Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1893-03-02
Letter from Washington.
Especial Correspondence Keowee couricr.l
House OF REPRESENTATIVES .. S.,
WASHINGTON. D. c.. Feb. IS. 1893.


A few more days and the Fifty-seconc
Congress will be numbered with the
things that were. Both Houses have al
that they can do within the short time
yet remaining. The proceedings art
peculiarly interesting. Nearly ever!
member has some pet bill or scheme OF
hand, and every day there is a livel.
struggle for recognition. Private bill!
stand a very slim chance for want o
time. The Senate amendments to the
various appropriation bills provoke :
good deal of discussion in the House ant
the opposition may be SO strong as tt
result in failure to pass. Some feal
that an extra session will be the result
but there is disposition on the part O.
very large majority to avoid such {
necessity.
The silver question was again debated
in the House the latter part of last week
under the Senate bond amendment to al
appropriation bill, and Mr.. Bland en-
braced the opportunity to again relieve
himself on another silver speech.
Anti-option bobs up so frequently that
it is beginning to be looked for daily.
Defeat has no terrors for Mr.. Hatch, who
seizes every opportunity for bringing ur
his pet measure and of giving it an airing
before the House.
There was dead lock in the House
last Tuesday over the car coupler bill,
which resulted in an all-night session,
with no good accomplished.
The Ways and Means Committee will
report bill to abolish the duty on tin,
which, under the Mckinley bill, will sc
into effect July 1st. 1t is hardly posi-
BILE for this to become law at this ses-
sion, but it will do no harm to make the
effort to relieve the trade of the onerous
tax
The Sundry Civil Bill gives much anx-
iety and may fail to become la. II
carries number of provisions which
cannot be dispensed with, as the appl~
priations end with July 1st. If the op,
ponents to the amendments resort to ex-
.remes and bring about a dead lock and
prevent its passage, the departments OF
the government would then be at stand
still for want of funds. The silver men
in the House may have strength enough
to prevent its passage. They cannot
hope to get rid of the Senate amendment
and rather than take any risk may defeat
the bill.
They are fighting the amendment au,
thorizing the sale of s5o,oOo,ooO of bonds
to keep up the fund for redemption pur-
poses. The Treasurer already has the
right TO issue the bonds. The amend
ment only provides. for a lower rate OF
interest, and it is hard to see the sense
of so strong opposition. If their tactics
force an extra session and Mr.. Cleveland
orders one directly after his Inauguration,
the most of the old members, who have
been elected, will be here looking after
private matters. The newly elected are
coming in every day and will likely re-
main until after the Inauguration.
The Hawaiian treaty is not having easy
sailing. The opponents are very deter
mined and it is now supposed that it will
be very difficult to get two-third vote
thereon in the Senate 1t is very likely.
too, that it will be sent to the House for
consideration. is true that the Senate
has jurisdiction of the matter, but some
of the items of the treaty refer to mat
ters over which the House also has au-
thority, and on these accounts may come
before that body.
Some time ago there was proposition
to admit four more Territories to State
hood. We hear very little Of the matter
now. The Republicans may fear that
these, too. may be added to the Demo
cratic column. Since the Senate is Demo
cratic it is possible that they do not feel
the need of help and that owing to the
shortness of time the proposition has
been postponed for consideration here
after. After the 4th Of March the Demo
Gratis will be in control of all branches OF
the government.
The Kansas muddle is almost settled.
The Populists will respect the decision
of the Supreme Court rs to the iegallty
Of the Republican House. a new Sena-
tor will be elected who, in any event, will
be Democrat. There seems to be great
disappointment at the withdrawal OF
Waggener from the race, but the Repuo-
licans are determined not to be defeated
and have about settled upon Col. Ros-
sincton as the most available man for the
place. He is stalwart Democrat and in
every way competent for the position.
1t seems If extraordinary influences have
been at work in this matter and many
are the surmiSes as to the sources and
causes of the Influences which induced
Mr.. Waggener to withdraw so suddenly
This closing week of the Fifty-second
Congress sill be one of rush and hurry
and of clashing of rival measures. Leg
islation is backward and every effort will
be made to advance the appropriation
bills. The result may be that the con
firmation of Judge Hanchett and con-
sideration of the Hawaiian treaty Will sc
over to the next session.
There is very great activity at the
headquarters OF the Inaugural Commit
tees. The arrangements are nerly com
plete, and such as are not yet FINISHED
will be pushed to completion. The city
is rapidly filing up and every train brings
in large additions to the throng. Al
immense crowd is expected and thi:
inauguration bids fair to be the mos
brilliant on record. The Democratic
organizations and the military will sooi
begin to pour in to swell the already large
crowd. The Avenue began last week t
put on her gay attire and every day add'
to the display.
The Cabinet still continues to be th'
subject of discussion. The two las
appointments are loudly applauded ant
meet with universal appreciation from
both political parties. Mr.. Olney ha'
been but little known in politics, but is ;
Simon-pure Democrat of extraordlnar,
ability and in full sympathy with th'
administration to be inaugurated mex
Saturday.
Mr.. Herbert is so well known and Sc
thoroughly identified with naval affair
as to require no comment. HIS appoint
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