The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-03-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
 (From our regular correspondent)
 WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 23, 1894.
 Representative Bland has not yet succeeded in getting a quorum of mem- bers favorable to his bill for tho coin age of the seignioarge on the floor of the house, but is still certain of getting tho measure passed. The absurdity and inconsistency of refusing to vote in order to break quorum has certainly been made conspicuous during this congress. and no one party or ono set of men has monopolized it. Those who abused the others tue loudest for doing it when tho democrats were trying to get a quorum to get the tariff bill be- fore tho house themselves, used the same tactics against Mr, Bland's bill In short, it Is method that Is con demned by all, except when they de- sire to make use of it to prevent or stave off action upon some bill to which they are opposed, aud which is, used by all whenever they think it will serve their purpose.
 Senator Morgans report of the Ha- waiian investigation, which rather leans towards annexation, and does not condemn MT. Stevens, has been signed by the republicans on the for eigu committee, The other democrats will present minority report.
 Attorney General Olney played a trump card in the game against silver when he, in reply to formal request from the secretary of the treasury, de- livered an official opinion that the sil- yer certificates. millions of dollars worth of which are in circulation throughout the country, arc not lawful money in the meaning of the acts of June 20, 1874 and of July 12, 1882. It is putting the case very mildly to say that this opinion was a great surprise to seyen-tcnths of the house and senate, and that it aroused much indignation among the friends of silver, many of whom do not hesitate to characterize it as another administration move for the further debasement of silver. While the opinion of the attorney general is not legally binding upon anybody, il necessarily has much effect upon the treasury officials, in a matter of this sort. It is stated at the treasury that it was because of the refusal oi some of the banks to accept silver cer. tificates in exchange for other paper money presented for redemption tha, Secretary Carlisle asked the attorney general to pass on the question. It i, probable that steps will at once b' taken by the friends of silver to hay, a test case for the courts. There is nc doubt about the intention of congres. having been to make the silver certifi cates lawful money, and it will requir, decision of the supreme court to con vince the silver men that it did no succeed. The senate on motion o Senator Allen, has asked for the off cial documents.
 Upon no schedule of the tariff bill i
 more pressure being brought to bea upon the senators who are members o
 the finance committee than that whicl deals with sugar. Many senators hay been greatly surprised at the magni tude of this industry. The appoint ment of Senator White, of Louisiana to the supreme court has not weakene
 the sugar men, as he will not leave tn
 senate until his successor, who is eel
 tain to be a sugar man, arrives to talk his place. The Louisiana senator. who have declared en the most pos tive terms that they will not vote fo
 the bill unless sugar is protected. ar
 receiving strong support from as fa : away from their homes as Kansas, NJ braska, and Utah, where the the bee
 sugar industry is large and growing and they are still confident that thei wishes will be respected, if not by tn committee, then by vote of the senate
 The senate has directed the commit f tee on printing to investigate tn charges of crookedness in the award t ing of the contract for the publieatio