The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-08-03
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. Aug. l, '93


able IN history, whether with good
repute or bad time will tell. Heaven
k rows when u will ldJourn- Y the
4th of March, 1895, certainly, and
p,ssibiv not SOONER. The meeting
of Congress at this early date is ac-
ceptcd S one OF the most natural
things in the world, and there is
undoubtedly need enough for the
session. but one who traces back
the causes which led to it will be
somewhat puzzled. There appears
to have been demand Sin the air.
for an extra session. 1t was talked
about even before the old Congress
had adjourned. But I'll this time
there WAS no thought of silver
session. The reason why the new
Congress should be brought to-
gether prom pity, which was urged
on every hand. was that the revis-
ION of the tariff might be begun at
once. This reason did not seem to
impress Mr.. Cleveland. and the
m lch desired extra session appeared
to be unattainable until the new
reason was found in the financial
situation. Now we have Congress
about to meet to face question
they were running from all last
Congress. There has been an al
most complete revolution in few
months. and Congress comes to-
gether almost without a thought of
what they had expected to be
cause for their assembling.
Along with great deal of reas-
surfing testimony as tQfinancial con-
ditlons comes an official statement
from Mr.. Eckels, controller of the
currency, in which are shown plain
unvarnished facts as to bank sus-
pensions. Foolish efforts to alarm
the public mind have alleged that
two hundred or more banks had
failed and those same misstatements
naturally resulted in exaggerated
ideas which in turn did damage
where there was no good reason for
any disturbance. But an extension
of the scare is hardly possible, in
the face of the information pre-
sented by the controllers figures
There are 3,7S5 national banks IN
the United States. OF these 105
have suspended since January /.
Fourteen have re-opened their doors,
while So have made application to
reopen and will doubtless soon re-
ceive the necessary permission. The
calamity bowler has been trying to
convince the thought'ess that most
of the banks were either gone or
going; the controllers exact state
ment shows that less than three per
cent. have been affected and of
these respectable proportion Is
once more engaged in the transac-
ton of business.
Minister Biount's special mission
to Hawaii is practically completed
and his final report Is said to be now
on its way to Washington. The
volumlnous reports already received
have been transmitted To the Presi-
dent at Buzzard's Bay, so that he
is in full possession of information
amply sufficient for the formation
of policy on the general question
of annexation. 1t Is not at all i'm
probable that the Executive will
send special message to Congress
at the extra session. The knowing
ones assert 1t as fact that Mr..
Cleveland is opposed to the annex
alton of the Islands, but is willing
to exercise guardianship over
them sufficient to prevent interior
ence on the part of any other for
elgn government.
When Mrs. Cleveland returns to
the White House IN September it
will be to find the place IN thorough
order for the winters social cam
paign. Within doors the most ex-
tensive change will be apparent in
the Red room. This apartment has
always been used by the families of
the various Presidents quite as
much ia the capacity of private
reception-room as for public occa-
sions. The stiffness of the other
parlors here gives place to an air of
coziness that is homellke and at
tractive. Upstairs, the small room
opening out of the Presidents room
has been transformed. This, as
during the former years of her oc-
cupancy, Mrs. Cleveland will use as
her boudoir, the charming little
apartments in which she will re-
celve the most intimate of her
friends and serve cup of tea pre-
pared by her own hands from the
daiutlest of tables at one side of the
old-fashioned fireplace. The walls
are papered In light blue, and car
pets and furnishings correspond in
tone with this background. 1t Is
on the writing desk in this room
that the Presidents wife attends to
l,n,. ,ortVotn corrac,,op 1an,n Nh