Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-08-04

WAsIINGroN, July 26, lN9.

WAsHiNGroN, July 26, 1893.
secretary Carlisle is the only mem
her OF the cabinet at present in Wash
ingtun, and he has been confined to
his house for several days this week
10y rheumatism, but next week FRESH
dent Cleveland, and the other mem
hcrs Of the Cabinet viii he here, as
they have been notified that the Presi-
dent wishes tn submit the first draft
II his message To Congress To them
and have full and free discussion of
its contents before it is finally com
plctcd.
Attempts are numerous at trying to
guess the nature of the President
coming message, but it is nonsense
for anyone outside Of the cabinet and
"A few close personal friends of Mr..
Cleveland-and they won't talk about
ito pretend to know. The mere
fact that he will send another message
to Congress at the opening of the reg
ular session, even should the extra
session remain in session until then,
and the general belief is that it will,
make it presumable that his message
To the extra session will be confined
to what il was called to legislate upon
finance. And il this presumption
bc correct it will not indicate any
change OF opinion As to the necessity
for tariff and other reforms advocated
by the Democratic party during the
last campaign. Merely that circum-
stances have made it necessary to
take up finance first.
Speaking Of reform, Commissioner
Lochren is going right ahead in the
programme mapped out for the refor-
nation OF the pension roll, notwith-
standing the howl that is being raised
by few Congressman whose constitu-
ents have been suspended. 1t has
already been discovered that, in addi-
ton to the large number of pensions
granted under the last administra-
ton without proper examination
of the applicant and his papers, there
were thousands granted illegally,
knowingly and wilfully. Only those
granted under the act OF 1890 have
yet been examined and no others can
be taken up for long time. The
suspensions up to date number nearly
5000, and if the same average be kept
up in the entire 10000 pensions
granted under that law the total num-
Der of suspensions will be something
like 5000. The examination is very
thorough and systematic and only
those cases showing clearly some
irregularity or doubt of the right Of
the pensiOner TO receive the amount
he has been getting are suspended,
and few, if any, of those who get re-
stored to the roll upon a re-examina-
ton will get rs large pension as
they have been receiving.
"Senator Gorman," remarked a
friend OF the man who has proven his
right by his ability on many occasions
to be classed as a Democratic leader,
"never announces through the news.
papers his future political intentions,
and that fact is so well known that he
very seldom takes the trouble to con-
tradict the newspaper stories which
appear from time to time purporting
N give in detail what he intends to do
in case this or that happens in the
Senate. II is safe to say, however,
that his future actions, like those OF
the past, will always be such as will
always be such as will meet the APP
prevail Of majority OF good Demo-
Gratis, and to say also that any advance
announcements OF them which may
appear may always be set down as
merely guesses."
One of the most encouraging signs
to those who expect financial relief
from the legislation OF the extra ses-
sion is the fact, that. while most Of
the Democratic Senators and Repre-
sentatives have ideas of their own as
to the legislation needed, a majority
of them express themselves as willing
to hear the arguments OF those who
advocate other ideas, and to be open
to conviction if the other fellows ar
gument be the best. If this feeling
be shared by a majority OF the Demo.
Gratis in both House and Senate the
difficulty OF reaching some satisfactory
basis of compromise will be greatly
lessened. But it is. going to take time
to bring about that result, and wise
people will not expect immediate Con-
gressional action on this important
subject. Good legislation is better
than hurried legislation, and l have
yet to find the first Democrat who
does not firmly believe that good legis-
lation will be one of the certainties of
the Fifty-third Congress.
Gen. Duncan S. Walker, Chairman
of the Committee ON Invitations of
the Centennial celebration of the lay
ing Of the cornerstone Of the Capitol
building, TO be held September Is
next, this week sent invitations
to the Governors of all the States
and their stats to participate. Presi.
dent Cleveland has promised to intro
duce the principal speaker at the cele-
bration who will be Mr.. William
Writ Henry, of Virginia, descendant
of Patrick Henry. Dem.
AT the Port Townsend iron works
some castings are being made which
are attracting much attention. The
| Leader says in regard tn this w0rk