Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-12-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent
wAsHsNoTns. D. c.. Dec. Q, 1895.
record.

| greSS cannot only De ucpeHdeu uPVh
to stand by the administration In
maintaining that doctrine, but TO
, force Ii to maintain it If such a course
: be necessary. The only portion of
Mr.. Cleveiand's message that struck
a responsive chord in congress was
that clause dealing with the commu-
nication sent to the British govern
ment last July demanding a specific
answer as to whether 1t proposed to
submit to arbitration the disputed
4 boundary line between British Gui-
ana and Venezuela, and giving no.
tice that this government would not
allow England to forcibly take any
territory claimed by Venezuela.
England has answered that demand,
and although the full text of that
answer has not yet been received, 1t
| is understood that it contains a re-
fusal to arbitrate the dispute. Should
that understanding prove correct,
there is nothing left but to inform
England that the United States will
| not allow her to steal Nenezuela's
territory, and in order to give that
information force it is probable that
II will be sent to congress, which
alone has power TO declare war, in
the shape Of a joint resolution.
Mr.. Cleveland last week sent for
| Speaker Reed and the two held a
len ythy conference. Ii Is not posi-
lively known that the subject Of this
conference was the Monroe doctrine,
but it is believed that it was, and
Mr.. Cleveland sent for Mr.. Reed in
order to ascertain just where the re-
publicans stood, and to arrange as to
how the matter should be dealt with
! by congress. AS soon as England's
answer Is received it will he sent to
congress accompanied by IA special
message from the president, and ii it
be Of the nature expected, England
would just as Well prepare TO choose
between backing down and fighting,
for in the present humor of congress
she will be allowed no alternative.
Mr.. Cleveland's message, SO far as
ii related to financial matters had
just as well never have been written,
as there isn't the slightest probable
ity that congress will even consider
the retirement of the greenbacks at
| this time. His ignoring of the treas
ury deficit, in order to escape recon-
mending legislation for increasing
the revenues, was plainly done for
the purpose Of throwing the response
bility of amending the tariff laws
upon the republicans. The republic
can party has never shirled res
| possibility and IL will not do so,
Congress will provide in its own way
the money needed by the govern
lnent and leave the responsibility
81 accepting or vetoing that legisla-
ton upon Mr.. Cleveland.
The republican senators have held
several conferences since congress
met TO deal with the question Of re-
organizing the senate, and, although
no program has actually been agreed
upon, there is little doubt that the
republicans will IN due time. reor-
ganize the senate. There are not
enough republicans to make a ma
jority, but 1t is believed that the
populist senators, who have agreed
10 vote together for time on the or
ganization question, will eventual.
divide, and that enough of them will
vote with the republicans to make
majority but no inducements will be
offered them to do so.
Among the flood Of bills introduced
in the house this week was enc pre-
scented by representative johnson,
Of California, which ought to become
Il law. 1t provides for the amend
ing of the naturalization laws so
that no alien shall become il citizen
who has not for five years preceding
! his Application resided within the
United States, and who cannot read,
write and speak the English Ian
guage.
The application of Senator-elect
Dupont, of Delaware, for ;he seat in
the senate to which he was elected,
has been referred to the senate clec-
ton committee, and there is little
doubt about his getting the seat.
Speaker Reed has not announced
the house committees, and until he
does the house will probably only sit
1.-TWO days u week, Us it did last week,
unless there shall be some special
reason for changing the program.
Mr. Reed has not set amy date, but
the Impression prevails thatthe com
mittees will be announced some