Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-01-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Written and compiled for the HERALD
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. 1.-THE
President is not worrying himself about
the cyclone of bills which have been in
troduced IN the House by the Democrats.
He knows, as do the authors of these
bills, that there is not even slight prob
ability that any bill repeating or hamper
ing the proper administration of any law
enacted by the Fifty-frst Congress will
become law during the life of the Fifty
second Congress; and there is no doubt
that he, in common with other Republi
cans, has been amused to see the antics
of the leaderless majority in the House.
The President is going right ahead pre-
pairing his proclamation of retaliation,
warning which has been gwen the coun-
tries interested, against those countries
which have neglected to negotiate reel
procity agreements with us, just as though
Representative Andrew had not intro
duced bill repeating tho clause of the
reciprocity law which gives the Presi-
dent this authority. The proclamation
will be issued on the 18th of March, and
will restore the duty which existed before
the Mckinley tariff law went into effect,
upon sugar, molasses, coffee, tea and hides
from those countries.
The fact is regarded as significant by
the Cleveland Democrats that Senator
Hill has already become a crony OF Sena-
tor Germans. 1t has convinced them of
the truth of the rumored combination
between these two men to control the
Democratic Presidential nomination. And
it effectually disposes of the silly-billy
talk about German being Cleveland's
friend. In fact there are not three
Democratic Senators who can be really
called friends of Cleveland, and yet they
may all be compelled by circumstances to
swallow their dislike and support him for
President. But if trickery can prevent
Cleveland's nomination Hill and German
will succeed in doing it.
"There are" said member of the
House committee on patents, "lots of
inequalities in our law system. If thief
is detected stealing my pocket book, con-
tanning only few dollars, can have the
satisfaction of seeing him sent to prison
for it ; but if an irresponsible thief
financially irresponsible l mean-steals
my idea, represented in patented in
vention, no matter how valuable it may
be, my only redress 10 to sue him for
damages, knowing beforehand that the
Judgment will not be worth the paper
is written on. This ought to be changed
and l am glad to see q growing sentiment
in favor of making the patent thief
amensble to the same law as the other
thieves. l hope to see it done at the
present session."
The big Democratic majority in the
House is already beginning to founder
around helplessly for lack of a competent
leader. Mills has washed his hands Of
the whole business and gone home to
work for the Senatorship, and before he
left he made no secret of his disgust at
the outlook for his party. Crisp is still
confined to his room, and there IS too
mach rivalry between snch men as
Springer and Holman to admit of either
of them being accepted as leader. The
only thing that the Democrats are certain
of is that they are opposed to appropria-
tions for apy purpose. Many of them are
clamoring for a caucus, but the older
heads fear to call one until they know the
intentions of the new members little
better Springer's positive statement
that no free silver bill will be passed
by the House hao raised a rumpus, ard
Democrats who favor free silver are re-
sentlng it as an unwarranted assumption
of bossism.
Nonsensical stories about the state of
Secretary Blaine's health are again plenti-
full Mr.. Blaine is not sick, on the con-
trary be is daily performing an amount OF
arduous work which proves him to be in
a very vigorous condition. The Gillian
Minister could, if be desired, give some
conclusive testimony on this subject,
based upon his personal negotiations with
Mr.. Blaine.
Senator Sherman received warm con-
gratulations when he returned from Ohio
He has nothing but kind words tor ex
Governor Foraker, who, by the way,
made many new friends here by his
manly speech to the legislative caucns
after his defeat.
Secretary Foster has entirely recovered,
but it was thought best that he should
take q short rest before resuming work, so
be has gone to Fortress Monroe.
Postmaster G eneral Wanamaker's idea
Of extending the free delivery of mail
matter has caught on" in Congress and
5hree bills authorizing such extension
nave already been introduced in the
House.
Senator Perkins was given a warm
Welcome in the Senate, and, what is more
Important to him and to Kansas, he will