Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-02-16
From our regular Correspondent. !
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. s. 1898.
The President has heard the official prop
ostion made by the commissioners from
the new provisional government Of Hawaii
for the annexation OF that country TO the
thoroughness and care, studying the ques-
ton III all its bearings, in order TO make
up his mind whether he will take any steps
towards annexation, make any recommend
atiun> to Congress. or leave the whole
matter for the incoming administration
and Congress Before the commissioners
arrived 1t was thought probable indeed 1t
was Informally agreed, that a treaty BY
which the United States took the repubIi-
can government Of Hawaii under its pro
lection would he about the proper thing
for the present. leaving annexation 10 fol
low, a. ii unquestiona5ly would have done
in few years But when the uitimatum
Of the mis-ioners-annrxation or moth
ing-was received the situation was
changed The President and all Of his
Cabinet are favorable to annexation. but
a. 1t would have to be preceded by Con
gresslonal legislation, and the life Of the
present administration and Congress is so
nearly spent II may be deemed advisable
by the administration not to begin what
would probably have TO be ended BY the
new Congress and administration. A de-
cision will probably be reached ID few
days. The Hawaiian flag-red, white and
blue stripes, with red cross in the corner
lis flying from the top Of the hotel at
which the Hawaiian commissioners are
qusrtered There is nothing foreign look
ing about the members OF this commits
sion
A determined effort is being made to Sc
cure some silver legislation on ccmpro
mise basis before the session closes Dan
Lamont and Don Dickinson are here in the
interest of the new administration, and to
submit TO the silver men several PROPOSE
tions for compromise, all Of them involv-
ing suspension OF the purchase Of silver
efforts are not successful an extra session
Of Congress will certainly be called
The bill authorizing the expenditure Of
$50 900 in the preparation Of an exhibit
for the Worlds Fair, showing the pro
gress of the colored race since 1868, has
been favorably reported to the House, and
the favorable manner IN which 1t IL spoken
Of by members indicates that it may pass,
hut, owing to the crowded condition Of tie
calendar action on no measure Is certain.
Probably no single action Of the Presi-
dent during his entire term has been more
talked about than the nomination Of Judge
Howell +. Jackson of Tennessee, an able
jurist, but an uncompromising Democrat.
to succeed the late Justice Lamar on The
bench of the U. s. Supreme Court. The
President had stated to number Of gen
tlemen his intention to nominate a Repub-
lican. and such was his intention until the
day before he nominated Judge Jackson.
and the cause of his change of mind was
notification he received to the effect that
twelve Republican Senators would vote
with the Democrats against the confrma-
tion of any Republican he might nominate.
The reason given by most Of these Repub-
licans was that an attempt to force the
confirmation Of Republican would result
in either tying up the Senate for the rest
Of the session, or the adoption of cloture
rpl hat HOY Ennti TAI
chances of either. Contrary to precedent
Judge Jacksons nomination has been re-
ferred to committee. 1t has been Gus
tomary to confirm the nomination of ex-
Senators without referring them to com
mittees. Judge Jackson although Dem
ocrat is not a believer In the doctrine of
state rights. Democratic Senators say pri-
vately that his confirmation depends upon
Mr.. Cleveland's wishes. The House while
sitting as a committee of the whole adopt
ed very sensible amendment to an ap-
| preparation bill. giving the owners Of
American Quarries a chance to compete
with foreigners in furnishing the marble
| for the Congressional library building, but
| when the yea and nay vote was taken In
regular session the party whip was brought
into use and the protection" cry raised !;
consequently the amendment was rejected
| by party vote.
| Secretary Fosters report on the condi-
tion of the Treasury, and his estimates of
receipts and expenditures for this and the
next fiscal year have put an end to the talk
about bankrupt Treasury, which has been
more or less prevalent among Democrats
ever since Congress met.
| The amount of mutilated currency now
| being presented to the Treasury for re-
demption averages 81 500, 900 day, being
much larger than for many years. 1t is
believed that this is largely caused by the
scare concerning the carrying of the germs
of contagious diseases in old paper money.
| The attempt to make the Panama Canal
investigation a star-chamber affair is not
well received. The people want to know
the whole true inwardness of this business
and if it Injuries anybody's reputation SO
much the worse for him.
|
-Hdrper's Magazine for February opens
with Edwin A. Abbey's superb illustrations
/ of Twelfth Night, accompanied by Andrew
| Jsnu,s iptarasfinO and xcholarlv comment