Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-08-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Written and compiled for the HERALl

come before Congress is to be dragged
into tie silver question, and to be sLelved
until that question is disposed of. 1t has
Just been ascertained that a sort OF COM
binatiOn has been formed to prevent con-
gressional action being taken on the ad
mission of Arizona, New Mexico, Okla
homa, and Utah, as states until the silver
legislation has been disposed of. This
combination originated, so it is stated
here, in New York City, and according to
those who are Ia it the reason for its ex-
istence is the fear that the admission Of
those four territories as states would add
eight votes to the already strong silver
party in the Senate. IL is said that Presi-
dent Cleveland has approved Of the idea
and promised to help 1t along with his
influence also hat republicans as well as
democrats are in it.
Your correspondent never remembers
seeing so little interest displayed by
members of the House as to the election of
minor officials Of that body. Several
candidates are in the field for DOoi keeper,
Sergeant-at-Arms and Chaplain-tbe
other old officials have no contestants for
their places--but the Congressman who
are here do not seem to care a snap about
them. Tbi, grows largely out Of there
beng no contest for the Speakership. 1t
is the usual fight over that place which
has generally added interest to those for
the smaller places, because the followers
of each candidate for Speaker have usual
~ made up a slate of all the Offices often
merely setting up some poor fellows as
candidates for no other purpose than to
trade votes. The canvass may grow
liyeller towards the end Ct the week, but
at this writing it IS as quiet as apriyate
graveyard.
If Senator Hill wishes an excuse to
make war upon President Cleveland tue
latter has certainly given BIN one in the
three federal appointments Just made for
New York-Ihe Collector and Appraiser
at New York City, aud the Collector at
Pittsburgh all Of whom are outspOken
enemies of Senator Hill, and the last
named is sail to be especially distastefdl
to Senator Murphy, inasmuch as it is IN
section of the state which be ex-
pected to be consulted about, if be did not
actually control the appointment. The
anti-Hill democrats IN Washington are
delighted with these appointments and the
Hill men are laying low, like br'er Rabbit,
and saying little. Whether Senator Hill
and Murphy coull get enough votes in
the Serate to defeat the confirmation Of
these nominations is a question j1st about
as cay to answer as whether they vii!
Try Sbrewd politicians express the opin-
ion that they will have to make the at
tempt OF lose prestige at home.
Senator Stewart was in Washington
Saturday, and he said be had been mis-
represented in recent newspaper inter
views purportiUg 20 give lis opinion about
the financial action Of Congress. just
before leaving for Chicago to attend the
silver convention, he said There will be
no flibnstering in the Senate on the pa-t
of the silver men, but the proposal to re-
peal the Sherman law cannot be acted on |
without discussion, and consider that 1t
will be doing well ifa vote is reached in
four OF five months" The Senator also
intmated that be would have something |
10 say in the Senate about the action OF |
the Treasury Department in refusiug TO
buy the full amount of silver which the |
law says shall be purchased each month.
1t is amusing to watch the expression
of the average Congressman face " hen
he is asked how long Congress will be in
session, before the inevitable answer, 81 |
don't know" is returned. The I-doh't- |
know felloas are in big majority among
the Congressman who have arrived, and it |
is evident that they are waiting to get a I
cue from President Cl5veand's message.
do not mean that they are waiting le-
cause they desire to blinily follow what
ever recommendation the message may
make, but that they are waiting to see
what the message contains before declar-
ing themselves for or against the Presi-
dent. Some cling to the belief that Mr.,
Cleveland will suggest some sort Of COM
promise that can be accepted by men of all
shades of opili)n, but the majority ap-
pear to believe that it is bound to be
fight to the death between the advocates
of a single gold standard and those of tie
free coinage Of silver.
President Cleveland, Speaker Crisp and
the other big guns will all be in Wash
ington this week and then we shall see
the clash of wits begin, and it promises
to repay being closely followed.