The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-12-21

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2O.-This has
been a day of excitement and surprise
in Washington.
Events moved with rapldity, and
when the sun went down public men
In all braches of the service were ner-
vous and worn out from the tension.
Reports came of a panic in securi-
ties throughout the country and here
IN Washington affairs moved at the
rapid pace of a kaleidoscope. The
House Venezuelan commission bill was
amended in material respects by the
Senate foreign relations committee and
then, by sudden change in sentiment
in the Senate, was passed unanimously
just as it came from the House; then
an adjournment resolution from tomor-
row over the holidays was passed by
the Senate, only to be followed by a
message from the president, urgently
and strongly advising prompt action
for the reform of our currency system
and the maintenance of public credit.
Two Sessions of the Cabinet.
AT the end of the avenue, the presi-
dent and his cabinet received prompt
adviceS Of the course of events here
and on the public exchange. The cab
met sat two sessions, something with
out precedent in recent years.
Secretary Herbert, who returned from
New York this afternoon. attended the
second meeting for a brief time. All
the remaining members Of the cabinet
were present except Secretaries La
mont and Smith, who are out of town.
The financial situation was the prin-
cipal topic of consideration and the re-
suit of the meeting was revealed in the
MESA ge sent to the Senate, late in the
afternoon, that body being kept in ses-
sion, by request from the White House,
for it's reception. The message was not
favorably received in the Senate.
The summary adjournment upon the
motion of Senator Cockrell, one of the
Democratic leaders, Immediately after
the conclusion of the reading OF the
message, was taken on the Republican
side as a disposition not to consider
the message seriously.
CockreIl Declines.
Mr.. Cockrell declined to define his
motion or to discuss the question Of
the propriety of the suggestion.
Senator German, replying to a cues
ton. said he did not want to criticize
the president.
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, when in
terviewed. simply remarked that ne
thought the Senate would sit tomor-
row.
Senator Allison thought there would
be a recess, Notwithstanding the mes
sage as the Senate had already passed
a resolution to that effect before the
message was received
Senator Hawley said it appeared to
him as if the president was IN Bull
Run panic, and Senators Teller and
Oullom agreed that it looked as II the
president was trying to offset the erect
of his Venezuelan message, and that II
was beginning to look as II the presl-
dent had concluded from the favorable
manner in which the Venezuelan mes
sage had been received that Congress
would follow any suggestion that he
might make That the administration
has not moved precipitately in the
Venezuelan affair is evidenced by the
fact which has now become known,
that Secretary Olney's famous letter
defining the Monroe doctrine was con-
sidered for fully two months before
being dispatched to Ambassador Bay
ard for delivery to Lord Salisbury.
Carefully Considered.
Moreover, it is a fact that the presi-
dents message, while perhaps hastily
reduced to exact form, really was the
subject of deep elaboration for almost
six months, for there is good reason to
believe the adverse response of Lord
Salisbury to Secretary Olney's note was
expected by the president. 1t is noted
that the presidents message is a dis
tinct advance in our attitude upon the
letter of the secretary, for where as the
letter was confined to a declaration of
a doctrine, the former proposed action
that went far beyond that point. 1t
was this reason without doubt, that
caused the message to be most care
fully considered for many months.
Political Expediency.
The diplomatic corps here appears
to have fallen under a misrepresentation
as TO the purpose of the message,
which NAV account for the attitude
of some of the European newspapers.
which have received inspiration for
the editorial articles from their for
eign offices. for it is learned that dip
lomaIts in Washington have in many
cases-and certainly in the cases of
the representatives of the European
poWeTs-informed their government
that President CleveIands action was
dictated purely by motives of politi-
cal eXpediency, and was not intended
to have permanent results. 1t may be
that the unanimity of the support ac-
corded the president by Congress, ir-
respective of party affiliations, has
Induced some of these observers of
American institutions to qualify their
first advices to their home govern
ments.
North Atlantic Squadron.
Although Secretary Herbert re-
turned to Washington from New Yor.-
this afternoon. as yet he has taken
no action respecting the orders of the
North Atlantic squadron, and so it
will not sail tomorrow. as WIS IN
tended. for the West Indies. The sec
retary will Communicate his intentions
to Admiral Bunce. who comes to
Washington for the purpose on Sun
day, but the impression prevails that
the fleet will not leave American wa
tiers Immediately and that the timer
airy heretofore arranged will be modi-
fed materially before it's departure.
Further inquiry into the subject
makes it apnear that if the commission