Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-03-03
/ Prom our regular correspondent
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb % 1892
Playing the role of the "artful dod.er"
is nothing new to Democratic leaders, and
whatever may be the end of the farce-com-
edy in which they are now engaged, the
audience which includes the entire coun-
try, will get lots of amusement out of it,
The program as arranged by stage man
ager Crisp was to have the committee on
coinage and that on Ways and Means have
a pretended struggle for the right-of-way
In the House for their blls-frec coinage
and the tar.f-~hich was to be kept ~
long enough to make it certain that the
free coinage bill would be thrown over to
the next session, thus allowing the Demo
Gratis TO ask the votes of the free coinage
men because Of their Intention to pass the
bill, and the votes Of the anti--iver men
because of their intention to defeat ii.
The first act went according TO program,
but after the curtain fell 1t was discovered
that actor Bland proposed making the
struggle real and insisting upon the pas
sage of his free coinage bill, and TO the
CONSERVATION of the stage manager and
his assistants it was found that he had
majority of the Democrats of the House
with him. in black and white. Then Mr..
Catchings was sent away, so as to prevent
the committee ON rules holding meeting,
aud as soon a he returned Speaker Crisp
went to Fortress Monroe, where he now is
aud where the opponents of free silver
wish to keep him until Bland and his fol-
lowers can be persuaded to carry ont the
original program.
Mr. Bland is obstreperous. He says
I'VE do not intend that minority shall run
over a majority in that way, and we have
a ajority in favor of the silver bill. The
silver bill will not be kept down by the
tariff bills and if any such attempt is
made we will talk silver on every bill that
comes before the House, and c4Ier the sill
yer bill as an amendment to every bill TAX
en- up. They can't paddock mans mouth
or prevent bringing up the question Of
free silver, and if they try it they will
make silver the biggest Issue of all"
The "they" constantly referred to by Mr..
Bland are the ninety anti.silver Democrats,
who want silver to 90 over in the inter-
est of Cleveland's candidacy. The anti
silver Democrats, having secured more
than the requisite number Of signatures to
a call for caucus, have requested Mr.
Holman to issue the call and he has prom
ised to do SO this week, but that will not
help the matter any more than the caucus
held by the silver men several weeks ago,
as neither side will be bound by caucus,
at least that is what they say.
1t is announced that the Ways and Means
committee will call up the three free trade
bills on the first of March, but it is not
probable that they will do so unless some
sort of an agreement is made with the sill
yer men. Congress is to meet again to-
morrow, but as the Chicago excursionists
will not return until Wednesday, there will
be no quorum until then.
The President has been compelled to
cancel number Of engagements made for
this week on account Of severe cold from
which ne is suffering. He is anxious to
get away to some quiet place for three or
four days rest, but there are SO many i'm
portant matters requiring his attention
that it is not certain that be can do so just
now unless his physician positively orders
him to do it.
The bill passed by the Senate extending
the present laws against Chinese immigra-
ton for ten years from next May. also
contains a provision to enable the Treas
ury department to get around the recent
judicial decisions concerning the country
from which the Chinese immigrants come
and to return them to China, instead of to
the last country from which they came, as
it has recently been compelled to do under
the aforesaid decisions. The bill also pro-
vides severe penalties for the return of
Cinnamon once sent out of the United
States.
Whatever may have been the prospects
of Utah for getting into the Union, at the
beginning of this session of Congress, it
| Is not now regarded as having any at all.
Three delegations, each pulling in differ
| ent direction, are largely, if not wholly, re-
spOnsible for this.
The Senate and House committees on
immigration have begun the holding Of
joint sessions for the hearing of statements
relating to immigration. There seems 50
far to be about as many opinions on the
subject as there have beeg speakers before
the committee.
Secretary Foster sails tomorrow for a
trip to Europe. He goes merely for the
sea voyage, and will Immediately return.
Representatives Enloe and Cooper have
requested that the committee postpone its
investigation Of the Pension Office, to al
| low them time to collect evidence. That's
queer, Is they have been claiming all along
| to have plenty Of every evidence.