The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-02-10
Political Affairs at Washington.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 1S93.-This is going
to be q silver week in Congress, and conserya-
tive Democrats will be very much dsappoint-
ed II the result is not compromise measure
that Will become a law, and settle, at least for
time, the very troublesome and very import
ant question. 1t has been known ever since
Congress came together that President-elect
Cleveland was very anxious for this Congress
to put stop to the purchase of silver, which
he believes to menace the prosperity of the
country. 1t was through the efforts of his i'm
mediate friends in the House that Thursday
and Friday Of this week have been designated
for the consideration Of the Andrews bill fer
the repeal Of the Silver law and amending the
National Banking law. 1t is believed that a
sufficient number of Democrats in the House
have changed their views on this question to
make the passage of this bill proba BILE by the
House, but it is not thought that it can get
through the Senate hence the movement to
effect Il compromise that will be satisfactory
to the silver men and at the same time will
suspend the purchase of silver. Senator HILL
who voted for the present Silver law, now
holds the same opinion about the purchase of
silver that MIR. Cleveland does and is working
to bring about its suspension. This week will
determine whether compromise is possible,
aud IL 1t is not accomplished an extra session
early in the spring is believed by Mr. Cleve-
lands closest friends to be inevitable.
1t is probable that there will be some tariff
legislation at this session after all. The House
Ways and Means Committee favors, and there
is very little opposition anywhere, the repeal
Of that clause of the Mckinley law which
raises the tariff on linen goods fifty per cent.
on and after January l, 1894 1t is admitted
by the Republicans that this clause has failed
to accomplish what it was intended to do
develop the linen industry in the United
States.
Senator Harris, Of Tennessee, says that udge
Jackson, Of that Sta tie, who has been nominal
ed to the vacancy on the Supreme Court, al
though commonly clsssed as Democrat, and
appointed to his present position on the bench
OF the Circuit Court by Mr.. Cleveland, is as
good a Republican as Mr.. Harrison. That
there Will be strong opposition from both sides
OF the Senate to Jackson's confirmation is GER
tain, but whether it will be strong enough to
defeat him is not yet apparent Some Repub-
iicans will oppose him because he is classed
MS Democrat, others because they had serv-
ed notice on Mr.. Harrison that they would
oppose any nomination he made to the vacan-
cy. Most Of the Democrats who oppose the
confirmation do so on principle they believe
the vacancy should have been left for Mr.
Cleveland to fill but there are others who while
not opposed Judge jackson personally will
vote against his confirmation, because to vote
for him would morally bind them to vote for
Mr.. llarrison's nomination to the vacancy
which his confirmation would leave in the
Circuit Court, and it is considered certain that
credirable to Judge jackson that not one word
has been said by anybody against his ability
and personal fitness for the honor. Contrary
to precedent his nomination was referred to
u committee, and it will surprise very few
should that committee fail to report it back to
Senate.
The Hawaiian commission having presented
the petition Of the government they represent
for annexation to the United States, to Mr..
Harrison, through the Secretary OF State, are
now waiting as patiently as they may for an
answer. In spite of the mystery with which
the officials Of the State Department are trying
to surround the matter there would be little
doubt of the character OF the answer were it
not so near the close Of Mr.. Harrison's term.
lie unquestionably favors annexation, but
may, so long rs it can hardly be consummated
under his administration. conclude to leave it
for Mr.. Cleveland and the Democratic Con
gress to arrange. That is certainly what he
should do. G.. A s.