The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-11-24
WASHINGTON NOTES

work of the congressman from the
second district does not consist in
looking after legislation very much,
although plans may be made for the
future. The actual preliminary work
upon the Mankato public building is
dragging along very slowly but Mr..
McCleary is hustling the department
along as fast as possible. Next to
that peculiar disease of the skin which
is said to move once in seven years,
the architects department holds the
palm for slowness of movement.
The pension department, thanks to
the fact that a Minnesota man is COM
missioner moves with much more
celebrity and satisfaction. Congress
man McCleary has succeeded in get
ting great many claims from his
district made special, and' has sue
ceeded in having many, which shave
been hanging for period as far back
as seven years taken up at once for
action.
The matter of appropriations by
this congress will probably give use
good deal of sorrow to the different
portions of the country which expect
ed money for internal improvements.
This piping time of Democratic peace
is confronted with a deficit which is
estimated at nearly $50, 900, 900 for the
year. | had talk the other day with
one Of the leading Democrats on the
appropriations committee who said
that he believed in giving the bulk of
the appropriations this year toward
improving the public buildings in
Washington or erecting new ones in
stead of granting large amounts to
the erection of public buildings in
various portions of the country. If
this plan predominates, together with
the stringency of Democratic times,
it is not probable that the outside
country can expect much.
The Republican congressman will
take conservative course in the
premises and advocate that Washing
| ton should fairly divide with the
states the appropriations for public
buildings.
The two Republican Congressman
! of Southern Minnesota who acquitted
themselves with greatest credit in the
debate which preceded the passage in
the House of the repeal of the federal
elections law were Messrs Tawney of
the First and McCleary of the second
district. Mr.. Tawney treated the
subject from constitutional stand
point, scattering like chaff The falla-
cious arguments of the southern brig
adiers relative to the unconstitution-
ality Of the federal election laws while
Mr., McCleary took up the subject
from a moral standpoint as we'll as
from the standpoint of eXpediency
and the effect of such repeal upon the
people. The best informed and fair
est minded southern advocates of re.
| peal acknowledged that both argu-
mentS were logically unanswerable.
Minnesota people here during the
past week have been greatly amused
and at the same time expectant rela-
tive to the significance Of the visit
F.! here of Bosses Kelly and Doran. Do
ran, it is said has obtained great in
! fuence with the president on account
of the belief that he did more than
any western man in the convention
! for his denomination. DOran has also
made it point to never call upon the
president until he is sent for after
notifying Grover that he is in the city
He has been enabled thus far to secure
pretty near everything he has asked
| for in the state in spite of the oppo-
sition of Democratic congressman and
leX-congressmen. The battle royal is
now on however, between Major Bald
win and Boss Doran over the appoint
, ment Of a receiver for the St. Cloud
land office. The Major and he had a
regular pitched battle of tongues in
Secretary Hoke Smiths office some
time ago which has not served to pour
oil on the troubled waters. Both are
confident that they will secure the
appointment of their man. Major
Baldwin declares that he will carry
the fight into the senate if Bruener
Doran's man is appointed and will
make the biggest stencil in Demo-
cratic nostrils which ever occurred in
Minnesota. Doran intimates that he
will be able to bear the Major in the
senate. Bossism which contributed
largely to the late overwhelming de-
feat of Democracy may aid all good
Republicans in knocking out the
Democrats in Minnesota in 1896 to
the tune of the biggest majority ever
given in the seate.
RALPH MCKENZIE.
Leader.