The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-01-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsn1NaroN. D. .C., Jan. 6,

WASHINGTON. D. c., Jan. 6, 1898
Speaker Crisp still shows the effects of his re.
cent severe attack of indigestion, but he has
been able to preside over the House durin g the
short and unimportant sessions held this week,
As usual the attendance for the first two or
three days after the holiday recess has been
small; and the sick list Is unusually large but
the work on tn e appropriation bills. which after
all is the main business OF this session. is being
rapidly pushed. In view of the probable silver
fight which may begin any day, Speaker Crisp
was asked by friend which side he would be
on. Neither" was the quick reply. 1t is
my duty to impartially preside over the House.
aud, whatever my personal opinion may be, l
shall epdeavor to do it.'.
Representative Scott, of Illinois, introduced
resolution this week which is believed to con.
tain a part of the true inwardness of the way
In which Secretary Foster has: staved off the
actual deficit in the Treasury during the last
year. 1t starts out by stating that the Fifty
first Congress provided for the construction or
extension of 76 public buildings. and that 47 Of
them have not yet been contracted for: and calls
on the Secretary of the Treasury fol- informs-
tion us to why SO many of these public works
have been so long delayed. and why more than
S. 600 600 appropriated for this purpose remain
ed unexpended during the last two years. Mr..
for the Immediate consideration of The resoiu-
ton. but representative Diugley. of Maine
objected and the resolution was referred.
Senator Carlisle's friends are beginning to
practice calling him Mr.. Secretary. as the belief
has become general that he has yielded TO the
pressure brought to bear upon him and agreed
to accept the position of Secretary of the Treas
ury in President Cleveland's cabinet, tallhough
he still declines to discuss the matter.
A report became current early in the week
that Secretary Elkins intended to issue orders
that would have the effect of preventing the
regular army making "a reputable showing
in the Cleveland inaugural parade. sub
committee from the Inaugural Committee at
once waited upon the Secretary. and were as
sured by him and also by Gen. Schofeld. who
was present at the interview. that he had no
such Intentions. on the contrary. that he had
m ade up his mind that the regular army should
be more largely and better represented than at
any previous Inauguration since the war. The
inaugural ball will be held in the Pension Of
fee building,
A man Who went up like rocket and came
down like a sti ck.'' is Mr.. Thomas II Carter,
who had hardly been heard of outside of his
own State until he was made chairman of the
National republican committee, and who, after
the election. dropped back into an obscurity
dragged to be an ornamental figure head (that
was the original intention. but circumstances
prevented the manipulation OF the wires by the
man who laid them, and Carter became the act
nal head Of the com mittee). Mr. Carter was in
Washington this week tryiny to clear his late
Secretary, ex-Congressman McComas, of Mary
land, of certain Icharges against his integrity
which have caused his nomination to Judge of
the D. C. Supreme Court to be hung up for sew
eral days in the Senate committee controlled by
his own party. Carter's head is several sizes
smaller than it was before the election.
1t is now conceded, even by the most san
guine republicans. that the Senate Of the Fifty
third Congress will be controlled by the demo
cratic party, although several of the necessary
votes will come from the populists: but no
matter where they come from, the votes will be
there to re-organize the Senate on democratic
basis, and to pass any measure which the demo
cratic leaders may agree upon as desirable.
That puts the last nail in the coffin of the defunct
National republican party gives the democrat
ic party a lease on the government SO long as 1t
may be guided by wise ceunseis. to all of which
avery man who has the future welfare OF our
country and all of its citizens, not few favored
individuals, can conscientiously say Amen!
Representative Outhwaite has introduced a
resolution providing for an investigation of the
control of certain historical documents on file
in the Department of State. This nearly con-
Germs Representative Henry Cabot Lodge, of
Massachusetts.who will soon be Senator Dawes
successor, as it has been charged that he and
his literary partner were. through collusion
with certain minor officials of the State Depart
ment, able TO prevent other literary men getting
access to historical papers on file In the depart
ment until they had published copies Of them
as portions of certain historical books of which
Mr.. Lodge is reputed to be one of the authors
Senator Hill says that not more than seven
votes will be cast against the nomination of
Murphy to be Senator at the democratic caucus
of the New York legislature. to bo held next
Tuesday night.