Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-03-30
From our regular Correspondent.I
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, d. c.. Mar. 90, 1898.


WASHINGTON, d. c., Mar. 90, 1898
A secret conference Of Democratic Sem
| ators was held at the residence of one Of
hours and it may prove the first step to-
wards a war between the President and
| the Senate as bitter and relentless as that
which was a part of President Andrew
Johnson's administration. The most no.
table thing about the secret conference
was the absence of such pronounced oppo-
! nents of the administration as Senators
Hill, Murphy and Pugh. Although absent
these Senators are in sympathy with the
objects Of the conference, and 1t is be-
lieved that they kept away purposely. in
order that certain Senators disposed to be
conservative might be induced to attend.
What was stated to have been the imme-
date cause OF the calling of the confer
ence was the notice served upon Senators
by Mr.. Cleveland that he reserved the
right to turn down" applicants for office
even when they were indorsed by both
Senator'S and the entire state delegation
In the House. In other words, that Con
gresslonal influence would not count un-
less the bearer Of it was otherwise salts
factory 70 the appointing power. That
was the last straw. This man intends
TO humiliate us and to break down our
mower at home said INDIGNANT n.,,ocra,
ic Senators to each other, 'and unless we
intend to retire at the end Of our terms we
must fight" Nothing definite was deter
mined at the conference. which was held
for free interchange Of opinion as to
what ought to be done. but minority
favored sending Mr.. Cleveland word In
unmistakable language that unless he
would agree to allow the Senators to exer-
else their old time privilege of controlling,
when acting in concert with the Repre-
sentatives from their states, the federal
patronage of their respective states, they
proposed to make war on him by reject
ing his nominations to office. Although
no formal resolution TO that effect was
adopted by the conference the talk of
those who took part-about twenty Sena-
tors-has been fully reported to Mr.. Cleye-
land, and the few who are in the secret
are anxiously waiting to see which side If
either, wiz first show the white feather.
II Mr. Cleveland does 1t Will be the first
time he has allowed himself to be whipped
without fight
Secretary Hoke Smith Il ambitious Of
becoming known To fame as q headsman.
In addition to accepting the resignation Of
Gen, Raum, as Commissioner Of Pensions,
In advance OF the appointment Of hi, sue
cessor-an unusual proceeding has
asked for the resignation Of all the divis-
ion chiefs in the General Land ONCE.
That's going at much more rapid pace
than the rest of the cabinet have yet
struck.
Republican officials seem to enjoy the
confidence of this administration To a
marked extent For two days last week
the War and Navy Departments were in
charge Of Assistant Secretaries Grant and
Solcy, respectively, while Secretaries
Lamont and Herbert were out Of the city
Uncle Jerry Ru-k has been taking al
vantage Of his vacation To do a little sight
seeing in Washington. which be never had
an opportunity 70 DO during the four
years he was Secretary Of Agriculture.
Although his Office was within stone.
throw of the Washington monument he
never enjoyed the view from the top until
since he was promoted to be private
citizen
The administration is trying to be Very
mysterious about its policy toward Hawaii,
but 1t can be stated on good authority
that 1t has had two separate and distinct pol
ices within week. The first Of last week
ex-Congressman Blouut, Of Georgia, who
while he was chairman OF the House com
mittee on Foreign Affairs was an out
spoken opponent of annexation, was
started for Hawaii with authority and in
structions to repudiate the protecLprate
established By Minister Stevens ami to
haul down the American flag, ia order to
see whether the provisional government
negotiating with this government. Later
Information was received by the admins
tration TO the effect that Great Britau's
officials were prepared the moment the
protection of the United States was ON
clally withdrawn 10 restore the deposed
Queen to the throne under a British pro-
tectorate. A cabinet meeting was at once
called and its members made the fact very
plain to the President that if he allowed
Great Britain to get peceabe control Of
Hawaii his administration would be de-
nounced from the Atlantic to the Pacific
for such an un-American policy. So an
entire set of new instructions were pre-
pared and sent by telegraph to intercept
Mr.. Blount at San Francisco. In these
new instructions he was told TO recognize
the existing protectorate, while he scours
Hawaii for reasons against annexation.
AS he sails from San Francisco to-day or
tomorrow his Instructions cannot again
be changed even if the administration
should take another somersault
Every train that goes out Of Washing
ton is loaded with disappointed office
seekers, but as every train which arrives
is loaded with office seekers, there is little
or no diminution in the crowd which daily
besieges the White House and the Depart
ments.
Wyoming Speaks.
The Wyoming Legislature. few days.
ago, unanimously adopted the following