The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-07-12
NO. 20
W ashine ton Letter.
From our regular Correspondent

1T is evident that Mr.. Cleveland and
Secretary Carlisle, who are on the
shore of Buzzard's Bay, consented to
modification of the terms of the
contract made with that bond syndi-
cate, allowing them to pay domestic
gold now, instead of foreign gold at
the expiration of the time for their
last payment on those bonds-Octo-
ber l, next. 1t is also evident that
they did not inform Mr.. Hamlin, who
is Acting Secretary of the Treasury
of the modification, as he at first
stated very positively that there had
no modification. Later Mr.. Hamlin
hedged by refusing to discuss the mat
ter at all. Just why Mr.. Cleveland
and Secretary Carlisle should have
favored the men who had already
pocketed something like $4,000, 900
on the bond deal is one of the same
of things is why the syndicate should
have choseh to make its last payment
in the last week of June when under
its contract il could have had the use
of the money until October l. There
are rumors in plenty, but nothing
tangible is in sight. 1t is safe to say
there were reasons and that they will
become apparent later on. By keep
ing your eye on the gold reserve, now
slightly more than $1O7 100000, one
OF the reasons will probably be seen
before many weeks have passed.
w. w. Dufield, superintendent of
of the Coast and-GeOdetic Survey, is
the latest candidate for Congression-
i'll investigation, and his chances for
getting it are decidedly promising.
In addition to removing several men
of international reputation in scien-
tifc circles from positions in his bur
eau, under an act of Congress provid
ing for reorganization and small re-
duction of the force, Mr.. Duffield has
put his young son in the place of a
man who has had forty years expert
ence, in field and office work, place
too-chief of drawing division-which
is admitted to require high grade of
technical experience. Young Duf-
field was put on the pay rolls about
June 18th, but he drew salary at the
rate of $4,000 q year for the entire
month of June, and beginning today
his salary has been increased to $3,
900 year. There is nothing starting
in this case of nepotism. In fact, nep-
6tism has become SO common with
democratic officials that it is the ex-
pected thing. AS q rule those who are
not guilty have no relatives who need
being looked out for.
State Department affairs are likely
to better conducted during this sum-
mer than they have been since March
4, 1898, as they will be in charge OF
good republican. Secretary Olney
has gone away on his vacation, and
first assistant Secretary Uhl will
shortly do likewise, which will leave
second assistant Secretary Adee in
charge of the department. Mr.. Adee
is one of the few prominent republi-
can officials who has remained with
the present administration, and he
has done so because his duties as assis-
tant Secretary are not such that they
do not clash with party politics, but
as acting Secretary his republicanism
may get him in trouble with the ad
ministration.
Senator Burrows, of Michigan, was
in Washington several days last week.
He said he was on private business,
and would 60 to New York and then
to the sea shore for several weeks rest
and recreation. He said the Michi-
gan republicans were too smart to
begin the presidential campaign this
year, by declaring in favor of any
one of the excellent candidates for
the nomination. He said of the is
sues of the next campaign: "What
sentiment there has been in the re-
,ublican party of Michigan in favor
of the free coinage of silver at 16 to |
is growing less, and i feel confident
that our state will send delegation
10 the National Convention opposed to
free coinage. With an improvement
in the times less and less prominence
will be given to the free silver ques-
ton and, I think, that by the time
the committee meets it will have
little prominence. The republican
party will be as greatly in favor of
silver as it has been in the past,
although it will not, in my opinion,
countenance the views of the extreme
silver men. 1t will favor using as
much silver in our currency as can be
used without causing depreciation