Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-05-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Written and compiled for the HERALD.
WASHINGTON, May Is, 1898 Several
Important facts ROW loom up out of the
fog of conjecture which has enyeloped
them for some time. First and foremost
among them is President Cleveland's final
decision not to call the extra session of
Congress before September-grea pressure
was brought to bear on him during the
past week to make 1t June. That will give
the President time to try to win the votes
still necessary to carry out some OF his
cherished legislative plans. Another fact
is the compromise by which Mr.. Cleve-
land hopes to get the votes of enough
members of Congress to make the pass
age of bill for the unconditional repeal
of TIE Sherman law g certainty. The
compromise was, it is understood, sug-
gested by some of the southern Congress
men-possilly ex-Speaker CrisD who has
had several conferences with Mr.. Cleye-
land during the past few days-whO have
been opposed to the repeal of the Sher-
man law, unless some other method of
adding an equal amount to the money in
circulation was substituted therefor
The sOutherners in Congress are practical
ly unanimous in favor of the repeal of tho
tax on the currency of state banks, but
although it was endorsed by the platform
upon which he was elected Mr.. Cleveland
has been credited with being opposed to
it, The compromise consists of single
bill. repeating both the Sherman Silver
law ard the tax on state bank currency,
and Mr.. Cleveland will support it, and he
has been informed that enough Of what
are known as the silver men will support
it to make its passage by COngros certain.
That remains to be seen.
MI CLEVELAND has from the organiz--
ton of the peoples party taken no pains
to conceal his opposition to the principles
advocated by that party, bat he has just
given bis approval to one Of the principles
that has occupied a prominent place in
every national platform adopted by that
party--the levying of an income tax.
According to a story going around here
the gentlemen who are ambitious OF be.
coming chiefs of divisions in the Treas
ury department have the laugh on Hon.
Carl Scturz, president of the Civil Ser.
vice Reform League, who was entertain
ed az dinner during his stay in Washing
ton by President and Mrs. Cleveland. As
the story goes, Mr. Schurz called on Sec.
Carlisle. who has shown a marked liking
for the designations of the chiefs of
divisions in bis department, and spent an
hour trying to make the Secretary see
how statesmanliks it would be to retain
all of the efficient chiefs of divisions He
made an impression, although it may rot
have been the kind he wished, for he had
hardly got out of the building before Sec
Carlisle demanded the designations OF five
more chiefs. The chiefs of divisions are
not under Civil Service rules, but they
would like very much 10 be.
The new Commissioner of Pensions has
repealed the most important rules made
by Commissioner Raum for the conduct
of the business OF that bureau, which Is
now being practically run under the rules
which were in force during the regime OF
Commissioner Black, under the first
Cleveland administration. The principal
rule repealed was that relating to what
are known as "completed files" which
played such a conspicuous part IN the in
yestIgation of the Pension Bureau made
by House Committee, during tie first
half Of the last Congress. There is con-
siderable talk about an investigation now
being made of fraudulent pensions obtain
Ell by an attorney d Norfolk, Va. 1t is
stated that the number of fraudulent
cases already discovered are in The neigh
bJrhood of 800, upon which more than
500 600 has been paid.
Ex-Speaker Crisp, who has been in
Washington a week, has gone home feel
ing pretty good, as 1t now looks as though
be would lie elected Speaker of the next
Houee by the unanimous vote of his
party. All talk of President Cleveland
encouraging candidate to run against
him has died out,
President Cleyeland'S rule against
granting personal interviews to office
seekers is net as unsatisfactory as many
thought it would be. Indeed, not few
people expressed themselYts as believing
tkat it would be highly beneficial TO the
public service if a similar rule were
adopted by the members Of the cabinet
At first glance it appears unjust but if it,
we're generally adopted and rigidly adj
hered to it would not be it would not
prevent applicants filing their papers, and
it would give the heads of departments
great deal of time to devote to the public
business that is ROW absolutely wasted in
listening to a verbal repetition OF what is
contained 10 the papers which tia ap-
plicSnts have already placed on file.
Treasury department officials decline to
say what, if any, action will be taken by
them if the " Orld's Fair he opened on
Sunday, as now proposed, ia distance of
the lsW saying it shall be closed on that !
day.
Escaped from Diag Sing.