Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1894-05-17
Washington Letter
FROM OUR REGULAR CoRpEspoNDEN

FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT,
WASHINGTON. D. c.. May 14th, 1894.
fit takes one week to dispose OF
three amendments to the tariff bill,
how long will it take to dispose CT four
hundred and nine amendments? That
Is the problem the U. S. Senate presents
to the people to-day. IT the Senate
does not make greater progress with the
tariff bill in the future than it has done
in the past the 53rd, Congress will end
before it is acted upon. The four hum
dred-odd amendments which have been
presented to the Senate as the result of
democratic concessions to democratic
Senators are far more satisfactory to
fine republicans than they are to the
democrats, and it any assurance could
be given that they would be accepted
by the House, the bill would pass the
Senate IN a week. But the republicans
are afraid that these amendments are
merely bait to get the bill through
the Senate, and then to 80 make up the
conference committee as to have the
most of them struck out. In fact the
principal cause of delay seems to be
that neither side Is quite certain of
either its own or the others position.
Coxey's commonweal army was forced
out of Washington by the health au-
thorities and is now encamped in Mary
land, five miles away, where It's sur
roundings are decidedly antagonistic,
many of the Marylanders having refused
to either contribute or to sell anything
to its members, but they say they in
tend to remain and await re-enforce-
meuts and to again come to Washington
when they get enough of them. The
argument in the application for new
trial for Coxey and HIS two associates
who were conyicted Of violating the law
against trespassng on the Capitol
grounds Will be heard tomorrow, hav-
ing been postponed to accommodate
Representative Hudson, of Kansas, one
of Their counsel who was out of town.
1t is almost certain that they will not
get new trial, and that sentence will
be passed upon them but it is probable
that the sentence will be "a nominal one
and that enforcement will be suspended
indefinitely by the judge, Such action
would be in accordance with public
opinion here.
AS if there were not already combi
nations enough and to spare in Congress
new one has been formed IN the House
for the express purpose of preventing
the passage Of the Hatch anti option
bill. 1t is said that yearly all of the
members from the large cities, regardless
of politics. have joined this combination
which expects by hook or crook to down
the anti option bill. DIR. Hatch, how
ever, still expresses confidence IN the
early passage of the bill by a sabstan.
tial majority.
1t is now whispered around that
President Cleveland and all the mem =
bers of his cabinet haye been quietly
using their influence to prevent any
decisive action by Congress on the ad-
missi on of new states, and that pledges
have been secured from sufficient
number Of Senators to make it reason
ably certain that none Of the bills now
before the Senate will be acted upon at
this session. Several reasons are given
for this antagonism on the part of the
administration, but fear Of increasing
the silver vote III the Senate seems to
be most generally accepted as the cause,
The hearings before the House Post
Office committee in favor of government
ownership Of all telegraph lines, are
still gong on. Among the latest to
make strong arguments in favor Of the
change were Representative Mcguire, of
California, and President Butler, of the
National Farmers Alliance and Indus
trial Union.
The House committee on Labor which
gave Coxey short hearing last week.
has favorably reported chairman Nc
Ganns resolution nrovIding TO- the an