Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-10-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.

PreSS, oct. "a.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, October 16, 1893 -Never
was there a more distracted body of men
than the Democratic members of the
Senate are at this writing. This distrac-
ton has existed more or less from the
first day of the extra session, but the alb
surd ending of the test of physical en-
durance ordered by Mr.. Cleveland in his
childlike belief that vote on the Voor-
hees unconditional repeal bill could
thereby be forced has made it worse than
| ever. Consultation after consultation is
held, but they seem afraid to make def
| mite move. Some of them are afraid Of
their constituents, some of each other,
some of Mr.. Cleveland, and all of the Re-
publicans. The observation-disclosures fight
was won by the opponents of uncondi-
tional repeal, just as everybody knew it
would be, because of the inability of the
repealers to keep quorum continuously
in the Senate, and the efforts to settle the
matter by compromise may fail because
a majority of the Senate cannot or will
not agree.
The distraction has also apparently
reached the administration, which is be-
ginning to wabble in a very suspicious
manner. While Mr.. Cleveland shouts in
the ear of Senator VOORHEES,, "keep up
the fight for unconditional repeal" Sec
rotary Carlisle prepares a compromise
measure which he has shown to several
! Senators and told them that the Presi-
dent would approve it if he could do no
better. This compromise, which may at
any hour be formally offered as an
amendment to the VOORHEES, bill, or may
not be offered at all, is a last and desper-
ate attempt of the administration to have
say in financial legislation. Itprovides
for the purchase of 90,000,000 ounces of
silver during the next four years; for
the repeal of the tax on State-bank cur
rency; for the coinage of seigniorage now
in the Treasury, and for authority for
the Secretary of the Treasury, at his
discretion, to issue bonds to the amount
of $4,000 900 to strengthen the gold re-
serve fund. 1t is not believed that sin
gle Republican Senator will support this
compromise, unless the clause repeating
the State-bank tax be struck out. There
is another compromise measure under
consideration which finds considerable
support because it would, if enacted into
law, give the people chance to pass
upon that portion of it dealing with sill
yer few months before it goes into eff
feet. 1t provides for the repeal of the
purchasing clause of the silver law to
take effect July l; 1895; for the coinage
of the seignioragein the Treasury; for
the retirement of all notes other than
coin certificates below so, and that no
coin certificates above IS, shall be issued
1t also amends the present law for the
issue of bonds so as to limit the time for
which any bonds issued may run TO five
years and the interest to three per cent.
OF the two, the last is unquestionably the
best.
The Democratic Senators were con-
siderably alarmed on Saturday by rumor
that the Republican Senators were tired
of doing nothing and intended to go
home, leaving them to maintain a quo
rum or to adjourn. Careful inquiry
among the Republicans proved the
rumor to be without foundation further
than that they are tired of doing nothing
That is true They have right to be
tired; they are not consulted about any
of the contemplated compromises, but
they are prepared TO do their duty and
will support any amendment that meets
their approval regardless of whether il
may come from administration or anti.
administration Democrats.
The Democratic members of the House
Ways and Means Committee meet sew.
eral times week in room way down
in the crypt of the Capitol and spend
several hours. 1t is alleged that thi.
time is being put in on the preparation
of the new tariff bill, but this is far from
being certain as there are numerous good
reasons for the belief that the member:
of this committee will have little or moth
ing to do with the preparation of III,
tariff bill which will at some time in tn,
in the future be produced as their work
but will in reality be the work of mel
under the immediate personal direction
of Mr.. Cleveland. Chairman Wilson il
gradually extending the time in his pub
lie predictions of when the bill will b.
reported to the House. In his latest in
terview he says it will not be reported
before the first week in December i
will be reported whenever the boss di
!. reefs that it be reported and not before
, and just when that will be it is doubtful
whether any one, even the boss himself
knows.
Mrs. General Grant and her daughter
Mrs. Nellie Grant Sartoris, spent las
week in Washington, and although
there was no official reception giyel
them-they didn't wish it-they were en-
tertained very pleasantly by their man,
friends, all of whom were glad to lear
that Mrs. Sartoris intends in the nea
future returning with her three childrei
to make her permanent home in Americs
also, that Mrs. Grant hopes to purehas
home for herself in this city.