The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-03
Marshall Cushing's Budget
Of Gossip.
President Cleveland Planning for
Retirement.
Tom Reed and Some Others as Pres
fdential Possibi titles.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.-The talk now Is
Of an extra session. The apparent need is
for currency reform. Whether that Is
the great need or not IL seems impossible,
for the State bank features of these late
Administration schemes make them OBJ
1ectionable to the Northern and Eastern
Democrats and to the Republicans, and
similarly any scheme which might be ac-
ceptable to the latter would not 60 in the
West and South, especially in the South.
But mary believe that the trouble
II still with the tariff, for it is
argued that there is plenty of money in
the country, IL it could only be gotten
into circulation, and the inference anyway
- that with these bond issues piling up,
for perhaps two more may be necessary
before the next Congress should actually
meet. there is very evident excess OF ex-
penditures over income. Something Is
wrong with the present entire fiscal sys-
Tor, as managed by the Democratic ad-
ministration. 1t is certain that the DEM
ocrats do not know what TO do, nor could
they do IL II they did. The President is
without friends to carry out his purposes,
even II he has them, and there is no leader
ship among the Democrats in either
branch OF Congress. 1t is no wonder,
then, that the Republicans and Democrats
alike expect that the new Congress must
relieve the situation.
This week the President may be ex-
pected to consider peck, more or less, OF
postofiice cases. 1t seems not generally
known by candidates for postmastersbips
that the Postmaster General and the
President go over, every three or four
weeks, or perhaps the period is longer,
tho cases OF such postmasters as have
found their commissions of four years
expired; so that while candidates often
make great preparations long before the
end OF the term of the present incum-
bents, still cases are usually settled
within q month before these expirations,
and no matter how long mans
petition may be, nor how numerous his
letters, IL is the man with the Democratic
machinery back OF him, with the indorse-
ment of the party authority, who
h most likely TO win. A considerable
batch OF these cases has accumulated DUR
ing the absence both of the President and
of Mr.. Bisseli, and these are likely to be
considered this week. IL does not follow,
OF course, that appointments will
be made this week. The proper
clerk in the postofilce department
keeps list of the expirations before him.
AZ the present time, for example, he is
Surveying the January expirations, and
preparing also for the February ones, and
20 they come along in order. This is true
OF fourth class offices in this administra-
tiop, and new plaa W hich enables smaller
offlccrs to serve four years, and also dis
tribute supplies for the four years of
Postmaster Generals term.
There are some slight evidences that
Mr.. Cleveland considers that his public
career will close with this administration,
though 1t seems firmly fixed in the minds
OF many that he is looking to third
term. But one hears now and then that
the President and his family intend in '96
10 make perhaps years trip abroad,
spending six months or so in England;
and at the present moment it would sure
Nv seem as ifthe leaders and the followers
too OF the Democratic party gre SO much
disgust,d with their party, the Presi-
dent included, that they will not
nrge him to stay in the country,
Beginning with 'e6, IL it is very much
618fnst hts wiff.- It rs not particularly
Significant, perhaps, thnt men like Whit
ney, Hill, Price, German, smith of New
Jersey. and other rich end influential
leaders OF the Democratic party, have no
nse for Mr.. Cleveland, because he has
usually prevailed against the polit icians,
no matter how big they have been. Yet
these men are in Office and in power, gen
erally speaking, and by reason of their
wealth and following in their various
olates they will probably be looked to to
build up some sort OF Democratic organ
jxation again. For that reason, IL not for
any other, the President is not SO likely
70 be In 1t, as it were.
A curious effort seems 10 be making on
the part OF certain Republicans to repre-
sent that ex-speaker Reed ought not TO
accept the Speakership OF the next
House, supposing that he can have Il, rs
doubtless he can, for fear the prominence
and responsibility Of that position would
initiate against his Presidential chances.
Those who know Tom Reed best say that
euch arguments as this can make 10 i'm
preston on him, that he is man
who never shirked party responsible
ny, but, on the contrary, has
sought 1t, and that he will
not now begin to change his spots.
Undosbtedly Tom Reed is more cautious
and conservative than he used In be iook-