The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1893-01-13
wAsHIsGTOs LETTER.



Speaker Crisp's visit 10 New York for
the purpose of conferring with president
elect Cleveland, which was frst autbori-
lively announced in this correspondence.
was success from every point Of view, and
W bile the speaker will not. OF course. talk
about what Dir Cleveland said to him, his
face indicates to certainty his satisfac-
ton, and indeed, he does not hesitate to say
that the conferences were entirely salts
factory to bo'h participants, and that he
found himself in perfect accord with Mr.
Cleyeland's s ideas about what should be
done by the party in congress. The i'm
portance TO the democratic party at large
of this complete understanding between
Speaker Crisp and Mr. Cleveland can
hardly be oyerestimated. In the first
pl ace. ii removes all danger of a bitter
fight over the speakership of the next houss
and consequently means that perfect har-
mony will exist between those who will
control the legislation of the house and the
democratic president. and that means
everything for the future success of the
party.
Your correspondent regrets that b.
cannot give as good news Of the prospects
in the next senate In the first place. the
control of the senate Of the next congress il
still very much in doubt, with the ploba-
bilities of its being 10 the hands Of tbs
populists. who have. through { Senator
PETER, announced their intentions to put
their Yotes where they will do the most
good-io themselves. Democrats here t2ks
no stock in the stories which republican
and mt gwump newspapers have been CIR
cniating about the intentions OF Senator
Hill The senator himself has long agc
given up the attempt 10 put stop to silly
stories by dignifying them with denial
but gentleman who snioys cOu6dentia
relations with him. and who Is probably a
well acquainted with his intentions as any
one, except himself. said to me:
Senator HILL Is first Of all democrat, and
you xiIl make no mistake by asserting II
the most pcsitive terms that be will do
nothing in the senate that will be incOn-
sistent with Simon pure democracy. Ht
will support Mr. CIeveIsnd's : administration
As loyalty as any man in the senate. exoep'
in THE matter Of appointing uugwumps o.
newly converted democrats, Of the Wayns
Macyeigh stripe, to ofsoe- HMr CIeve-
and noninates any Of these men Il
important Offices predict that Senator
Hill will endeaxur TO prevent their con-
frnation by the senate, but be viii cast Nd
vote against the confirmation Of any man
whose democracy Is unquestiO0ed- Re-
member this prediction. and see il tims
does rot prove It's trutnfulness-"
Here is specimen Of extrzvAgznt and
useless legislation. broaght to iight hJ
members Of the house committee on sppro-
priz;ions: In the estimates submitted to
appropriations for the next fiscal year b
the war department was One item q
$50 900 for artificial limbs for soldiers
The large amount for this purpose suggest
ed an investigation which brought out ths
fact that up to the Fifty-srSt (billiOn dollar
congress. soldiers entitled TO artificial hmbi
were Authorized every Eve years to receive
new legs or arms. or 10 take in commits
ton s75 for leg and $50 for an ann
During that congress without any recon-
mendation O. request from the war depart
meut bill was l9b6ied through BY The
claim agents ring which At that tins
collected about ninetenSAs Of the oommn'
tation money-upOn big percentage o.
course-resiucing the period to three years
(since then rule Of the department shut:
the claim agents out of this money! II
was also discovered that the original Law
was more than liberal. as an artii -ial am
viii under ordinary usage last a life tims
and that a leg lasts from six to eight years
also that 9s per cent Of those entitled tC
artificial arms and IS per cent of thos'
entitled 10 legs regularly take the money
instead Of the limb. Further investigation
showed that IL this claim agents law haC
not been enacted the item wonld have beer
SIS. 600 instead Of $4,000. Qaits I
difference, eh2 This is only one instance
there are hundreds OF them. It will. tax
several years of democratic rule and sigi
liant Investigations to get the expenditure
Of this government down to an economical
business basis. but it is going to be done.