Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-01-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.


WASHINGTON, Jan. :, is93.--Never
before has thorc been such n general
interest In the outcome o; senatorial
contests as In those nov going on In a
humber Of states. Ordinarily, except
among those from the states In which
the contests were pending, such events
have scarcely created n ripple OF inter
est In Washington. One reason for
the general interest ut this time Ia that
never before were 10 many senators In
doubt, and the very senators, too. who
viii by their votes douiio the political
control Of the Senate Of the Fiity.third
Congress, a Congress which, In some
respects, may DO one Of the most Inn
portant in our history. u is generally
believed here by men OF all parties that
enough Of the doubtful senators will
be elected by the Populists TO give
them the balance OF power, but there
" still just enough doubt, not only
about their election, but how the Popu-
lists viii vote, to keep al hands on the
anxious bench, w II wert.
Another thing which has brought
public interest up TO fovor heat Ia Mr.
Cleveiant's unexpected open fight
upon Senator Hill's candidate FOR sen.
ator from New York, fight which
may be IA important 70 mo Demo
cratic party at large and especially In
New York state, rs was the memoir.
able fight between Senator Conkling
and President Garfield, which resulted
In the dramatic double reaignation Of
Senators Conkllng aud piatt, and In
Mr.. Clevelsnd's first election 20 the
presidency. Tho politicians In Wash
lDgton, even those closely allied TO
Mr.. Cleveland, admit privately-they
are discreetly mum ia public-that Mr..
Cleveland made mistsiss In making
this fight, even n he spceeeded In de-
tcating Murphy, which, by the way,
few people here believe TO be possible
ut this late day. They argue that 1t
will give Senator Hill an excuse for
embarrassing Mr.. Cleveland's admin.
istration which he would rot have had
II Mr.. Cleveland hau kept his hands
oil In New York. Tammany men here
say that Murphy's election has been
an assured thing ior weeks,
the necessary votes haviug been
pledged to him long before Mr.. Cleve-
land came out In that interview against
him. They admit that, strong AS
Senator Hiil is In New York, Mr..
Cleveland could have defeated his
candidate II he had annouscod his OPP.
polition to him before thc Democratic
members Of the legislature we're bound
up by pledges. A few people here ex-
press tho belief that he viii do Il any
way.
The politicians are all very much at
sea about silver legislation at this Sos.
sion, and unless they 30 some remark
able "gottiDg together" In very short
time there Is little probability that
there will be any legislation. There
has been some shifting Of positions on
the silver question since the subject
was last before Congress, but Just how
many members have changed their
views appears to be matter OF doubt.
IL is suspected that Representative
Dockery, Of Missouri, y prominent
Democratic member o. the House
committee ON appropriations, who has
been \ strong free coinage man. Ia one
OF them, and II IL believed that
Speaker Crisp, who has also been q
free coinage advocate, has been
converted to Mr.. Cleveland's financial
ideas. The Cleveland influence aud
the Harrison influence ID still being
Jointly exertod to bring about n sus.
pension OF the present monthly pur-
chases OF silver bullion, bat the out.
wa indications OF the effect have not
become sufficiently marked to say
whether success or failure will DO the
outcome.
President Harrison 10 preparing n
special message TO be sent to Congress
shortly after Il convene,, dealing with
the advantages enjoyed by the
Canadian Pacific railroad by reason OF
the consular seal systen Of freight
shipments. The message will DO &c.
companied by documentary evidence
on tine subject which the heads Of the
executive departments Of the govern
ment have been collecting for some
time. The action OF the Canadian
government In suspeniing certain sec-
lions Of Its tariff, concerning the direct
aud indirect importation OF sugar and
molasse', which have been regarded MS
DETERMINATIONS against the United
States, will not, 1t n thought, cause
any change in the tenor OF the message,
although 1t may have calculating
effect upon Congress.
The detailing OF army officers as
Injian agents has been very satlsiac.
tory to the government Officials, and,
1t Ia eald, also to the Indians, but II
now turns out that 1t Is not satisfactory
TO tho army officers. rhit fact was
brought out by the powerful influence
which Captain Porter, OF the Eighth
infantry, and Lieutenant lowering, OF
the Fourth infantry, are bringing to
bear ON the authorities here ia order to
get the orders detailing them as Indian
agents revoked. on course II they
cannot get tho orders revoked they
will either have to accept the details or
resign their commissions in the army;
but all the same It Is not probable that
any officer who accepts detail against
his wishes Will enter very oheeTiully
upon his work, or will BIT up nights
thinking how he may improve things