The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-02-16
WASHINGTON LgrTER
tpos,,s Regular Correspondent,

nizcd the Hawaii Commissioners and In
Itimatcd to them that he favored anpexa-
ton, and in few days probably this
week, he will send message to Congress
recommending the necessary legislation,
with certain conditions, to lie detailed III
his message. While mary congressman
believe that Miniser Stevens actedentires
~ toe hastily in establishing protector
ate without instructions, the prepon-
derancc of Congressional opinion seems
to be that outright annexation, Or pro.
gressive annexation; that is, continu-
ance for given period to be followcd.hy
annexation, is now necessary in order TO
maintain the National honor, which is, of
course. the frst thought Of every Congress
man, however much they may differ as to
methods. $4,000
The settlement depends upon President
elect Cleveland. If he informs the lead
ers of his party that he intends calling nm
early extra session of Congress this mat
ter will probably be allowed sto go over,
but suoh will hardly be the result Of mere
rumors of an extra session, believed by
many to have been started for no other
pupose than to influence votes on the sill
yer question, which was settled for the
session last week. If Congress will not
meet again before next December, thereis,
little doubt that President Harrison's
recommendation will be promptly acted
upon. One gentlemen who is OH terms Of
intimacy witt, Mr.. Cleveland told me that
his impression was that Mr. Cleveland
would be pleased to see this Hawaiian
business finally disposed Of at this SEES
sion, as he expects to have enough domes7
tic problems to fally occupy his time for
sometime after his Inauguration. There
is good logic in this view of it too. -.
Now that the reports of both the SEM
ate and House committees which nvestit
gated the Homestead strike and the en-:
ployment Of Pinkerton's mon IN iabot
troubles generally have been made The
futility Of expecting any prononncedecont
gressional legislation on the subject is
apparent. The House Committees reports
there are three of them-contailb. no
recommendation of value and the report
of the Senate committee, which reads
like it might have been written by d
school hoy who had just received two
licking, one from the teacher and tlle;oth-
err from his father, is no better. It con-
sists of niue conclusions which the COM
mittee arrived at, and those conclusions
wobble between the two sides the qnes-
ton tinally winding up with the doubt
whether Congress has. any right oilesist
late on the subject, and pleading for Or:
bitration. 1t is fact we'll -knuwn-ir
Washington if not at their homes, that
the average Congressman, be he Senator
or Representative, while always ready to
make buncombe speech on the fabol
question, is afraid to commit liimselftG
decisive legislation OH the subject, -. =
The House has adopted amendments To
the Legislative and executive. Approprial
lion bill, providing for eighth work
day by the clerks in the Departments
reducing their annual lease with pay from
80 to Is days year, and prohibiting the
closing Of any Department on account OF
the death Of an ex-otficial., Itis,consid-
cred very doubtful whether any, Of these
amendments, except possibly the last one,
will get through the Senate. The same
bill has another amendments good one
too-abolishing Congressional funerals OF
public expense. rs re,a - /
1t is estimated that the proposed
amendments to the Pension .laws,new.4 bel
| ing discussed by the House, would if'tBey
became laws save about $50, 100000 year
They provide for transferring the. Pension
Office from the Interior to the'War Depart
ment and placing 1t in charge Of. Army
officers, also, for suspending pcIsiore
paid to those having an annual.income Of
5000 or more, to widows. who were not.marl
ried within FIVE years from the cldse ofthe
war, and, except in case oftotal disabllS
ty, to alien non-residents. These amend
ments may possibly set through ..tths
House, but there is no probability oftheiat
ybeiRg adopted by the Senate aa,at pres
emit constituted. s',f,s :. 80 s..s..
The mountain would not come to Ma
homet, so Mahomct will go to.she noun
tain. The Panama Investigating commit
tee, the memhers Of which sensibls
changed their minds about holding asia,
chamber investigation, had so much trouh.
lie about getting witnesses waited 10 eoms
here and testify that If left for New York
to-day, where 1t will endeavor,sto get
look at the books and to gctthe testimo-
ny of the bankers who handle; the money
Later the commute will probably go K
Indiana to take e1-secretary Thompson I
Testimony. ~ ehA.st
Notwithstanding the report that hs
would be selected, the unoaic lal annouace
Iment that Judge Gresham had, beensrcat
|ly selected to be Mr. cleyeland's Ssoscta
ny of State created q sensation in Wash
ton. His.personal fitness 10 acknowledged