The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-01-01
FRIDAY. JANUARY I, ISes.
WASHINGTON LETTER

to be Jubllant over the Chilian situa-
ton. They have an idea that Mr..
Harrison's special message to Con-
gress recommending that war be de-
clared against Chill, which they say he
will certainly send in as soon as Con-
gress reassembles, if the new President
of Chill, who assumed Office Saturday,
does not before then send an answer
to the demands for the punishment of
the Chilians who attacked the u. S.
sailors at Valparaiso, and for indemnity
for the families of the sailors who were
killed, which shall be entirely satisfac-
tory, will give him boom for the
Presidential nomination. They are
hoping for message Of defiance from
Chill, as they wish war to be declared,
believing that war would make Mr..
Harrison's denomination certain and
his reelection much more probable
than it would otherwise be.
The democrats in the House and
Senate are interested spectators of the
drama which the administration is
preparing for the American people,
and altogether it has been stated that
the leaders were prepared to vote in
favor of declaration of war should
Mr.. Harrison recommend that as the
only honorable way to end the matter,
can say on the highest authority that
no such statement has been auth
orized by any democrat of prominence
, in the party councils. The most dill
gent search failed to find single de-
mocratic Senator or Representative
willing to express an opinion, until the
correspondence between the two
governments shall have been sent to
Congress. Then, if it shall appear
that American honor demands de-
claration of war, no democrat will be
found opposing it but should it ap-
pear on the other hand that an at
tempt was being made by the admin
istration to curry favor with thought
less people by making war upon
weaker nation, no democrat will be
frightened by fictitious public clamor
into voting dollar for political war.
That is about the situation as it stands
to day.
Speaker Crisp has been i'll with the
grip ever since the Christmas adjourn.
ment. He had to abandon his trip
home, and send for Mrs. Crisp to come
here to help nurse him. He suff-
ers a great deal, but his physician says
he is in no danger. Mr.. Mills has re-
covered sufficiently to go to Fortress
Monroe, where he has been ordered
by his physician to remain few days.
Much of the disappointment which
followed the announcement of the
House committees. has already passed
away, and by the time Congress meets
there will be little Of it left, except
among those who consider the failure
of the Speaker to tender the chairman
ship of the Ways and Means commit
tee to Mr.. Mills in the light Of a per-
sonal slight to that gentlemen.
The two democratic members of the
House committee on Rules are spend
ing their holiday time at work upon
the rules which will govern the pro-
:ceedings of the present HOUSE and if
Speaker Crisp, who is chairman Of the
committee, gets well enough this week
to attend to business, they hope to re-
port the rules Immediately after the
House re-assembles. They are not
disposed to talk about their work at
present.
There is no occasion for wonder
that some people should refer to the
United States Senate as the "Million-
aires Club" In some respects the
name is fully deserved. 1t costs the
taxpayers of this country more than
the House of Lords, with a member
ship six times larger, costs Great Brit
ain. 1t has corps of employees large
enough to be in each others way, all
of them drawing larger salaries than
are paid the same class of employees
in the House. and yet it is coolly pro-
posed to add twenty-three additional
employees at cost of $4,000 a year.
This addition is said by those who
prepared the resolution therefor, to
have been made necessary by the pur-
chase of the Maltby House, opposite
the Capitol, for the use of the Senate
committees, by the last Congress. II
was bad enough that the people should
have taken an unproductive piece o
property off the hands Of a private in
dividual at a fancy price, without max
ing that the excuse for taxing then
$4,000 year additional.
Ex-Assistant Postmaster Genera
Brady, ofstar route scandal notor'ety
says he regards the appointment o
Stephen B. Elkins to be Secretary o
war, as vindication of the Star reuters
hats the worst thing yet said OF th'
Nv Cabinet officer.