Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-08-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Outlook for the President
when Congress meets.
Number OF Pensioners Suspended
What may be expected.
lFrom our Regular Correspondent

avoided ut least one of the more or less
humiliating defeats that he will re-
ceive at the hands of Congress, for
then he would have known that all of
the older Senators, regardless of poll
tics, stand together in favor Of one of the
Oldest rules of the Senate-the free and
unlimited debate of all meazites-a -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 Mr.. 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 to
death, as it actually was, rather than
to propose a violation of one of the
most sacred traditions of the Senate.
1t will not be long before Mr.. Cleve-
land regrets, if he has not already done
80, that he made such proposition,
because it has not even one chance out
of a possible one hundred of being
adopted.
Opinion seems to be very much divid-
ed, among the Congressman now in
Washington, as to the result of the an.
nounced 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 silver men, and its result
will indicate almost to certainty how
the House will vote on the silver ques
ton.
The number of pensioners suspended
since the 4th, of last March is between
5000 and 5000, and if there is no inter.
ference by Congress it is estimated by
Pension Office officials that $4,000 out
of the $4,000 pensions granted under
the law of 1890, generally known al
'the dependent pension" act will bt
suspended before the examination nov
going on is concluded. Whether Con
gress as body will take this matte
up is somewhat doubtful, but indi cid
ual Congressman have taken it up ant
are making big fuss about it, sayin,
that gross injustice is being done thei
constituents by the examining board
The protesting Congressman represen
all shades of political opinion.
A sensation followed the publication
this week, in a local paper, which al
though claiming to be independent i
generally known as an administration
sheet, of New York special charging
Secretary Lamont with betraying tn
anti-snappers and courting Tamman,
for the purpose of protecting the Whit
ney street railway interests, of whicl
he was in charge before he entered tn
cabinet, and of furthering his ow
lately developed ambition to becom
Governor of New York. 1t was under
stood here to be very broad hint to Nj
Cleveland that he must choose betwee
Tammany and the anti-snappers.
When Col. Ainsworth, who is i
charge of the Record and Pension d
vision of the War Department, whic
occupied Ford's old Theater at th
time of the collapse of its floors an
the killing of score of clerks. wa
found guilty by the coroner's jury {
criminal negligence in connection wit
those deaths it was supposed that b
would be suspended from duty, but h
was not, nor has he been suspende
since the grand jury formally indicte
him and three othersfor manslaughte
Everybody is talking about the pull
he must have to retain his position III
der the circumstances.
: Mr.. Cleveland will return to Was
ington some time next week, but I,
some unaccountable reason those WI
: know prefer to surround his comir
8 mystery and decline to say what day
8 will be here, although 1t Is not clear
h ordinary perception what difference
y can possibly make to anybody VIII
day he arrives, as it has already bee
: given out that he will see no calle
until after Congress meets. But pt
3 haps it is Mrs. Cleveland that max
Q the day of his arrival uncertain.
It would very naturally desire to be
u Gray Gables when certain expect
4 event takes placs. If that is the ga
o why not say so. II is simply nc
q sense to surround the movements
= the President or any other official
"a this country with Russian mysteI
,r Votes are the only weapons they ha
l. 10 fear in America.
}. Women have better time than m
L. there are far more things forbidd
them. .s4