Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-01-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
JspsoIAL ooRaBsfoNoENCB OF THE MONITOR
Washington, Dec. 25, 1898.

WuStttYCOH, LEU. ~, AO0c-
Can the Cleveland tariff bill be de
feated in the House? That was the i'm
portant question considered at a Sc
cret conference of democratic mem
bers of the House who are opposed tic
the bill or at least to those portions
of it that fall heavily on industries in
their respective districts. [ have
learned that the members of this con-
ference decided to take advantage OF
their visits home for the holidays to
ascertain the sentiment of their con-
stituents, and determine that if they
were, as they believe them to be,
against the clauses of the Cleveland
bill that effect their own industries,
that they would combine against those
particular schedules of the bill and if
the democratic caucus, to be held as
soon as congress comes together
again, refused to amend the bill to
meet their wishes, they would in a
body decline to be bound by the ac-
ton OF the caucus and would vote
against the entire bill. The import
ance of this conference depends alto
gether on the number of votes it can
control. Statements as to the num-
Der In attendance vary, ranging from
five to fifty. The administration men
who have heard about it say that it is
only bluff on the part of handful Of
members, to secure amendments ia
vorable to their constituents, and a
good many republicans are disposed
to regard it in the same light. Re
publicans do not expect to see the bill
either defeated Or materially chang
ed in the House, but they have an
abiding faith that it will have to be
radically changed before it can get
through the senate, and they are not
without hope Of it's being absolutely
defeated in that body. Closing manu-
factories, failing merchants, millions
unemployed, many of them suffering
for lack of the necessities of life, and
the cessation Of the payment of divi
dends by all classes of corporations
are bound to have some effect in the
senate, if not in the, House.
Notwithstanding Sec. Carlisle's re-
fusal to allow members of the G. A. r.
to solicit contributions in the Treasu-
ry department for the annual Christ
mas dinner for the families of INDECENT
members of the organization, an am
pie fund was secured for that purpose
and the materials for first class
Christmas dinner were delivered TO
no 70 ,,iIinC Of II
morning, and in addition shoes and
clothing were given to those who
needed them. 1t takes more than the |
refusal of request by a member of |
the cabinet to upset the customs of |
the G. A. R.
The attempt on the part of Secreta-
ry Lamont to compel the 500 clerks
who occupied the old Ford's theater |
building at the time Of the awful ac-
cident to go back into the old death |
trap, which has been patched up to
the extent of $4,000, has been tempo
rarily frustrated by report of the To-
cal building Inspector, declaring the
building unsafe. A resolution is pend
ing in the senate declaring against the
use of this building for clerical pur
poses again. Even if the building
were perfectly safe it would still be ali
cruelty to force the
clerks VINO were there when the acct
dent took place to again occupy it.
Gen. l.. A. Grant, assistant secreta-
ry of war, who has been relieved from
IItU in tho 6n ortp hos
a most efficient and painstaking Of
ficer, and he retires with the respect
of all who have been associated with
him in business and personal way.
The officers of the United States army
and all persons connected with the
war department have been highly
pleased with his administration and it
goes without saying that his friends in
Vermont and elsewhere are proud of
his record in the department.
Secretary Carlisle's report did not
reach congress until the goth. It's
statements and recommendations
were awaited with keen interest. The
Secretary estimates that the deficit at
the close of the current fiscal year will
be S2S, 100000. to provide for this and
to maintain sufficient capital for pub
bic business, he asks authority for the
issue of 100000 900 of three per cent
bonds, redeemable at the pleasure of
the government after five years; or,
TO meet the immediate emergency, an
issue Of 500, 900 in one-year three
per cent treasury notes. The bonds
which he nrpfersl cnnld douhtIarc be