The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-27
..,l uAsniNGIUh lUplCS
Preparations In Progress for the
Opening Of Congress.
PRESIDENTS ANNUAL MESSAGE
Foreign Affairs viii DO the Leading
fcntures-Contcsts for House OF.
ficcs - Tho South will Forward
Numerous Election Contests.

Washington, Nov. 26-President
Cleveland and the members Of his cabi-
net. with the exception of Secretary
Morton, who Is in Nebraska, assembled
at the white house today for their reg
ular semi-weekly meeting. Secretary
Oiney remained with the president
some time after the others had left.
presumably with reference to that part
Of the annual message to congress re-
lating to foreign affairs. The secre-
tary Of state Is the only cabinet off,
cial not permitted to make report di-
rectly to congress- through the presi-
dent. All communications as to our
foreign relations have to emanate from
the president and usually take the first
place in the presidents me~S|go The
only exception was when Mr.. Cleve-
land, during his first term, sent IN ms
celebrated tariff message and remitted
all questions Of foreign policy to sub
sequent special messages.
There is every reason to believe that
foreign affairs-the Venezuelan and
Alaskan boundary matters, the Cuban
revolution, the perilous position OF
American missionaries In Turkey and
othe engrossing topics--will lead Off In
the presidential message for 1895. 1t is
understood that the document will be
somewhat longer than usual. 1t Will.
Of course, not be sent to congress until
after time has been given for an or
ganization to BE- effected. This inn
plies that Tuesday next just a5 soon
after u o'clock as the respective COM
mittees deputed to welt on President
Cleveland caa make their eports, VIII
be the earliest date at which assistant
Secretary PrudeI can announce "a
message in writing from the president
Of the United States"
Contest fcr Iouss offices.
There are the usual conflicting reports
today regarding the contest for the
House Offices. With the arrival OF one
hundred Republican members the lines
are being more tightly drawn and
greater interest Is excited as to the re-
suit One of the reports In circulation
today was that the defeated candidate
for clerk would probably be given the
office Of sergeant-at-arms as a COM
pensation for his failure to secure the
office Of his choice. The two candidates
for this place are ex-members. One Is
Mr.. Mcdowell. of Pennsylvania. and the
other General Henderson, OF Illinois
So far as can be learned there is no
basis for the belief that the clerkship
will be settled in this manner. Mr.
Mcdowell fatty says that he will be a
party W I1O SuCh dTTduStLcut.
General HendersOn's friends adopt q
conservative tone in discussing his
chances. Their candidate is a man of
great popularity who Is widely known
to public men as result Of his long
service Of twenty years in the House.
1t is said that Mr.. Mcdowell. and the
other members Of his combination, will
enter the caucus with the twenty -eight
votes of Pennsylvania, the twenty.eig
, ,v,A -, -
absolutely certain. The eight New Jer-
sey votes are claimed for the combina-
ton. Eight Of the Massachusetts, MEM
bers are said to be committed to them.
in addition to q sufficient number of
votes whose location II Is not now de-
sirable to make public. which will in
sure McDowell's election.
Mr.. Reed In Demand.
Washington. Nov. 26.-If Thomas B.
Reed had doubts about his unanimous
nomination as speaker by the Repub-
lican caucus next Saturday night they
would speedily be dispelled by the
amount and character Of the mail that
weighs down the postman whose tour
includes the Shoreham. Every one Of
the pa Republican members-elect ap-
to present their qualifications for COM
speaker, who is working his clerk and
his stenographer extra time trying to
return simple acknowledgements for
the numerous suggestions. About 100
Republican members, most Of them liv-
ing west of New York. are already here
and half Of them have paid their re-
spects to Mr.. Reed. The ex-speaker
was cordial. but he confided to no one
his intentions regarding committees.
which his visitors so persistently
sought.