Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-06-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, June /, Is!

WASHINGTON, June /, 1898.
The administration has at last done
one thing for which it deserves credit.
In the entertainment of the Spanish
Infanta and her suite, who were in
Washington a week as the official
guests OF the nation, it discharged an
unusual task in a most satisfactory
manner, to all concerned, in spite OF
the attempts of some tuft-hunting
Americans to persuade it into making
a mess of things by following European
customs. Not little of the credit,
however, is due the Infanta, who
proved herself to be a woman fully en-
dowed with common sense, ready
to adapt herself to American customs,
instead of expecting Americans to
adopt Spanish customs. Before leav
ing for New York she expressed herself
as delighted with her visit to Wash
ington ana with the people she met
here. After spending a few days in
New York she will go to the Worlds
Fair.
Prof. Harrington, chief of the weather
bureau, seems to have been in striking
distance of the truth when he said
that the attack which led to the recent
investigation of the weather. bureau
was the beginning of movement to
put the bureau back under military
rule, if one may judge from the report
of Assistant Attorney General Colby,
who conducted the investigation,
which was made to Secretary Morton
this week. In view of the evidence
taken at the investigation this report
is considered q remarkable one, and
while it does not in so many words
recommend that the secretary of agri-
culture ask ior the detail of an army
officer to take charge of the bureau, it
does so indirectly. At least that is
the construction which nine out oi
ten men with whom your correspon,
dent has talked upon the subject put
upon it. The end of this business is
not yet in sight. Prof. Harrington
feels that the report wrongs him and
he is preparing to strike back.
The relentless war which the admin
istration has waged from the day il
assumed Office upon the Hill-Murphy
machine in New York has reached tn,
stage at which the friends of Mr.
Cleveland privately claim to be in q
position to overthrow the machine
and capture the state committee
when the new committee is formed
next fall. The hotter this fight be
comes the better it will please Repub
licans, and the more certain will b
the return of the Empire state to it
proper position in the Republican
column.
Representative Charles O'Neill O
Pennsylvania, who since the death @
Judge Kelly has enjoyed the distine
. tion. of being the Father of tn
House," that is, the member havin
the longest continuous service therein
says the Republicans ought to be We
satisfied with the outlook, which in
dicates in every direction return c
the Republican party to power. MI
O'Neill is justly noted for his clearnes
OF vision on political matters.
Although it was announced som
days ago that the administratio
program of congressional legislatio
included an income tax, and there al
the best of reasons tor believing tina
announcement to have been authentic
the talk of some of the men close t
Mr.. Cleveland during the last few day
makes it apparent that if the ide
n proves very unpopular, as it is almos
certain to do, they are preparing I'll
way for Mr.. Cleveland to say that /
never thought of recommending an il
come tax, just as he said recently tha
@ neither he nor Secretary Carlisle ha
ever had any idea of redeeming trea
ury notes in silver, although Secretar
Carlisle had positively stated to moi
!. than one man that such course ha
% been agreed upon. In short the ide
II of an income tax is put out as
"feeler" of public sentiment. If it a.
pears favorableit will be berecommende