Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1892-02-19
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
tr"m our Eceular correspondence
MAsIiNaToS. Feb. 18th. 1899

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MI Harrison is far from being as
happy ~ hc expected 10 he after Mr..
lilainc's letter was published, if those
Who profess To- Ice his friends know the
state ot hi4 mind. lie expected that
Mr. lllhnr would take occasion in
ih,t letter to advocate the nomination
Of llcnl II "r at least TO say a good
worl Tor lum IN some way. and he has
got Il into his head that Mr.. Blaine by
Ignoring him intended to slight him
ho - very tuuchy about the dignity
which be appears To- think surrounds
his ptrsun like halo. Another
thing that hc doesn't like is the free
dom With which Senators. Representa-
u,rs. aud other prominent men of his
part, have announced their pre- ference
for some other candidate than him.
sVll lie fears that Mr.. Blaine intends
"a throw hl- influence Ia that mysteri-
ous some other candidate" and he
a. mighty sorry that there was no
Truth ~ the rumor prevalent day or
two ago that Mr.. Blaine intended re-
signing and going to Bermuda TO re-
main until after the meeting of the
Republican convention. Nothing
would suit him better just now than
iuf Mr. blaine Ia leave the country
for few months but he does not dare
90 ask iot his resignation.
The Democrats Of the House have
taken the first step toward turning
the light ON IN dark places by the
adoption ~ resolutions authorizing'in.
designations of the Worlds Fair, the
crooked National bank failures at
Philadelphia. and most important of
all the Pension Office. The resolu-
tion under which the last investiga-
tiun IL Ia he made was reported by
the Committee On Rules as substi-
tuto for those offered by Representa-
tiNcs Eulpc and Cooper. IL provides
for the appointment 81 select COM
mitiec Of five 10 investigate the
methods of business. whether use has
been made by the Commissioner of
hin official position To promote his
private affairs or for partisan political
pufposci. whether there has been dis
elimination made between applicants
Tor pensions ur practising attorneys,
whether any ot the clerks have taken
advantage ot their positions 10 make
pfuht- aud whether the civil service
Law has been violated by the Commits
sioucf. On motion of Mr.. Enloe the
resolution WAS amended 10 include the
methods II the board Of pension APP
p,al- This u big job. but many are
wondering why the resolution did not
include the charges which have been
repeatedly made by responsible parties
oi fraudulent pensioners whose names
are carried upon the rolls. Perhaps,
however. the committee may be able
to reach that under the methods OF
business" authorization.
Vice President Morton appears TO
De- learning the ropes. A nephew OF
bic. W VI. 0rinnell, has been nomi-
mated for the vacant Third Assistant
socrelaryship Of state.
The House Committee on Rivers
and IIarbor- having given number
ui hearings 10 interested parties. has
now huckled down To the hard work
III preparing river and harbor ap-
preparation hill that shall he Just
without being extravagant. The bill
will not probably appropriate more
than half. II 50 much, rs the one
passed At the last Congress, but il is
the aim Of the committee to provide
all the money for necessary improve
ments that can he advantageously ex-
pended during the next fiscal year.
Tho House Committee on Immi-
grafton discs not agree with the Senate
committee on Foreign Affairs, that a
continuation Of the present anti
Chinese laws, which expire by limita-
ton this spring, for another period OF
ten years, IL the best thing to he done,
81 II has lavorably reported bill to
the House which absolutely prohibits
Chinese Immigration.
The much talked of free coinage
bill has hccn iavorably reported to the
House from the Coinage committee.
Opinion differs as TO whether it will
be- acted upon at this session. There
u no doubt about very large ma
iority II the House being in favor OF
the free coinage Of silver, but there
are many prominent Democrats, like
Mr. Mile, who do not think il expedi-
ent "a pass II when nothing can be
gained as II IL certain, even il it could
get through the Senate, the Finance
committee Of which has this week re-
ported adversely on a free coinage bill,
that u would be- vetoed. There are
other Democrats. like Mr.. Bland, who
think II the duty OF the House to pass
the hill
There are lots OF rumors OF rumpus
between Mr.. Harrison, and Secretary
Tracy over the enormous financial OBJ
legations incurred by the latter in pre-
pairing Tor the war that never came"
Wanamaker u also said 10 be in hot
water although he denies il.
The Canadian commissioners are
goieg through the farce of holding
conferences at the State Department,
knowing that there il no reciprocity
Tor them. Dem.
Real Estate Transfers.