Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-21
LIVING AT HIGH TENSION
officials at Washington Worn Out by a
Day Of Excitement.
CABINET HELD TWO LONG SESSIONS
Senators Not Inclined to Act on the
nnn suggestions of the
Preside nt-ycnexueInn Message
considered for Months.

tOnsttcreu Tor NOnths.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 20.-This has been a
day Of excitement and surprises in Washing
ton. Events moved with r%apidity, and when
the sun went down public men in all branches
Of the service were nervous and worn out
with the tension. Reports came of panic
in securities throughout the country and
here in Washington affairs moved with the
rapid pace Of a kaleidoscope. The house
Venezuelan committee bill was amended in
material respects by the senate foreign re-
lations committee and then, by a sudden
change In sentiment in the senate, was
passed unanimously Just as 1t came from the
house; then an adjournment resolution from.
tomorrow over the holidays was passed by
the senate, only to be followed by an urgent
message from the president strongly advising
prompt action for the reform Of our cur
rency system and the maintenance Of pub
lie credit. AZ the other end OF the avenue
the president and his cabinet received prompt
advices of the course of events here and
on the public exchanges. The cabinet held
two sessions. something without precedent
In recent years. Secretary Herbert, who re-
turned from New York this afternoon, at
tended the second meeting for a brief time.
All the remaining memDerS OF the CABINET
were present except Secretaries Lamont and
Smith, who are out Of town.
The financial situation was the principal
topic of discussion and the result was re-
vealed in the message sent to the senate
late In the afternoon, that body being kept
in session for its reception. The message
was not favorably received. The. summary
adjournment upon the motion of Senator
Cockerell. one of the democratic leaders.
Immediately after the conclusion Of the read
ing of the message was taken on the re-
publican side as a disposition not to consider
the message seriously.
DECLINE TO DISCUSS THE MATTER.
Mr.. Cockrell declined to define his motion
or to discuss the question Of the proprlety Of
the suggestion. Senator German, replying to
a question, said he did not want to ~criticise
the president. Senator Jones Of Arkansas,
when interviewed. simply remarked that he
thought the senate would sit tomorrow. Sem
ator Allison thought there would be a recess,
notwithstanding the message, as the senate
had already passed a resolution to that effect
before the message was received. Senator
Hawley said 1t appeared to him as IL the
president was in a Bull Run" panic. and
Senators Teller and Cullom agreed that 1t
looked as II the president was trying to or
set the effect of his Venezuelan message, and
that 1t was beginning to look as IL the presi-
dent had concluded from the favorable man
ner in which the Venezuelan message had
been received that congress would follow any
suggestion he might make.
That the administration has not moved pre-
cipitately in the Venezuelan affair is evil
denced by the fact, which has now become
known, that Secretary Olney's famous letter
defining the Monroe doctrine was considered
for fully two months before being dispatched
to Ambassador Bayard for delivery to Lord
Salisbury. Moreover. it Is a fact that the
to exact form, really was the sub
ject Of deep elaboration for almost six
months, for there is good reason to believe
the adverse response Of Lord Salisbury to
Olney's note was expected. 1t Is
noted that the presidents message is a dis
tinct advance in our attitude upon the letter
of the secretary, for, whereas the latter was
to a declaration Of a doctrine, the
former proposed action that went beyond
that point. 1t was this reason, beyond doubt,
that caused the message to be most carefully
for many months.
UNINTERRUPTED BY DIPLOMATS.
The diplomatic corps here appears to have
fallen under a Misrepresentation as to the pur-
pose of the message, which may account for
the attitude of some Of the European news
papers, which have received inspiration for
their editorial articles from their foreign off,
GERS, who, 1t Is learned, have In many in
stances, and certainly in the cases of the
of European powers, informed
their governments that President Cleveland's
was dictated purely by motives of po-
litical expedience and was not intended to
have permanent results. 1t may be that the
unanimity Of support accorded the president
congress, irrespective of party, has in
duced some of these observers of American
Institutions to qualify their first advices to
heir home governments.
Although Secretary Herbert returned to
from New York this afternoon.
rs yet he has taken no action respecting the
orders to the North Atlantic squadron, and
so 1t will not sail tomorrow, as was in
tended, for the West Indies. The secretary
will communicate. his intentions to Admiral
3unce, who comes to Washington for the pur-
bose on Sunday. but the impression prevails
hat the fleet will not leave American waters
Immediately, and that the itinerary hereto
arranged will be modified materially be-
its departure.
Further inquiry into the subject makes 1t
appear that II the commission to be APP
to ascertain the facts respecting the
Venezuelan boundary finds it necessary to
,isit the country and to personally locate the
inc. the work will consume much more time
han Is generally believed to be necessary.
Outside of the voyage to Venezuela, which
would consume not less than a month to and
ro. the journey through the wild interior Of
he country would be very difficult. With a
mall flying force OF eight lightly equipped
olonial police. the journey to the Uruan out
'ost, where the collision occurred and which
marks one end Of the line claimed by Great
Britain, could not be made in less than TWEEN
days, SO that IL the commission is to
make a proper examination Of the country,
he task, including the sea voyage, will prob
bly, occupy almos six months.
Many names have been suggested for men,
'ership on the COMMITTEES, but today's ac-
lon OF the senate In passing the house bill
apparently eliminates several of
hese names. including that of Justice Har-
an of the United States supreme court. One
anne favorably mentioned Is that of Mr..
Of Vermont, formerly United
tates minister to Venezuela.
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