The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-12-15

| the House last week that treats the financial
question in an entirely new manner. 1t pro-
| vides for the cessation of silver bullion pur-
chases on Jan. !, 1893 and for the sale OF lo0.'
100000 ounces Of silver bullion for gold. Mr.:
Harter thinks the continuance of silver pur-
chases would only increase the ultimate enor-
nous losses of the country growing out of the
act of March, 1873; that these purchases were
destroying confidence at home and abroad, and
stand in the pathway of National prosperity to-
day. The cessation Of these purchases of silver
would, he thinks, cause a renewal OF foreign
purchases of American securities upon large
scale. The repeal of the present law would
start gold from Europe toward America.
x*+
committee of Police Stationkeepers OF
Washington appeared before the House
Committee on Appropriations last week,
and presented a request for an increase
in their pay from $50 per month, the
present rate to that of the second-class OF
police privates of SIS per month. The District
Commissioners and Chief of Police were pres
emit at the Capitol and Endorsed tho request
The members of the committee made strong
arguments for their increase and presented
the records of the di ferent stations to show the
amount of work they are compelled to perform
for small salary. They are also responsible
for the safety of prisoners and the care of the
stations. They claim that their work is more
arduous than that of any 81, 500 Government
clerk.
A party of officials and capitalists left Wash.
ington on Wednesday evening, Dec. Z, for Flor
ida. The party consisted of Secretary of Agri'
culture Rusk, Prof H. W. Wiley, Chemist of the
| Department of Agriculture; Congressman
Hatch, Chairman of the House Committee on
Agriculture; Huff and Hammer, of Pennsylva'
MIA; Hamilton Disston. of Philadelphia, and
several gentlemen associated with him in the
! reclamation of large body of swamp lands in
that State One of the agricultural expert
mental stations is located on this body of land,
and the officials go for the purpose of inspect
| ing the workings of it. While there an inves-
tigation will be made, with a view to determin-
ing whether or not the cane sugar industry can
be prcftably established. The party will be
absent about week.
xSs
Representative "Buck" Kigore of Texas,
was on hand when Congress assembled, and, as
usual, is ready to kill all the private pension
bills that may be offered. He has the reputa-
ton of being ''hard kicker" having kicked
down door of the House during the 5lst Con-
gress, which had been closed by order OF
Speaker Reed to keep quorum in the chamber,
as well as having persstcutly kicked
against all legislation on private pension bills.
lyon can't fool me on quorums," he remarked
one day last week as he rose and swept his ex-
perienced and calculating eye around the
| House. "There are enough Of us here to do
business. Let them bring on their private pen
sion bills. I'll not object. But l would hate
to see four or five of Us get up and go out.
| That would be different"
##x
Representative Robert r. Hit, Of the Sixth
District of Illinois, entertained several men,
bers of the family of eE,Sccretary of State
Blaine, at dinner, on Wednesday evening, Dec.
z. Speaking of Mr.. Blaine's condition, Mr..
| Hit said "I am glad to say that the e1-
Secretary has improved very wonderfully in
health He gets around the house, and yester-
day he went out for drive. He is so much
better that he is saying his old bright things in
his old bright way. The fact of the matter is
that he has been dreadfully cut up over the
death Of his boy Emnons. That explains his
recent gloominess and sadness Coming so
soon after the death of his eldest son, Walker,
the blow was naturally q very severe one. /
hope to see Mr. Blaine restored to his usual
vigor in very short time"
So
Senator Matt. Quay, Of Pennsylvania, was
placed in rather embarrassing position last
week and one which threatened destruction to
his hopes of reelection to the United States
Senate. How he succeeded is not now known.
Philadelphia delegation was in Washington
to induce him to support Philadelphia for
Speaker Of the Pennsylvania Legislature,
which meets in January, while at the same
time country delegation was here to get him
to support the country candidate for the Speak
ership. Both delegations promised Senator
Quay to support him for reelection in return
for his influence for their candidate. and it is
said that each threatened trouble if he refused
to favor their candidate. Mr. Quay has been
endeavoring to keep out Of the Speakership
fight, but it appears that his constituents will
not pe.mit him to do so.
40
The Democrats chuekling over and repeat
ing what they consider very good story, in
which ex Speaker Tom Reed, OF Maine, figures
as the hero. While tho Presidents message was
being read on Tuesday. Dec. 6, so goes the story,
Mr.. Reed walked up to the Speakers desk and,
leaning over, drawled out to Speaker Crisp in q
stage voice that could be heard 40 feet away,
this question:
"Will the House adjourn, Mr. Speaker, a;
the conclusion of the ceremonies, out of respect
10 the memory of the departed?"
Private John Allen, of Mississippi, the hu.
morist of the House. also made comment on
the message, which some of the members think
is funnier than Mr. Reeds
"The message" said Mr.. Allen, just as the
Clerk finished reading the document, sounds
like motion for new trial, but don't think
the country is going to grant it,"
Congressman Amos ]. Cummings, who served
as Sergeant ajor of the 26th N. j., and who il
also an old printer and newspaper man. and
Walter Wellman, correspondent of one of the
Chicago papers and President of the Press
Club Of Washington, had typesetting contest
one day last week. The Press Club were ex-