Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-12-13
SUFFERS WITH GOVT.
If It Continues, the President May
Not Receive, New Years.
BouteIle on American Built cruisers-Little
Prospect Of Currency Legislation.


president is still suffering with govt, and
Private Secretary Thurber said today II
Mr.. Cleveland was not better by New
Years 1t might be necessary to modify
the reception which il held that day in
the White House. If his foot is as painful
then as it is now, 1t will be very difficult
for the president to stand three or four
hours shaking bands with the multitude
of people who call to sec him on that &C.
casion During his first term Mr.. Cleye-
land was suffering dreadfully with govt
on a New Years day, but he took his
place In the blue room and held it for 3K
hours, shaking hands with 5000 persons.
Every moment was one Of torture, ana
when the ordeal was over great beads Of
Precipitation were standing ON his face, SO
great had been the strain. The president
10 naturally anxious to avoid another such
experience.
many congressman are hard pressed for
ready cash since the recent campaign.
Electioneering cost them all their savings,
and those members who have been defeat
cd arc naturally trying to economize as
much as possible and have a dollar or two
to take homo with them. Some Of these
members have made the pleasant discovery
that they can, If they wish, draw their
stationery allowance of SIPS congress in
cash. A considerable number have al
ready drawn out their balance in money,
and others will do SO as soon as tho fact
becomes generally known that they are
not required by law to take it all in sta
t.onery, pocsetkniyes and opera glasses.
Treasury Deficit.
The friends Of the Nicaragua canal bill
Drc r,,ttch Iieornointa berouGn thn prpsi-
dent did not mention the canal in his
message. 4 year ago Mr.. Cleveland sent
to congress what was construed as an in
dorscment Of the project, and this year his
silence is taken more to heart by the en-
thusiastic advocates of the scheme. 1t is
said in cabinet circles the president Is still
in favor Of the construction of the canal
as n general proposition, but has never
fully decided whether or not he would be
willing to have tho government put up
tho money for that purpose. He certainly
could not indorso such measure now that
tho treasury is face to face with such a
heavy deficit.
Great efforts are to be made by the Dem
ocrats Of tho house and senate to cut down
appropriations during this session. The
condition of the treasury and the prospect
of light receipts from customs and inter
nal revenue seem to make this course i'm
perative. Chairman Cultivate of the
military committee of the house tells me
no anticipates great trouble in inducing
tho house to mako the necessary appropri-
alton for the increase of tho army recon-
mcnded by Secretary Of War Lamont In
tho naval committee it is believed there
will bo unusual difficulty in getting
through tho appropriations which Seore-
tary Herbert has asked for to build more
naval vessels and to increase tho number
of enlisted men in tho navy by 1000.
Our Fine Cruisers.
"Only nino years ago." said Congress
man Bontclle today, II heard Abram
Hewitt in tho naval committee room de
claro that it was impossible to build ma
zine engines for "a fast naval cruiser in the
United States. Mr.. Hewitt was well in
formed on al naval matters, and partiou
larry with reference to iron, steel, engines
and such things. l challenged his state
mcnt, though l confess he seemed to have
the better CT tho argument because of his
greater familiarity with those matters.
Mr.. Hewitt waa 50 surc he was right that
when we put in tho bill that the engines
for tho Baltimore should be built in this
country he declared we had prevented the
completion of the ship and that in the
end It would DO necessary for us to go to
England for tho engines Well, tho en-
glncs wcro built in this country and have
proved n great Success That is not all
The plans were bought in England, and
the engines were built after the designs of
the English engineers, but when we built
the Philadelphia on tho same plans our
engineers took these plans and cut out 1875
tons of metal wivlout impairing tho elf
cheney of the engines in the slightest de
gree To-day we are building the finest
cruisers atloat"
There is 30 prospect of any legislation
on the currency at this session of congress
and not much prospect of any legislation,
excepting passage of the appropriation
and some minor bills. The senate has a
blockade of all important legislation be-
cause tho Republicans are not willing to
permit anything to be done till they come |
into power. Ii is doubtful If the Demo
Gratis of that body could agree upon any
thing If the Republicans did not stand in
their way. 1t is matter of common gos-
sip in cabinet circles that the president
may, after ali, bring forward the scheme
for tho appointment of a currency com
mission which was urged upon him before
the meeting of congress- This would prob
ably share the fate of other proposed legis
lation. As the senate is now constituted
it seems impossible to do anything looking
to n change in any important particular
Of the existing statutes.
ROBERT GRAVES.