Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1895-01-02
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Dec. IS

WI. SICNCidtIlN Ildo IHO1C SOIIu-
dcnce in the coming Republican
congress than in the existing Dem
ocratic congress, or else he is pre-
tending that he has, in order to
induce the Democrats in congress
to pass the Carlisle currency bill or
some other bill along the same lines.
1t is certain that a hint almost as
strong as an official notification has
been given prominent Democrats
in congress as nearly direct from
Mr.. Cleveland as it could have been
unless he had himself given it, that
unless this congress passes some
financial bill, of Il nature satisfac-
tory to the administration, an ex-
ira session of the new Republican
congress will be called soon after
the 4th Of next March, for the ex-
press purpose Of dealing with tinan-
cial matters. The hint has not,
however, had the effect intended.
Instead Of making the Democrats
more anxious to get together and
pass d financial bill, it has been
siezed by many Of them as offering
Il good excuse for not passing Il
bill. These Democrats say that as
Il matter of party policy the Dem
ocrats in congress cannot do better
than to shift the responsibility of
financial legislation to the next
congress, in the hope that the Re
publicans may make some mistake
that will give the Democrats Il
chance to elect the next President.
something they acknowledge them
selves to be without at this time.
Republicans smile at this condition
of affairs and point to the fact that
no Congress controlled by Republi
cans has ever intended to shirk any
of its responsibilities. Republican
congresses have made mistakes,
but they were mistakes caused by
action, and never by fear of acting.
Republicans have been approached
and asked to name what amend
ments to the currency bill would
be necessary to secure their sup
port for the bill. None have been
named, however, as nothing could
induce Republicans to support the
bill.
There seems to be a plot among
few members of his own party to
try to make ex-Speaker Reed be-
lieve that he will endanger his
Presidential chances by accepting
the Speakership of the next House.
The following remarks were made
by one of them, and is a fair speci-
men Of those used by all who are
in the plot: ''f Reed is the wise
man | think he is, he will decline
the Speakership. He has got all
the reputation out of it he can, and
if he takes it again will put himself
in position to offend about one-half
the Republican members, as there
will not be committee chairman
ships enough to go round. The
members of the House are the men
who shape the delegations to the
national convention, and he cannot
afford to offend them" This sort
of talk must be amusing to Mr..
Reed, who knows just what it
means to be Speaker of the House,
who would doubtless be glad to
hear of man who ever declined that
position, although there isn't at
this time the slightest probability
Of his doing SO.
A western Congressman, who
says he got it from a member Of
the cabinet, is telling little story
which illustrates the manner in
which Mr.. Cleveland treats his
cabinet. The story in substance
is, that at the close of a cabinet
meeting Mr.. Cleveland told Post
master General Bissell that he was
ready to take up the question of
the appointment of a postmaster
for Washington, and requested
Mr.. Bissell to bring the applica-
tions ON file to the White House.
The next morning Mr.. Bissell
! carried the applications to Mr..