum to the British govern
ment. Lord Salisbury promptly took the
hint, however, and acceded to the de-
mauds of the United States. The senate
has since ratified tn, treaty providing for
arbitration of existing disputes.
The big silver fight is over, for the pres
ent anyway. The anti.free coinage msn
made the best showing in the oratorical
line, but when it came to voting they were
not Sin it, with the free coinage men. 1t
is now said that Speaker Crisp made
pledges as to the makeup of the coinage
committee and the committee on rules, as
well as to his own action in the chair, while
the Democratic caucus for the nomius tiou
of speaker WAS in session. the last of which
he fulfilled TO n letter. this week.
Representative Dingley, OF Maine, be-
lieves that the suh-letting of contracts for
carrying the mails is an evil OF large pro,
portions and he proposes that congress
shall declare it Illegal. and backs up his
proposition with numerously signed pc
tition asking that it he done.
Even the Democrats on the house Judi
cisry committee refused to endorse the
absurd bill which Representative Enlne in.
| trnduced a short time ago for the sole pur-
pose oi trying to get some evidence frou
employees OF the pension bureau against
Gen. Raum. The bill pr"fessed to be for
the protection of such government en-.
pIoyes as might testify before congres.
sional committees concerning abuses in the
public service but its real object was tn
encourage sneaks To vent their private
spite on officials over them, either by put
ting up Jobs or 10y outright perjury. The
hill is dead.
Speaker Crisp considers the term Mug
wump" unpariamentary and so ruled dur
| ing the silver debate, when Representative
Taylor, of Illinois, was called to order for
referring to the Massachusetts, Democratic
members as mugwumps.
The first amendment reported from the
committee on Indian affairs to the Indian
appropriation bill, which is now being con-
sidered by the senate. provided for the
striking out of the section ofthe bin direct
ing the president To detail army officers to
act as Indian agents whenever vacancies
occur. This amendment caused a lively
debate in the senate, hut was finally
adopted.
senator German stirred up regula
hornets nest 10y the publication ia the
New York sun (which it is said will at tn,
proper TINA support German for the Dem
ocratic nomination. of an interview. and
le has been kept busy all the week ex
planning and denying references mad,
therein to other Democrats.
Ii there be any truth in rumors Senator
Hill has not prolited by getting knocke,
down by the house election committee
which, in spite OF his orders to the con
trary, reported in favor of giving the seat
now held by Rockwell, of New York, to
Col. Noyes, the Republican contestant, and
he will make the Tammany members fight
the report OF the committee on the floor
of the house. II he does he will regret it th,
longest day he lives, as the Cleveland Dem
oerats would ask nothing better than sucl
AN opportunity Ia show up the methods o
Hill.