The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-12-23
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON ID. c., Dec. 10, 1877.
Speaker Crisp's mail has been unusually
large this week. owing to the unfortn-
nate occurrence at the banquet OF the
New York Club. but he still maintains
the dignified position he has occupied
from the first He has made no COM
plaint and will make none; and neither
he nor his friends have ever even for
moment entertained the belief that
President-elect Cleveland had any other
connection with the banquet than that OF
the chief guest of honor. As usual, the
Republicans have tried TO make noun
tains ont of mole hiHS, and to make it
appear that the Democratic party was al
ready divided into two great factions,
with the President-elect at the head of
one and the Speaker of the House at the
head of the other. 1t is the wish to see
the Democratic party divided that is
father To the false statement.
Almost IA sensation was created in the
House, when the army appropriation bill
which was passed this week,was taken up
for consideration. by an amendment pro
posed 10y Representative Anthony, OF
Texas. providing that no payment of sal
arv should be made from the approprI-
alton to any person receiving "A pension
or allowance from the Government.
There is "A bare possibility that the sill
yer question may be taken up In the
House this session, but Is not very pro
bable The subject was discussed at a
meeting of the House coinage committee
this week and in response To PROPOSE
ton that the House be given an oppor-
| tunitv to vote on the bill proposing the
repeal of the Sherman silver law, Mr..
| Bland said he was perfectly willing, pro
vided that it be offered as an amend
ment to his free coinage bill, now on the
calender, and that afterwards the House
Toe given an opportunity 10 vote on that
measure. The committee will consider
| this proposition further AZ Its next meet
| ing.
| Senator Vests resolution providing
for "A commission to negotiate an agree
! ment with the five civilized tribes of In
| dians for them to take up land in sever
| ality and sell the remainder to the Gov
| ernment so that ii might be opened for
| settlement has been the basis of some
| interesting talk in the Senate, showing
that while there are differences of Opln-
| ion as to Just how they shall be abolished
there is practical unanimity in the be
lief that the present separate and lnde'
pendent government maintained by
those Indians must give way to a Ter
ritorial government. The Senators eX'
psess themselvesaS wishing that the logic
of the situation will 50 impress itSeli
upon the Indians that they will them
selves see the wisdom of a change, and
there are some who are ready to support
IA movement towards forcing a change
without regard to the wishes of the In
dians.
The investigation of the present con
ditiOn of the Treasury and the probable
future revenues of the Government un'
der existing laws, which the House has
authorized the committee on Ways and
Means To make, will not begin until af
ter the first of the year, as the commit
tee has decided that it will save time and
give better basis TO compute from tC
take their figures at the close of busineS:
on December 81. which ends the tirs
half of the fiscal year. Meanwhile
members Of the committee are hard a
work to get themselves thoroughly post
ed in the matters with which the inves
tigation will deal. Secretary Foster has
informed the House committee on Ap
preparations that there will surely be an
available balance of as much as $40, 900
600 in the Treasury at the close of tn,
current fiscal year.
Senator Daniel has offered a resolution
instructing the civil service commission
to publish pamphlet giving in detail tn,
offices in each department that are il
the classified service and those outsid,
! y. D., !
states already have their full quota o
Federal ofiice-holders, and the numbe
required To make up the quota of thOs'
which haven [ their share. 1t IS no
; probable that the Republican Senator
will allow the resolution TO go through
but If the information asked for was IL
print it would be a mighty useful docu
ment to those Democrats who have
hankering To get on Uncle Sans pay
roll.
Notwithstanding the nealneSS of tn,
close OF this administration, Mr.. Harri
son finds no difficulty in getting Repub
hcans to accept appointment to office
Perhaps it l. because they think that Re
: publicans in prominent offices are tO b
very scarce for generation to come tina
they are willing to accept office now
even when they know that they can onl,
retain them for "A few months
The anti-option bill Is slowly draggin.
along in the Senate There are dali
speeches on it, but it has been So mucl
discussed that ii l. hard to say anything
r new about it.
4 bill to increase the tax on whiske
from 80 cents to 81. % gallon has beel
| introduced in the House NJ