Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-12-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.

politicians are of the opinion that
they did not display any when
they came to Washington ana
Opened Mckinley headquarters In
the hotel in which the Republican
National Committee is to meet to-
morrow, to decide upon the time
and place for holding the National
Convention of that party. lt Is
not for ore who sees all the acts OF
politici ms only from y news point
of view to say whether Gov. NC
Klnley's friends actel in bad taste
or we're indiscreet, but 1t Is certain
that they set o BID precedent
Just suppose that 1t sbon!d be fol-
lowed by all the candidates OF all
the parties. 1t would make the
meeting of the National Commit
tees decidedly dlsagreeaOle 1ol
those unfortunate enough to be-
long to them. Delegations from
six cities are fighting for the con-
vention, but a sporting man Of
fered to wager two to one Ill any
amount that Chicago would WIN,
and there were no takers The
same man offered even money
that the convention would be held
between the fifteenth day of June
and the tenth OF July without
finding a taker.
AS usual IN a new Congress Tue
Committees on Mileage was the
first one named. The honor OF De-
ing its chairman fell to Repre'en'
tatlve Wright, of Mass. So far as
the public is concerned this com
mittee is not an important one'out
members of the House regard 1t
differently. They cannot collect
the mileage which kind old Uncle
Sam allows :hem-shuttlng Ills
ewes to the travelling many OF them
10 on passes-upon the trip from
their homes to Washington and
return, at the beginning and end
ing of each regular session of Con-
gress, until this committee has "
k ii the claim. Some day a sure
enough thlrty.slx Inch reformer IS
going to get at the head of this
Committee, and members OF the
House are going to have to prove
that they paid money for railway
ticket before they will be allowed
mileage. Mileage was originally
allowed Congressman for the pur'
pose OF relmbursing them tor mon'
ey actually spent in getting 10
Washington to attend a session OF
Congress, but the amount now al
lowed is 10 excess OF the charges
made by any big railroad for iare'
so that even those Congressman
who buy their railway tickets make
money on the transaction. IL Is
surprising that some of the Con-
gressmen thirSting for fame as re-
formers do not attack this mileage
business. instead Of breaking
lauces against gigantic windm!Ils'
If young blood is what the
Senate reeded it has GOT it in pro-
fusion, the new senators beng tue
youngest set of men who ever took
their seats in that body. Senator
Butler, ofN. c., Is the youngest
being only 80; ThurstOn, of Ne0'
Tillman, OF S. c., Pntchard, of n,
c.. and Martin of Va, are just as;
Clark of Wyo. and Mlntell, OF
Mont, are A; CliltOr, Of Texas, Is
AZ; McBrlde, Of Oregon, and Car
ter of Mont, are Al; Wetmore' OF
RI, is 40, aud Baker, of Kansas,
the oldest OF the bunch, is only
81.
Some of the silver men in Con-
gress do not take as much stock
in the friendship protested for sll'
YER by Senator Chandler, of n. H.,
as they did before he introduced
his bill providing for tie free coin
age of silver at a ratio Of 151 to l.
The reason is found in the little
proviso attached to that blll-"lC
take effect whenever England
Germany aud France shall enact
= similar law" A silver man
speaking of tue matter said: at
strikes me that Senator Chandler
and President Cleveland are pref
~ nearly the same sort of silver
men,"
Congress will do little OF import
ance until the Senate and Hous'
committee are settled. Speaker
Reed seems to be having unexpect
ed difficulties in arranging thu
House Committees. La the Senate
a republican caucus committee il
engaged in making up a slate fOl
the approval OF the caucus, but i
is far from certain that the woft
viii be completed before the boil
-. IF thu