The morning call., 1892-04-11
LIVE WASHINGTON TOPICS.
Statesmen Preparing for a Long
Summer Siege.
work OF Ex-Minister Foster at the State Dc.
paItment-E Western Poet
Honored.
Correspondence of THE MORNING CALL.

The silver bill is deadl Long live the
tariff! Down with free silver and hooray
for free wool!
And this is the way IL will seesaw from
now until June and from June to Novcm-
Der, when all anxiety will be at rest and
statesmen may cease their mouthings and
come down to the actual struggle for the
spolls, which is the root. the spur, the mean
ing and the object of it all. The lantern
burns brightly by nights on the Cap
itops dome and Congressman are really
coming down to hard work or rather to more
continuous talk. The House having done
nothing but pass scanty and incomplete
appropriation bills is already talking
about an adjournment in June or July, and
predicting reputation of business Con-
gress Tor itself by the speedy and economical
management of public affairs. But the
senate has to have its say about all those
ABSURD appropriations. and the bills will go
BACK and forth between the two bodies I'M
I'll some more reasonable mean will be
accepted. and when the corn is ripe and the
summer well over the refoImers will go
nome with emily half the halos they are
now hitting TO their brows. Those who
know tie ways are preparing for the long
summer siege, and the government at Wash
ington will be in full form right through
until the Grand Army encampment meets.
washington, not having municipal gov
eminent like other cities. has to look to
Congress and its district committees instead
OF 10 Mayor, Council and Alderme for
It's management. Washington citizens pay
their taxes like any other citizens, and they
provide parks, pleasure-grounds.d drives and
beautiful r0adways, hospitals, refugees and
asylums for the people of all the ends of the
country who flock here for pleasure or profit
or AID. But the Washington citizen has no
voice nor vote in the spending of his taxes,
the Improvement or management of his
city. Congress has legislated all that to it.
sell and the District of Columbia is Ter
rltory without Governor or delegate, and no
more politically than an Indian reservation.
III a man wishes to build q factory or lay a
track he must attempt the hercuean task
OF getting an honest bill through the two
houses Of Congress. The statesmen always
seem TO forget that the taxes furnish slight
income Tor The support Of the city, and they
Maggie over the items, pare down and dole
out the funds as IL it were charity that was
being given, and the gift came straight from
the individual pockets.
international affairs are moving smoothly
nowadays. Mr.. Blaine went to the State
Department this week for the first time in
almost two months, and is gradually taking
the relns into his own lands again, and,
win the President, is moving along in the
bering Sea negotiations. That finished and
experienced diplomat, John w. Foster, is
still sort of general manager of
the State Department. Ever since his
mission to Spain. year ego, he has been
given charge OF all reciprocity negotiations,
and during the crisis of this winter has
been the Presidents right hand. With his
presence, the department has been able to
run along smoothly during the absences
aud illnesses CT Mr.. Blaine. and with his
practical experience in diplomacy while
United States Minister in Mexico, Russia
and Spain, the department has been better
able than ever to cope with tie serious cues
tions IL has had to solve.
Mr.. Foster Is a thin, slim man OF good
height, with fine features, SHOW white hair