Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-05-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.
WAsHTNOToE, d. c., May %. 1889.

eDoes the President desire re-
nomination." This question may
sound strange to some people, but
it was seriously asked by Republi
can Senator of four other Republic
can Senator'S, two of whom have
themselves been prominently meu-
toned in this and other President
ial years as available candidates,
and it brought out the fact that al
| though each of the five constantly
meet Mr.. Harrison and discuss
political affairs with him, not one
of them had ever heard him say one
single word that could be construed
as expressing a desire to be nomin-
ated. They were all of the opinion
that the only ground that exists for
supposing that the President does
wish a denomination is that he has
not said that he did not. The con-
versation in question was private,
which preeludes the use of names.
The Senate commerce committee
after mature deliberation concluded
that the river and harbor bill was
too large and proceeded to cut off
more than two million dollars, max
ing the reduction general and uni
form in nearly all of the items Of
the bill
Secretary Foster has approved of
the idea Of coming $l0,OOO,00o in
silver half,doIlars with a special de-
sign commemorative Of the Worlds
Fair, and has promised to lend his
aid in securing the necessary con
gressioual legislation.
The Democrats in Congress daily
grow more uncertain on the Presi-
dental question. They now con.
slider that Hill is no longer even a
possibility, and regard Cleveland as
a possibility, but decline to eoncede
the probability of his nomination
in the face of Hills active opposl.
ton. Many of them confess that
they know not which way to turn
for candidate.
Senator Allison, chairman Of the
Senate committee on appropriations,
and one of the very best authorities
on public business, gave the caIam-
ity walters of the Mills stripe a
knock-down blow when, in defense
of the amendments attached to the
naval appropriation bill by the
Senate committee, he told the Sen
ate that instead of being bankrupt
at the close of the present fiscal
year the u. 5. Treasury would have
after meeting all legal demands a
surplus of $25, 100000. Referring
to the charge SO often made by
Democrats of the extravaganza Of
the fixed appropriations under laws
enacted by Republicans, Senator
Allison asked the Democratic Sena-
tors to name what laws they would
like to repeal so as to reduce the
fixed appropriation. Senator Vest
replied that the Democrats would
like to repeal postal subsidy and the
sugar bounty laws. MIR. Allison
smiled, as well he might, when he
saw that he had so neatly trapped
the Democrats, and turning to Mr.
Vest said, "The repeal of those TIVE
laws would save about SS,000,000
SO the country is asked to elect a
Democratic President and Demo
cratic Senate in order that the sugar
bounty and the postal subsidy laws
may De repeated
Senator Villas, of Wisconsin, ha'
rainbow ideas on internatlona
affairs, as well as upon National
politics. While trying to secure
the defeat of the Senate amend
ments to the naval bill he said
''rhe idea of Englaud's going tl
war with the United States in thi:
age Of civilization and good sense
is simply preposterous." If he
lives long he will probable change
hn mind. The country which re
lies solely upon "ciyilization and
good sense" TO protect it from Eng
lau8 may fairly be considered as be