Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-01-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular cOrrespoudent.I


be true congress took its holiday re-
cess just in time to smother an awful
row, amounting almost to a revolt in
the Democratic camp. 1t seems that
Don. Dickenson was sent here by Mr..
Cleveland to inform the Democratic
leaders in the house that there was no
occasion for them to worry about the
tariff as it was his intention to have a
tariff bill already to be passed pre-
sented TO the house of the Fifty-third
congress as soon as it comes together.
There was some very plain talk
among Democrats in both house and
cred TO them, not the least significant
OF which was the intimation-that at it is
in the power of the present congress to
compel the calling of an early spring
session of the next congress. Don
Dickinson very wisely waited until
just before the recess before he deliv-
cred his momentous message. The
good feeling engendered by the holidays
may result in cooling the blood of the
indignant Democrats sufficiently to
prevent an open outbreak when con-
gress come together again on the 4th
OF January, b1t the message will not
be forgotten, and if Mr.. Cleveland per
sists in his present intention as to fur
nishlng congress with a ready-made
tariff bill open war will be declared
against him by his party in congress.
A short time ago when Congressman
Breckenridge, of Kentucky, stated his
opinion that the new tariff bill ought
to be prepared by Mr.. Cleveland, it
was thought that he was only making
use of a bit of flattery to get deeper
into Mr.. Cleveland's good graces, but
now it is believed that the opinion
was made public at Mr.. Cleveland's
request as "feeler" OF public senti-
ment.
There is mistaken idea prevalent
as to the object of the committee ap-
pointed by a caucus OF Republican
senator's, OF which Senator Hoar is
chairman and Senators Mcmillan,
Chandler, Teller and Mitchell are
members. The Republican senator's
are to man of the opinion that no
outsiders, and least of all U. S. sena-
tors, have any right to interfere with
the election of senator by any state
legislature. This committee will have
nothing to do with influencing the cleo
tion in any state legislature; but it
will thoroughly post itself upon every
move taken in those states in which
attempts are being made or have been
made to change the political complex
ion OF the legislature, so that when the
credentials OF any improperly elected
U. S. senator shall be brought here it
will be prepared to present evidenceto
show that he is not entitled to seat;
and it was solely with view to hav-
ing this evidence collected that the
committee was formed. Senator
Chandler says OF the situations: 81 do
not consider the Democratic chances
OF controlling the senate to be one in
a hundred. The Republicans now
have a majority of eight and it will
take four Democrats to wipe it out.
The only sure votes they will have will
be the Senators from New York and
Wisconsin. If Mr.. Kyle is not to be
counted with the Democrats they will
have forty-one members, If he is with
them fortytwo. In some of these
states the Democrats are claiming the
Republicans have an absolute major
ity and in Others it appears that the
populists have the balance of power.
Nowhere is there visible a sufficient
number of senator's to give them, as
Democrats, control of the next. U. S.
senate" 1t is stated that Senator
PETER will vote with the Republicans
against reorganization of the sen.
ate.
Jerry Simpson has gone home with
his head full OF schemes concocted by
Senator German to get himself elected
to the senate, and should he succeed
he would belong body and soul to
German, unless he violated pledges
which those who know say he has
made.
1t is not customary for gentlemen
who are ambitious to seats in the cab
met to announce that fact, but there
, are already two exceptions to the rul,
in the persons of Representative Bah
bitt, of Wisconsin, who says he want.
to be Mr.. Cleveland s secretary of agri
culture, and ex-Congressman, now
Interstate Commerce Commissioner
Morrison, of Illinois, who banker.
: after the portfolio OF the secretary o
the treasury. There is little proha
bility that either of them will get what
he is after. Morrison might have &
fair chance for place in the cabinet
|, but not the treasury, ifit were not fol
the bitter opposition to him from
his own state, and there is a rumol
that the agricultural portfolio is to b.
traded off for populist votes in tn
senate.
{ Senator Sherman, just before tn
; Christmas adjournment, reported tn
Nicaragua Canal bill and gave motto
that he would call it up at the earlies
| practicable moment. The bill is goin
r to be fought hard in the house, not
e withstanding it's endorsement by tn
5 national Democratic platform and b,
Z Mr.. Cleveland.
: There is one house in Washington
l that of the great American statesman
James G. Blaine-to which New Yea