The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1893-02-24
Washington Letter.


,boutthe annexation of Hawaii, but there
! something about it which in another
man would have been called sharp pric-
tice. The impression was allowed to go out
that if annexation was recommended 1t
would be bv act of Congress, which would
give tne House as much say about 1t as
the Senate. But this week he sent
treaty which the Secretary of State had
negotiated with the Hawiian commission
ers. providing for immediate annexation
and leaving the legislative details To be
arranged by the next Congress, to the
Senate. urging in the special message
which went with 1t that the treaty be
promptly ratified.
1t IS argued in favor of the railroading
business that il was too late in the session
to get legislation on the subject, and that
it was necessary to take such action.
Democrats in the House fail To see the
point in such an argument. Many of
them are strongly in favor of annexation,
but they can see no good reason. 50 long
as the matter will have to be completed
under President Cleveland : admins
tration, why II was not left for ms al
minIStration to begin it.
Granting that To do 1t 10y treaty and
not 10y AN act of Congress was the best
way, there is no getting around the fact
that within Two weeks the Senate of
the Fifty-third Congress will be IN extra
session for the purpose of confirming
Mr.. Cleveland nominations for the
cabinet and other important positions,
and that there would have been next To
no delay in allowing this treaty To 80 over
and Ice sent to the Senate 10y Mr.. tieve-
land, If it met with his approval That
would have been Just and proper; the
present arrangement Is neither. lt II
stated that Mr.. Harrison received posi-
tive assurance before the treaty was
sent to the Senate that IL would be ratl
! fled. and he feels so easy about 1t that he
| has gone duck-ShOOting, to remain until
next week. 1t L., of course, possible for
the Democratic Senators To prevent ac-
| ton on the treaty at tins session, but
| there are so many Of them who have com
| mitted themselves in its favor that II II
not very probable.
The official announcement of the Seiec-
| ton of four members of Mr. Cleveland :
1 cabinet has been much talked about
| since il was received. Mr.. Carlisle ; Sc
| lection was known before and had been
enthusiastically received by Democrats IN
| Congress. Judge Gresham stability Is ad-
mitted by all, but his Democracy isn't [,
( and for that reason his selection, as Sec
| retarV of State, WAS not received with as
| much favor aS was that of Carlisle. Dan
| Lamont needed no Introduction 10 the
| Democrats in Congress. all Of whom
| expect him To prove II model Secretary of
war and are glad that he l. not TO go up
| higher" Mr. BisSell Is not widely
known among public men, but those
who do know him speak in such high
terms of both his ability and his Demo
cracy that his selection to be Postmaster
General meets with much favor. The
| Republicans have been and are still try
ing to use Judge Gresham "a a lever ere
ate dissention in the ranks of the Dem
ocratic party, but they are meeting with
! poor success. No good Democrat Is foolish
enough to expect that every man Sc
lected as member of the cabinet will be
! his personal choice for the place.
Every student of history knows that
circumstances have quite as much. and
often more. 10 do with the choice of
| members of the cabinet than the per
sonal incinations of the President, to say
nothing of other members of the party
The advantage of having clear headed
| business men in Congress was never
more conspicuosly brought out than
when Senator Brce in in a five minute
| talk explained what would be the status
of the stock issued 10y the Nicaraguan
canal company, in ease the bill now pend
| ing guaranteeing the interest on 500,
600, 900, of bonds to be issued, becomes
law. Before Mr.. Brice made his
| statement Senators sherman and Teller
| had got into a dispute in which both
| used words which meant ''yOu are a
liar" but the statement was impossible
Ii was Mr.. BrIce's first speech in the
Senate. Although this bill now has the
right of way in the Senate aS the .'uufiu-
! iShcd business no one seems To expect
that it viii Toe voted ON at this session,
and it Is certain that ii will not be voted
on in the House, even if passed 10y the
! Senate.
Congress, particularly the House, has
made rapid headway with the appropria-
ton bills this week. and unless some
thing unexpected shall transpire to pre-
vent they will all be disposed IF we'll in
| advance of the day Of adjournment.
There was some talk early this week
! of another attempt To bring about com
| promise silver legislation, buf the sus-
| picion that New York bankers are trying
To bring about financial scare for that
| purpose make it almost certain that no
thing will come of 1t.