San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-04-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
| From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. March IS, 'O2.

direction OF state department. aHsirs,
although he has not fully recovered
from the attack of the grip from
which he has been q sufferer for sew
eral weeks, and 1t can be positively
stated that the President has no more
ardent supporter in his controversy
with Lord salisbury, concerning
Behring Sea matters, than Secretary
Blaine.
The situation continues critical,
owing to the failure Of Lord Salisbury
to saw definitely what his govern.
ment proposes 10 do, and while
neither the President nor any mem.
Der of the cabinet anticipates war
with Great Britain they recognize
that hostilitIes may result from the
orders issued to the Commanders OF
the Naval vessels of the two powers,
which will soon be in Behring Sea.
1t is certain that the Commanders Of
the u. s. vessels, which will include
some of our strongest fighting chips,
will be directed to seize all vessels
engaged in taking seals illegally, no
matter what flag they fly, and it may
be that the British commanders of
war vessels, which according to the
latest information have already De-
gan to gather in the vicinity OF the
sealing waters, will be ordered to
Iro,ect sealing vessels flying the
British flag. Here lies the danger.
If Great Britain will keep her fingers
out of the muddle there will be no
trouble, even If she persists in de-
clining to renew the modus vlvendi.
1t is this uncertainty that is causing
| this government to prepare for trouble,
as TAR as it may under the circum-
stances.
The Senate has informally agreed
to ratify the arbitration treaty, but
owing to the unusual precautions 10
keep the proceedings of the Executive
sessions on the subject secret there
is doubt as to whether the ratifica-
| ton will be on condition that the
modus vivendi be renewed, or be
without conditions.
| The House Census committee has
given considerable attention to the
| proposition of esta blishing perma
nent census bureau, and has heard
arguments on the subject from a
number of gentle men, including
superintendent Porter, and it has
\ invited General Francis A. Walker,
|
I Census, to give the committee his
ideas on the subject at an early day
as may suit his convenience.
| A joint caucus OF republican sena-
tors and repres entatives will be held
Thursday night. The only business
that will be brought before the caucus
will be the selection OF the members
of the congressional campaign com.
mittee.
The Paddock Pure Food bill, which
was recently passed by the Senate.
will be favorably reported to the
House by the committee on Agricul-
ture.
The President is deeply interested
in the success of the q. A. R. en-
campment, which is to be held here
this year, as his special message to
Congress in favor of the bill appro-
priating 100000, one-hslf to be paid
from the revenues of the District of
Columbis, shows.
A National organization to be
known as the Henry Clay club, has
been organized here. Its motto is,
1.-THE protection of American markets
and the elevation of Americans" and
its purpose is to unite those persons
WHO are believers in the fundamental
principles so ably advocated by Hen
ry Clay, and to encourage the pro.
mitigation snd adoption OF those
/ truths which were the inspiration of
: his life work. Literature is to be
} distributed and branch clubs organ
! ized in the mining ard manufacture
ing section of the South, and arrange.
ments have already been perfected
for sending the following eloquent
gentlemen to that section to make
speeches: Hon. Chauncy. M. Depue,
EY Senator Evarts, and Representa-,
tive Reed and Burrows.
The fate of the Free Coinage Bill,
which every body expected to have
been decided, as far as the House is
concerned last week. is still a matter
of doubt. The House committee on
. Rules is now celebrating on propo-
sition from Repres entative Bland, the
author of the dill, to report q special
rule, again bringing the bill before
the House and prohibiting fillibuster-
} ing thereon, in other words the very
cloture rule which democratic speak
!, ers and editors declared to be uncon-
stitutional and everything that was
bad when it was proposed that the
republicans OF the Senate should
adopt 1t TO pass the election bill, at
: the last session of congress. But the
8 defeat of the silver men last week
{ appears to have taken the confidence
, out of them TO q large extent, and
t many of them openly express their
t fears that the bill will be defeated
The anti-silver men, however, also
l express fears that the bill will pass
: If it ever gets to straight vote before
the House, which makes it evident
8 that the issue of this weeks fight il
: extremely doubtful and that it will