The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-02-27
TIT DEMOCRATIC PRE'S.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent


WASHINGTON, D. G., February rs. 1895.
Whether Intentionally or not matters little
but President Cleveland has, by few re-
marks made to several gentlemen who called
at the White House TO pay their respects,
badly frightened the republican leaders in
Congress is certain. The callers in question
were representatives-elect Smith and Corliss,
of Michigan, and Towne, of Minnesota
After chatting awhile the President signifi
cantly said How would you gentlemen like
to begin your Congressional duties as early
as March Is? They declared they were per-
fectly willing to wait until December, and
were told by the President that conditions
and not personal considerations must deter
mine the time of the meeting of Congress.
Within an hour the conversation was known
at the Capitol, and the republican leaders IN
both Senate and House had their heads to-
gether. Although they have professed IN
difference, it is known that they dread an
extra session beyond everything, as it will
quickly demonstrate their Inability to legis
late upon financial subjects. They have been
hoping that the gold received for the last
issue of bonds, which they have so loudly
and hypocritically denounced, would enable
the Treasury to pull through without an
extra session and that by next December
there would not be such pressing need OF
legislation. This scare is having one good
effect. 1t is making the republicans assist
in pushing the appropriation bills through
because they have an idea that the President
would not object to Congress forcing an extra
cocsic,, bv faiIurn tO mass thpn all
The man who objects" is now in his
glory in both House and Senate. He can
block small legislation at will, as unanimous
consent is needed to get action upon any Dill
not having the right of way under the ul IS
There is little probability of any more i'm
portant legislation, except the appropriation
bills.
Senator Villas, of Wisconsin, who made
one of the greatest speeches eft his life-he
spoke nearly four hours-in reply to the un-
just and unpatriotic carpingand insinuations
of the republican and populist Senators con-
cerning the contract made by Secretary Car
Isle to secure gold for bonds, refuted in de-
tail every insinuation that has been made,
and made it plain to every unpreJudlced
mind that Secretary Carlisle, acting IN con
cert with President Cleveland, had avalled
himself of every possible means to make as
favorable bargain as possible and that no
one else conld have secured better terms
from the men who controlled the gold want
ed. Senator Aldrich, of Rhode Island. wht
persisted in interrupting Mr.. Villas, to say
directly or to intimate that he could nave gol
- sTss1 s'J.TcE pr, was well answered. afld
the answer applies to all the other fauithnd
ers, when MIR. Villas said If the Senator
from Rhode Island, instead of standing here
to carp at a transaction already accomplish
ed and finished, had put himself at one emo
of the Atlantic cable, as the Secretary OF the
Treasury did, and with the aid of the great
est bankers of New York, had cabled, as the
Secretary did, to every money market OF the
world trying in every way possible to get
reduction of the rate of interest, he would
have had different opinion as to the posi-
bility of getting gold at such price as ne
wanted"
There was no uncertain sound about Sec
retary CarIisle's answer to the Senate resolu'
ton of inquiry as to the necessity for legs
lation authorizing the issue OF Treasury GER
ti6cates to meet a deficit in the revenues;
which all of the republicans and a few OF the
democrats in Congress have insisted would
have TO be met, and which had even been
proyided for in an amendment to an appro-
priation bill, authorizing the issue OF per
cent loan certificates to the amount OF Sluo'
COO O6O. Secretary Carlisle said: 1t is my
opiuion that the Secretary of the Treasury
ought to be permanently invested with au
tboritv to issue and sell short time bonds
or other obligations of the government FOL
the purpose of raising money to meet such
Deficiencies in the ordinary revenues as may
occur from time to time but do not think
that there is any necessity at the present
time for the exercise of such authority, II 1t
existed. 1t is not probable that such dlhc-
fences will occur as during the remainder ol
the current fiscal y ear the receipts will exceed
the expenditures" Surely that ought to be
sufficient to silence the deficit croakers.
The bill for the unlimited coinage OF silver
did not reach a vote in the Senate, although
it was demonstrated that it was supported by
a substantial majority. When the Dill was
reported to the Senate it was understood that
it was allowed to be voted upon, in order to
put the Senate on record, but after trying to
force vote by protracted session the DILL
was sent to the calendar, it having been
shown that no vote could be reached.
CHARIiESTOWN.