The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-12-21
A MEMORABLE DAY
A. DAY OF EXCIrEMENr AND
't OF MANY SURPRISES IN
WASHINGTON.
EVENTS MOVED WITH RaPIDlTY

EVtNlo mUVEU With RAPlDlN
The u3 Venezuelan Commission Bill
Passed by ihe senste--A Special
Message From the President--Two
Meetings OF The Cabinet TO Uiscuss
the Financial situation Fhe Mess-
age not Favorabiy Received hy the
Senate --Commissi Gossip
. WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-This has
been day of excitement and surprises
in Washington Events moved with
rapidity and when the sun went down
public men in- all branches of the ser
vice were nervous and worn out from
| the tension. Reports came of panic
in securities 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 Com
| mlttee and then by a sudden change
| in sentiment in the Senate was passed
| unanimously just as it came from the
| House, then an adjournment resolu-
| tion from tomorrow over the HOLIDAYS
| was passed by the Senate only to be
| followed by an energetic message from
| the President strongly advising prompt
action for the reform of our currency
| system and the maintenance of public
| credit.
At the other end of the avenue the
President and his cabinet received
| prompt advice Of the course of events.
here and ON the public exchanges. The
cabinet held two sessions. something
without precedent in recent wears.
Secretary Herbert, who returned from
New York this afternoon, attended the
second meeting for a brief time. All OF
the remaining members of the cabinet
were present except Secrtary Lamont
and Smith, who are out of town. The
financial situation was the principal
topic of cOnsidera ton and the result
of the meeting was revealed in the
| message sent TO the Senate late i'm the
afternoon, the body being kept in ses-
sion by request from the White House
for its reception.
The message was not favorably re-
ceived in the Senate. The summary
Adjournment upon the motion of Sen
ator Cockrell, one of the Democratic
leaders. immeditely after the conclu-
sion Of the reading of the message,
was taken on the Republicans Side as a
disposition not to consider the message
seriously.
Mr.. Cockrel declined to define his
motion or to discuss the question OF
the propriety of the suggestion. Sena-
tor German replying to a question
said that he did not want to criticize
the President. Senator Jones. of Ar
kansas. when interviewed simply re-
marked that he thought the Senate
would sit tomorrow. Senator Ali
son thought there would be a. recess
Notwithstanding the message *as the
Senate had already a resolution to the
effect before the message was received.
Senator Hawley said it appeared to
him as if the President was i'm a bull
run. panic, and Senator Teller and Gull
Tom, when seen by a reporter agreed
that it looked as if the President was
trying to offset the effect of his Nene-
zuelan message and that it was begin
ming to look as if the President had
concluded from the favorable manner
in which the Venezuelan message had
been received that Congress would fol-
low any suggestion that he might
make
Although Secretary Herbert return
ed to Washington from New York this
afternoon he has yet taken no action
respecting the orders to the North
Atlantic squadron, and so it will not
sail tomorrow as intended for the
West Indies. The Secretary will com
municate his intentions 10 Admiral
5unce when he comes to Washington
Tor the purpose Sunday. but impress
sion prevails that the fleet will not
leave American waters immediately
and that the itenerarv heretofore ar
ranged will be modified materially he
fore its departure
Further inquiry into the subject
malles'it appear that if the commission
to be appointed to ascertain the facts
respecting the Venezuelan boundary
finds it necessary TO visit the country
and to personally locate the line. the
work will consume much more time
than is generally believed Outside of
the voyage to Venezuela which would
consume not less than a month to and
fro. the journey through the wild in
terror of the country would be very
difficult With a small flying force of
eight lightly-equippd colonial police.
the journey TO the Uruan outpost
where the collision occurred and which
marks one end of the line claimed bv
Great Britain, could not be made in
less than twenty-three days; so that if
the commission is to make a proper
examination of the country, the task.
including the sea voyage. will Iroba-
bly, occupy almost six months.
Many names have been suggested for
the membership on the commission,
but to-day's action in passing the
House bill unamended apparently linn
its several of these names, including
that of Justice Harlan, of the Supreme
Court. One naae favorably mentioned
is that of Mr.. Partridge, of Vermont,
former United States minister to Ven
ezuea.
II WAS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
A Day That VIII ba NnSabbp I'm Eonm