Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1893-08-10
Washington Letter

FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON D. G., August It'll, 1898
At high noon today the 53rd Con-
gress began It's legislative existence
with perhaps three quarters Of its mem
bers in Washington. The beginning was
quiet enough, Vice President Stevenson
presiding oyer the Senate, and Clerk
Kerr over the House until the members
had been sworn in and Speaker Crisp
and the other officials were formally
elected, but it will be exciting enough
for the most exactlng before long. The
elements are all here to make excite
ment and nothing can keep 1t down tor
any length Of time, When it will be-
gin no man can say and 1t would be
even more difficult to say when it will
end.
The Senate had an unimportant SEES
sion today, and the impression seems to
be that that body will, as usual at the
beginning of session, take it easy for
a while, killing time over the cases of
the Senators whose seats are contested,
thus giving he House an opportunity
to take the initiative in legislation, I'M
less in the meanwhile President Cleye-
land sends in the special message
which it is known he intends sending
the Senate with new Hawaiian treaty.
That may stir up considerable tur-
MOL, or, it may fall fiat, according to
It's nature.
The House can DO nothing important
until Spetber Crisp announces the com
mittees, and that may be in week or
it may be in two weeks Just as the
members whose prominence gives them
certain privileges may b. satisfied or
dissatisfied with their committee assign,
ments, because, although bills can be
introduced none of them can be referred
until the committees are organized.
No one was Disappointed because
President Cleyelands message did not
90 to Congress today, because no one
expected that it would be sent until
Tuesday, and there is a possibility that
it may not 90 until Wednesday.
The silver men have been counting
noses and the result is an unquestiona-
ble stltfening to their backbon They
now Say that it will be impossible to
pass bill tor the unconditional repeal
Of the Sherman law, even by the House
which they have heretofore been in
clined to concede to the anti-sllyerltes
At the same time they admit their own
inability to pass such legislation as they
would prefer, but they say that IN the
compromise that must be made, they,
and not Mr.. Cleveland, will dictate the
terms. Just what those terms will be
it is not yet certain, but 1t begins to
look as though it would be an in crease
in the ratio Of lG to ] which now pre-
yalls, Notwithstanding the declaration
of Mr.. Bland and other prominent sill
yer men including the entire populist
delegation that they intend 10 stand
by the present ratio.
Some say that the increase gill be TO
20, and Others that 1t Will be as bigh
as "a to /. aQl many believe that Pres,
ident Cleveland would gladly approve
bill for the free coinage of both met
ais at the last named ratio, but there
ls little ,,.3babIllty that il the ratio be
changed it viii be made more than 20
to ].
Notwithstanding the efforts he Is re.
ported to have made to reduce his flesh,
President CleycIand IS considerably
stOutcr than he was when he left Wash
ington for his vacation. This has been
noticed and commented upon by al
who haYe seen HIM since his return.