Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-02-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.


WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, February s, 1895.
Neither President Cleveland nor Sec
rotary Carlisle was surprised at the ac
tion of the house on the financial bill.
They were kept thoroughly posted on
the sentiment of the Democrats of the
house, but there was an element of
doubt as to how the Republicans would
vote, even after eX-speaker and presi-
Dental candidate Reed made his great
combination bid for the support of the
silver men of the west and the gold men
of the east, by offering a substitute,
which he was pleased to call non-parti-
san compromise, and to close his speech
advocating it by asking the following
Solomon-like questions: Now, why is
not that the solution of our problem,
without raising veXed questions, which
we know cannot be solved? Why is it
not a practical solution of our trouble?
Why is 1t not suitable in every wave"
The lack of egotism and gall will never
keep that Reed out of anything. No
body ever knew until he made that
speech that he had, in addition to his
great literary and parliamentary accom-
plishments, found time to completely
master the complicated science of
finance, and the house refused to believe
it even after he said so.
The subcommittee of the senate
which is in charge of the Indian appro-
priation bill has had no end of trouble
about appropriations for sectarian
schools. The Catholics claimed that the
Lincoln institute at Philadelphia, and
the Hampton institute at Hampton, Va,
for both of which specific appropriations
were made by the bill as it passed the
house, are sectarian schools, one EpiSco-
palian and the other Congregational,
and asked that specific appropriations
for some of their schools be added to the
bill. The subcommittee settled the
matter by striking out all specific appro-
priations for dcnominational schools,
and leaving the question of sending
Indian children to any of them discre-
tionary with the secretary of the interior.
In other words, for him to spend the
money appropriated for the Indians as
he may think best.
The senate can act quick enough
when so disposed. An instance of this
promptness was given when the ratifca-
tion of the Japanese treaty was recon
sidered and the treaty amended in ac-
cordance with Secretary GreSham's re-
quest. The senate had amended the
treaty so as to give either nation the
right to abrogate it after one years
notice. The japanese minister said his
country would object to that clause,
because it gave this country an oppor-
tunity, if so disposed, to abrogate the
treaty before it was even put into opera
tion. The treaty does not go into effect
until 1899. Secretary Gresham and the
senators thought the objection well
founded; hence the last amendment,
which gives either country the right to
abrogate the treaty by one years notice,
after the treaty has gone into operation
Some scnators-not all of them Re-
publicans, either-were much disap-
pointed at Secretary Carlisle's answer to
the senate resolution, asking whether
there would be a deficiency in the est-
mated revenues of the government for
the year ending December 81, 1895.
Snarntor, Carlisln's
and atfootcd-there will be a comfort
able surplus in the treasury at the end
of the year. Some of the Republicans
are still saying that it is the lack of rev.
cnue that is causing the depletion of the
gold in the treasury-probabl following
the rascally political axiom, "A lie well
stuck to is as good as the TRUTH
More Hawaii 1t seems to be vert-
able old man of the sea saddled upon
the back of congress, and it is certainly
becoming tiresome. This time the
amendment to the diplomatic and con-
sular appropriation bill authorizing the
president to enter into contract for
the laying of cable to Honolulu was
the text upon which the Hawamaniacs
preached, but they by no means confined
themselves to the teXt. The whole field
had to be gone over, including Llls alb
dlcation to save her head.
President Cleveland promptly nomi-
mated General Schofeld to be lieutenant
general, on the same day that he signed
the bill restoring that grade to the
army. Genoral Schoheld, who is deser-
vedly popular, is Being overwhelmed
with congratulations.
One of the bills pending in congress
that is almost certain to become Il law
is that providing for the retirement, on
account of bad health, of Justice Jack
son, of the United States supreme court.
1t is not believed by those who know his
present condition that he will ever be
able to resume his duties again,
NJ. II. II