The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-03-04
FRIDAY. MARCH q, 1892.
WASHINGTON LETTER

iOuilu IL aoooiutSlN iinpoSSiDlC w iSdIi
any agreement that would be satisfac
tory to the free silver democrats, have
wisely concluded that the free coinage
bill should not be made party meas
ure. This leaves every member free
to vote on it just as he pleases. 1t will
be taken up after the free wool bill is
passed, and there will be very warm
fight on it, with all the chances in fav-
or Of its going through the House, un-
less the republican members shall disc
hey ex-Czar Reeds orders and vote
against it. Representative Harter, of
Ohio, who is leading the opposition to
the bill, proposes to offer an amend
ment giving pensioners, depositors in
savings banks, holders of life insurance
policies, and all persons earning less
than $1,000 year, the right to de.
mand gold payments. Representative
Bland, the leader of the silver demo
Gratis, says the bill will certainly pass
the House and he thinks it will also
get through the Senate.
Whatever may have been Secretary
Mobiles sentiments toward the Com
missioner Of Pensions at one time, his
testimony before the House investiga-
ton committee leaves no doubt of his
intention to shield Raum and his ad-
ministration of the Pension Office in
every possible way. This change of
base on the part of the Secretary is
SAID to be the result of conference
he had with Mr.. Harrison, soon after
the House adopted the resolution au-
thorizing the investigation. The COM
mittee will, beginning with the present
week, devote Mondays and Thursdays
to the investigation until it is compile
ted, which will not be for some time,
unless there is change of programme.
The House Committee on Banking
and Currency will not begin the inves-
tigatlon Of tie wrecked Philadelphia
nd Boston national banks until chair
an Bacon's return from Florida,
hich will be inside of two weeks. This
,mmittee has been considering the
i'll to incorporate the international
American bank, recommended by the
Pan-American Congress, and several
of the members of the committee have
expressed doubts as to the constitu
tionality Of the bill.
Again the cry Of three thousand
men and women, compelled by stern
necessity to labor daily or nightly in
the unsafe and unhealthy building oc-
.cupied by the Government Printing
Offices, goes up to Congress for relief
in the shape Of a new building; again
the local papers are filled with indig-
nant communications from patriotic
citizens, who, after visiting the man.
9th fire-proof palaces Of industry erec-
ted by private capital for the use of
the newspapers of our large cities, be
comes heartily ashamed of the manner
in which the lsrgest printing Office in
the world is housed, and are calling
upon Congress to remedy the evil be-
fore the civilized world is shocked by
some awful catastrophe, costing many
lives. The appropriations for public
buildings will necessarily be curtailed
to an unusual extent this year, but it
will be in the interest of economy to
provide for new Government Print
ing Office.
Another change has been made in
the programme Of the Ways and Means
committee, and the first tariff bill to
be called up will be the free wool bill,
instead of the free binding twihe bill.
The committee expects to call it up
tomorrow and that about three weeks
will be occupied in debating it.
1t is believed that the House com.
mittee on Territories will favorably re-
port the Utah bin likewise those for
the admission of New Mexico and
Arizona.
The published statement that Scna-
tor German held conference with
Representative Bland on the free coin
age bill was entirely without founda-
ton. Senator German did call on
Mr.. Bland and some other prominent
members of the House, but it was to
suggest that the House caucus should
select the committee, which, IN con
junction with like Senate committee,
selects the members Of the Congress-
ional campaign committee Mr.. Cor
man thinks it is time for the campaign
committee to be selected, if the party
expects to retain its present majority
in the House, and he is by no means
alone in thinking so.
1t was stern necessity that prompted
the House committee on Public Build
ings and Grounds to rer ort a resolu-
ton declaring it unwise and expedient
to enter upon legislation looking to-
wards the erection Of new public build
|ings at this session. The committee
gives its reason in detail the de-
sttftftat rs =" ~