The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-01-11
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, January 7.-Democratic skies
are brighter just now than they have been for
a year. The much talked about and much
hoped,for getting together of Democrats seems
at last To be in u fair way towards becoming an
accomplished fact. The example of Senator
Hill in going to the White House and resuming
pleasant relations with President Cleveland is
being followed by lesser leaders of the party in
Congress. The first result of this getting to-
gether of Democrats will be the passage by the
House of the Carlisle currency reform bill,
which will not be delay ed much, II any, beyond
the present week. 1t was noticeable that
better and more conciliatory spirit was shown
by all the speakers at the Democratic caucus
held to-day than has been exhibited at any
similar gathering for long time, and conse-
quently Democrats are looking forward to fu-
ture party success with more confidence than
the most sanguine of them have felt since the
opening of the present session of Congress.
one Oh tne tosf IN I'M IAN, Ia IN nf ing
Carlisle currency reform bill, was the unprin-
pied fight which II clique of Wall street bank
ers have been making upon Secretary Carlisle,
using this bill as an excuse, because he would
not allow them to use him. Secretary Carlisle
is deservedly popular with Democrats in Con-
gress- and out of Congress, too, for that mat
ter~and many of them determined to stand by
him and his bill, although there are things IN
the bill that some of them do not approve.
Now that the passage of the currency bill by
the House is regarded as good as accomplished
its fate in the Senate is being discussed. Few
Democrats are confident that it will even be al
lowed to reach vote III the Senate, owing to
the short time remaining of the session, but
Senator Hill, who seldom expresses an opinion
without having good reasons therefor, thinks
that the Senate will pass the bill If it be amend
ed to provide for the coinage of the silver
seignorage, as that would obtain votes enough
from the Republican and Populist silver Sena-
tors to get the bill through: 1t has been stated,
although L cannot vouch for it, that President
Cleveland and Secretary Carlisle would not OBJ
ject to such an amendment to the bill, and it is
certain that many Democrats in both House
and Senate would be greatly pleased to see the
bill become law so amended.
Some of the Republican leaders are indulg-
ing in u line of talk that they will regret inside
of six months. They are saying that the only
trouble with the Treasury is that caused by q
revenue insufficient to meet the expenditures
of the government, and that the deficit is caus-
ed by the new tariff law. That is just the talk
to suit the Democrats, who know that as soon
as the Treasury begins to realize from the duty
on sugar, which is just beginning to come in
largely, and on the income tax, which will soon
be collectable, the receipts of the government
will be in excess of the expenditures. 1t will
be amusing to see these Republicans when con-
fronted by their present talk few months
hence.
There is much talk of the attempt that is ex-
pected to be made in the Senate to render the
| income tax imperative by dropping the apprO-
priation for its collection, which is in the ur-
gency appropriation bill, which has been pass
ed by the House but Senator Cockrell, chair
| man of the Senate Appropriation Committee,
says that it is nothing but talk and that he is
confident the apPropraf nntd Will De made.
preparation will be made that he is now sending
| income tax blanks to the internal revenue col
| lectors.
Some of the numerous men who are always
| going off half cooked were probable RESPONSE
BILE for the rumor which was current day or
two ago and was widely telegraphed from
| Washington, to the effect that the adminstra-
| ton had withdrawn the demand it had made
Upon Spain to cease discriminating against
| American flour shipped to Cuba, under penalty
| of having the sugar of Cuba and Porto Rico
shut out of the United States. The originator
| of that rumor got his facts exactly reversed.
| Instead of having withdrawn its demand upon
| the Spanish government the administration
has reiterated it in stronger language. and ac-
| companied it with Il notice that a prompt reply
must be given or the President would without
| further warming issue a proclamation against
| the sugar of Cuba and Porto Rico.
1t has been informally decided by the Senate
| Finance Committee that no tariff amendments
| of any sort should be taken up at this session,
and the administration is thrown upon its own
| resources in dealing with the retaliation and
| threatened retaliation of European nations be-
cause of the differential duty on sugar, which
| everybody admits ought to be repealed.
c. AS