Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1892-03-17
WASHINGTON NEWS.
From our Regular Correspondent)
Washington. March IA. 1892.

Mr.. Harrison certainly has not fa-
vorably impressed the majority of the
Republican Senators by his manipula-
tion OF the Behring's Sea matter in
such a way as to create war scare,
whatever effect it may have had in
other quarters. Senator Sherman,
who is chairman OF the Senate com
mittee on Foreign Affairs, expressed
his opinion in very few words by say
ing: "A war, or even a contention
between the United States and Great
Britain for cause so trivial as one
years fishing for seals. would be a
crime against civilization. A promi-
nent Republican, who is warm per-
sonal friend of Secretary Blaine, said
today that this whele affair had been
directed by Mr.. Harrison without the
knowledge of Mr.. Blaine, who was for
nearly week too sick to attend to
any business, and that when Mr..
Blaine learned what had been done
his first impulse was to take advan-
tage of his illness, make that an ex-
cuse, and tender his resignation to
take effect at once. He was persuaded
to change his mind, but it is not at all
certain that he will consent to remain
in the cabinet, He is gong South as
soon as he can travel, and the date for
his return is very uncertain. Naval
officials are dropping mysterious hints
about sending u naval force strong
enough TO fight to stop the poaching
In Behring's Sea, but nobody here be-
lieves that there will be any fighting,
or any occasion for fighting.
The Democrats of the house held a
caucus Saturday night and authorized
a committee to select the House men,
bers of the Congressional campaign
committee for this year. Representa-
tive McCreary. of Kentucky, will
probably be the chairman of the COM
mittee. which will begin work at once.
The United States government has
! profited directly to the extent OF
81 900, 900 by its dealings with the
inventors of the country, that being
the amount of the surplus earnings of
the Patent Office now lying idle in the
United States Treasury, to say moth
ing OF the indirect benefit the conn
try has received by reason of the in
ventions upon which it has granted
patents. This makes it seem all the
harder that on account of the failure
OF Congress to authorize the expendi-
ture OF portion of the surplus earn
ings of the Patent Office, to provide
necessary room, the Commissioner of
Patents has been compelled to stop
furnishing copies OF patents issued.
This is a hardship not only to inven-
tors, but to manufacturers, owners of
patents, and other business men who
for one reason or another often find it
important to have copies OF certain
| patents.
| Great business pressure is being
brought to bear on the House commit
tee on Rivers and Harbors, in favor of
the proposed ship channels connect
ing the great lakes, and more than
one hundred Representatives, from
Northern, Central and Western states
have signed a letter addressed to the
committee, strongly endorsing the
scheme. and asking that it be pro-
vided for in the river and harbor bill
shortly to be reported to the House.
The House committee on Territories
will take formal vote on the bill for
the admission of New Mexico, on
Wednesday Of this week. 1t will be
favorably reported, and it is believed
that it will certainly pass the House,
but the indications are that it will be
"hung up in the Senate.
Senator Hills Southern trip appears
to be giving the Republicans lot of
trouble. He goes in response to warm
and pressing invitations, and he is
certain to meet welcome worthy OF
his distinguished services for, and his
prominent position in the Democratic
party.
So many members of the House wish
to make speeches on the free wool bill,
now before the House, that it will be
necessary to hold night sessions this
week in order to give even few OF
them chance to have their say be-
fore the vote Is taken, next Monday.
The present arrangement is to have
the debate closed by ex-Speaker Reed,
for the Republicans, and Speaker
Crisp, for the Democrats.
Two things will occur on Tuesday,
March %. in which Democrats every
where are deeply interested. At
Washington the House win take up
the Bland free coinage bill. and at
Austin, Texas, the legislature
Ia special session vii. begin