Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-08-03
Washington Letter.
prom our REGULAR corresponaent.l
Washington, July 28, 1898,

Washington, July 2S, 1898.
If Mr.. Cleveland had ever been q
member Of the Senate he would have
avoided at least one of the more or less
humiliating defeats that he will receive
at the hands of Congress, for then he
would have known that all the older
Senators, regardless of politics, stand
together in favor of one of the Oldest
rules of the Senate the free and I'M
limited debate of all measures-and he
would not have made the mistake of
asking Senators of his party to vote for
the adoption of cloture rule in the
Senate. request never made by any
other President, and which has served
to widen the breach already existing
between MIR. Cleveland and number
of the democratic Senators. No Presi-
dent ever more earnestly desired the
adoption of some particular bit OF
legislation than Gen. Harrison did
when the Federal Election bill, having
been passed by the House. was before
the Senate; but, having served term
as Senator, he did not make the mis-
take Of asking republican Senators to
vote for the adoption of cloture rule
preferring to see the bill talked 10 death
as it actually was, rather than 10 pro-
pose violation of one of the most
sacred traditions of the Senate. 1t will
not be long before Mr.. Cleveland 70.
grets, if he has not already done so,
that he made such proposition, be-
cause it has not even one chance out
of possible one hundred of being
adopted.
Opinion seems to be very much di-
vided, among the Congressman now
in Washington, as to the result of the
announced intention of the democratic
leaders to force the House to adopt a
cloture rule. 1t will be no violation of
tradition or precedent for the House to
adopt such a rule. but the opposition to
it will be sturdy and determined and
while the probabilities seem to favor its
ultimate adoption it will not be adopted
without hard and bitter fight being
made against it. The men who will
make this fight are those known as the
silver men, and its result will indicate
almost to certainty how the House
will vote on the silver question.
The number Of pensioners suspended
since the 9TH OF last March Is between
5000 and 5000, and il there is no in
reference by Congress it Is esteemed
by Pension Office officials that $4,000
out of the $4,000 pensions granted I'M
der the law of 1890, generally known
as 1.-THE dependent pension" act will be
suspended before the examination now
going on is concluded. Whether Cong
ress as a body will take this matter up
is somewhat doubtful. but individual
ngressmon have taken it up and are
making a big fuss about it, saying that
gross injustice is being done their con.
stituents by the examination board.
The protesting Congressman represent
all shades of political opinion.
A sensation followed the publication
this week, in local paper, which al
though claiming TO be independent is
generally known rs an administration
sheet. OF New York special charging
Secretary Lamont with betraying the
anti-suappers and counting Tammany
for the purpose Of protecting the
Whitney street railway interests, Of
which he was in charge before he en-
tered the cabinet. aud OF furthering
his OWL lately developed ambition 10
become governor Of New York. Il
was understood here to be q very broad
bint TO Mr.. Cleveland that he must
choose between Tammany and the
anti.snappers.
When Col. Ainswortb, who is in
charge of the Record and Pension Iii
vision Of the War department, which
occupied Ford old Theatre At the time
Of the collapse of It's floors and the
killing of score OF its clerks, was
found guilty by the coroner Jury OF
criminal negligence ia connection with
those deaths it was supposed that BE-
would 30 suspended from duty, bat
he was not, nor has lie been suspended
since the grand Jury formally indicted
him and three others for mauslaugh'er
Every body is talking about the lll he
must have to. retain bis position under