The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1893-02-25
Washington Notes,

Democrats i'll congress are far from
| being pleased with the financial outlook.
The house ways and means committee
made favorable report of Representa-
| tive Bynums resolution authorizing an
investigation of the charge publicly
made that Secretary Foster has made
a deal with certain New York bankers
whereby he was to exchange at par for
gold s50,000,000 of U. S. bonds. The
fact that New York bankers are seldom
philanthropists. and that they are
known to be furnishing the treasury
with gold caused many people TO believe
this charge; hence the necessity for an
investigation. The public wants no
secret Juggling with the finances of
this country. 1t is only fair to Secre.
tary Foster and the present admistra-
tion to say that they deny the charge of
issuing or of having promised to issue
bonds for geld. Still it is believed by
some that Secretary Footor, who 10 IN
New York now, is there to break mp
the deal, because of the proposed in
vestigation.
ate amounted to nothing more substan-
tial than TO make it certain that no sill
yer legislation would take place at the
present session. 1t has been repeatedly
stated here within the last ten days
that president t-elect Cleveland had said
he would call an immediate extra ses-
sion of the next congress if the present
| failed to take some action that would
stop the purchase of silver by the gov
ernment, but now that congress has by
votes in both house and senate given
notice of its failure to take such action
no one seems to be certain that an eX-
ira session will be called, and there
| appears to be doubt in the minds of
quite a number of Democrats rs to
whether Mr.. Cleveland ever authorized
those statements.
If Mr.. llarrison's influence be strong
enough to accomplish it the legislation
necessary 10 the annexation of Hawaii
is to be rushed through congress, Mr.,
| Harrison has decided TO send q mes
sage recommending annexation and sug
gesting the terms to be contained in the
| legislation. To many this appears as
hasty as was the action of Minister Ste
vens in establishing a proteCtorate, and
it is certainly going to be done with
much less to excuse it. 1t Is assumed
to he necessary for this government to
endorse the action of Stevens, and that
being done what occasion is there for
hurrying annexation ? 1t is well known
that Hawaii is under the protection
of the American Gag and no European
government will dare TO interfere.
There is great big Niger concealed
somewhere in this Hawiian wood pile,
and his feet will be exposed if there be
no undue haste in the matter.
| ne talk OF the Republicans on the
floors of congress and in private, on the
pension question, is very different,
Privately they admit that if something
is not done to reduce them the payments
will soon bankrupt the country. but on
the floors Of congress they bitterly re-
| sist every attempt to reduce the amount
paid. The house committee on apprO-
priations after careful consideration
has recommended some amendments to
the general pension appropriation bills,
now being considered by the house,
which would if they became laws save
$50, 100000 year, but the Republicans
are doing everything in their power TO
prevent the adoption of these amend
ments. One of the amendments pro-
! 70, t,.,t, f.t hp In,
reau to the war department and the
| detail OF army officers to manage it,
which would remove it from politics !;
others provide for n suspension of PEN
sions paid 10 widows who were not
married within five years after the close
of the war; to those having an income
5000 or more, and, except in cases of
total disability, to alien non-rcsidents.
Unless the Republican senate shall
refuse TO agree TO amendments to the
legislative and executive appropriation
| bills which have already been passed by
the house there will be some radical
changes made here on the first of next
July. The clerks in the departments
will work eight hours instead of seven
each day, and will have their annual
leave of absence with pay cut down TO
10 days. The departments will cease TO
close on account of the death Of eX
officials, and congress Will no longer
pay the big prices it has paid in the
past for funeral expenses of members
who died. Whatever may be said of
/ to itt