Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-01-12
[From our regular Correspondent
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. 9,

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. 2, 1898.
Representative Springer. of Illinois. is
usually what might be called a mildman-
nered sort Of man, but his ire can be
aroused; in fact it has been aroused Nnd
be is now as angry a fellow as any Que
would care to see. He has been ''skunked"
in the game of politics, and he believes
that "cold deck" was used against him.
Springer is ambitious-those who do not
admire him say far beyond his abilities.
Be that as it may, everybody in Congress
knows that Springer is ambitious. 1t will
not be forgotten that he was candidate
before the Democratic caucus of the pres
ent House for Speaker, and that at an
opportune moment he threw the few votes
he controlled to Crisp, and the result was
Crisps nomination and election. Another
result that Crisp was so grateful that he
made Springer chairman of what is always
when In competent hands the most proml-
nent as well as important committee of
the House-Ways and ans-notwith-
standing earnest protests against such
action from Democrats who had years ago
sized up Springer's brain power.
As Chairman of the Ways and Means
committee MIR. Springer has not only made
q failure, but he has made himself the
laughing stock of majority of his own
party in Congress by his "pop-gun" tartif
bills, which were reported from his com
mittee and passed by the House at the last
session. But that was not plain to him,
for he recently announced himself as
favoring the Cleveland tariff programme
Nhatever that may be-and was nstru-
mental in securing pledges from Demo
cratic members of the next House TO vote
for the reelection OF Speaker Crisp, which
he fondly hoped would give him lead
pipe clinch" on the chairmanship of the
Ways and Means committee of the next
House, a position which promises to Civ.
its holder much notoriety, if no actusl
fame. during the life of the Flfty-third
Congress.
When Speaker Crisp returned from that
much talked of conference with the Prrs-
dent elect, with the Cleveland trademark
stamped all over him, things began to get
so slippery under Mr.. Springer's feet that
he wondered why some inventive genius
had never put political ice creepers on the
market, and even while he was wildly
waving his arms in an attempt to keep hi,
balance both feet went out from under
him. and he saw it written among the
stars that his scalp had been demanded by
Mr. Cleveland and promised by Mr. Crisp,
and then he fully realized that the tariff
bill to be prepared-perhsps approved
Is the proper word 1t certainly will be If
1t turns out to be true, as now reported,
that Mr.. Cleveland will have that measure
prepared under his own personal super
vision-by the Ways and Means commit
tee of the next House will not bear the
name of Springer.
Misfortunes never come singly. While
Springer was meditaling ON the sudden
ness of his fall and the vanity of ambition
he was Informed that the man he hate,
above all others-Hou. W X Morrison
had been endorsed by the entire Illinois
delegation. himself excepted, for a seat In
Mr.. Clevelands cabinet Now YOU know
Why Springer is the maddeSt man in Con
g-ess He still wears a buttonhole bonqurf
but the expansive smile which was crst-
while the most prominent feature of his
face has vanished, perhaps forever, AMI
he has the look of man ho is working
his nerves up to the point If doing some
thing desperate.
Senstor Allison returned u Washington
to-day. Needless to say that he was
warmly welcomed by his Senatorial col
leagues and his friends. both in and out Of
public life. He called on the President at
once and they had an hours talk about the
deliberations of the international monetary
conference, to which Senator Allison was
delegate. The Senator agrees with Sec
retary Foster in believing that the confer
ence has accomplished some good although
falling of any practical results He de-
clines to express an opinion as to whether
any sort of agreement will be reached by
the commission when it reconvenes next
May.
New Years day has usually been the
most brilliant of the year in Washington,
but this year is an exception The first
day of the year falling on Sunday to day
is observed as the holiday, but the gor-
geous reception at the White House, with
all of the diplomatic corps in the full
court costume of their native countries,
all of the army, navy and marine officers
in full dress uniform and the officials of
the executive, judicial and Legislative d.,
partments of the government, is sadly
missed. Instead of being the scene OF
this bright pageant the White House is in
quarantine, because of the case of scarlet
fever with which the Presidents grand
daughter Is confined to her bed There
are no official receptions being held, and
the number of private receptions is very
much smaller than usual, as many of our
most prominent people omitted them as
an evidence of their sympathy for the
prasjdapt nd fa ily