Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-12-12
FROM WASHINGTON.
SPECIAL LETTER FROM THE MA.
TI0NAL CAPITAL.
Breezy Comments on the Doings Of
Congress and the Important Hap
penings Of the Day Republicans
Rule in the House.
Special TO the ReIlect0r.

WASHINGTON, CRY. y. G., Dee. 10
Friends and admirers Of Spcokc
Reed are enthusiastically commendin;
his conservative utteranccs 10 the re
publican caucus last Saturday night
As the days go by and Reeds friend
make constant reference to that speech
it becomes more and more NANTES
that right here in Washington there il
to be a campaign Of aduation.
Probably no man deserves NOR,
praise than Tom Reed for lfetim,
Of public and party service, but there
are others. As matter of fact, tn,
policy outlined in the Reed speech hai
been the declared policy of John Sher
man. William b. Allison and other re-
publican leaders ever since the elections
of November, 1894. II was the deter
mination to pursue conservative pol
icy that led the republican senators
to doubt the ACCESSIBILITY Of reorgan
izing the senate. Tom Reed forcibly
uttered what other leaders have been
saying for more than year.
Il believe that the republican party
should pass complete dependent pen
sion bill governing all cases. says Con
gresham Hicks, Of Altoona, Pa. 'Thc
pension legislation of the past has been
largely the result OF political and parti-
san scllemlng, 1t is now time for us
to go TO work in broad and liberal
spirit to provide for genuine dependent
pensioners. We owe it to the old SOL
diers who are fast passing off the field
and marching into the unknown camp
ing grounds of eternity"
The sentiment so beautifully cx-
pressed by Mr.. Hicks Is being
taken up favorably by other con-
gressincn, ana II IS lihely TO per-
Vade the mouse OF representatives.
1t will undoubtedly meet with oppose
ton on account OF the existing condi-
ton OF the treasury. The democratic
administration has gone into debt to
the extent OF $780, O0,OOo inside of three
years; and, with the disposition to buy
more bonds, manifested in Secretary
Carlisles recent speech, we will prob
ably be in debt about S500'0O0,cO0 BY the
close of the present administration.
Consequently the dependent pension
scheme will have opposition because of
our crippled financial condition. Dur
ing the first two years of the Lincoln
administration the national debt went
to nearly Sj00,0O0OO0. \ great civil
war was then going on. But the demo
cratic administration has been running
us in debt almost us fast In a time OF
profound peace.
An important matter TO be brought
before congress soon in the form of II
Joint resolution is thc iroposition of
the Cramps. of Philadelphia, to build
three battleships for $s,O0O,OCO; the
amount appropriated by the last con
gress for two battIeships. The Joint
resolution will bcscnttothcc committees
on naval affairs, and IL will probably be
adopted, thereby giving the navy de-
partmeni authority to accept the re-
markablc bid. Charles II. Cramp, the
celebrated ship builder, is now Gl years
OF age. lie is q little bit of n fellow,
physically; nervous, active, wry and
aggressive. lie has built our best
cruisers; and the best battleship. the
Indiana. culne from his yards. The old
man now says that he wants to build
three battleships for actual cost, with
out cent of profit to himself, so that
he moy see our new navy in lighting
shape before he dies. lie is rich and
'ays he doesn't care TO be any richer
than he is now. lie is successful
business man and patriot. He often
comes to Washington. lie is a straight
republican and loves to see the flag run
aloft on ships of his building.
Capt, Boutelle, of Maine formerly
chairman of the house committee on
naval affairs, has somehow secured pos
session of the American flag which was
hoisted in Honolulu by patriotic
Yankee sailor and afterwards hauled
down by a rebel colonel, under orders
from democratic president Capt
Boutelle will probably make good use
Of that flag during the next campaign.
lie Is magnetic orator, a bold and fear
less patriotic statesman, and a true re-
publican 36j DAYS in the year.
81 do not think that we can do much,
If ANYTHING" saws Congressman Nelson
Dngley. of Maine. the man whom
everybody expects will be made chair
man of the committee on ways and
MEANS Il do not believe that the
senate could pass any radical tariff
measure; and, even II n protection bill
should pass both the house and the
senate it would be vetoed by The presi-
dent, who is free trade democrat. So
| do not think that il would be wise or
for the good of the country to agtate
the tariff at this time. We could ac-
complish nothing for the relief of bust
ness; and by discussing the tariff the
people would become alarmed, ard