The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-03-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. March 0, 1897

surprising to many senator's as to the
outsiders, but having got there the sill
yer senators express confidence in be-
ing able to keep it there until the Bland
bill for the coinage of the seigniorage
is passed, aud some of them say that u
substitute providing for free coinage
may be put through in its place. The
first of these moves was made by n
caucus of republican senators, which
determined to get the Bland bill before
the senate and to keep it there for two
months, in order to delay the consider
alton of the tariff bill. Senator Stew
art made the next move by preventing
the Bland bill being referred to the fl
nance committee. This put the demo-
cratic leaders in hole, and after Il
days consultation they concluded that
the best way to block the game of their
political opponents was to go them one
better by not only agreeing to the i'm
mediate consideration of the Bland bill,
but by pushing it through before the
tariff gets before the senate: and, as a
matter of fact, the bill was in an ace
of passing Wednesday afternoon. The
silver men are all well pleased with
the situation.
The finance committee is still hang
ing on to the tariff bill, and the fight
for changes therein is not yet over, al
though the committee will make no
more.
The house is as jealous of the inva-
sion of any of the prerogatives of its
members as the senate, although it
does not do much talking about it.
This was shown by Its adoption of a
resolution declaring the appointment
of cadet at Annapolis from Alabama,
by Secretary Herbert, to a vacancy be-
longing to the Fifth South Carolina
congressional district, to have been un-
authorized aud void. AS there are sew
eral members of the present house who
have had similar experiences with some
of Secretary Herbert's predecessors it
will not be surprising if a bill passed
making such appointments impossible
in the future.
The house passed without objection
the resolution for the investigation OF
the restraining order issued by Judge
jenkins in connection with the right OF
employees of the Union Pacific railroad
to strike against schedule of wages
proposed by the receiver of the road,
which was reported by the Judiciary
committee. Representative Somers, OF
Wisconsin, tried to get the committee
to include the names of all other judges
who had issued similar orders, but the
committee declined on the plea that it
would make the investigation endless.
The opinion appears to be general that
it is going to be useless, anyway.
If the senate is not on the eve of one
of the greatest scandals in Its history
somebody ought to be sent to Jail for
criminally libeling four or five senator's,
by charging them with manipulating
the information Given out from time to
time concerning what disposition the
finance committee would make Of the
sugar schedale of the Wilson tariff bill.
These charges have been made in a
vague sort of way ever since the bill
has been in the hands of the committee,
but since the jump in the price of sugar
that followed the visit to Washington
of the president of the sugar trust they
have been boldly made, even to the ex-
tent of giving the amount made by one
of these senators on the day of the jump
in the price of sugar. Honest men, both
in and out of the senate, are beginning
to talk of an investigation to establish
the truth or falsity of the charges. If
there are men in the senate who are
willing to make use of their positions
to speculate on information known only
to them the public has right to know
who they are. Two of the senator's
Vest, of Missouri, and Mcpherson, Of
New Jersey whose names have been
connected with these charges have
made personal explanations on the floor
of the senate. Mr.. Mcpherson said
that his brokers did purchase 1000
shares of sugar stock for him, but that
it was done upon an order given
months ago and that as soon as he was
informed of the purchase he directed
that the shares be sold and no more
bought for him. Mr.. Vest denied having
speculated at all.
This is the way jerry Simpson sizes
up the political situation: "Mr. Cleve-
land has done more in year toward
breaking up the old, conservative DEM
ocratic party than has been done for