The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1895-02-22
Washington Letter.

Washington. u. C.. Feb. IS, 1895 -
With the senate pulling one way and
the house the the other there Is little
probability that President C.eveland's
advice will be taken to the extent OF saw
ing SI6. 100000 IN interest that viii
have to toe paid on. these s. and per
cent bonds The house wayS and means
committee has reported "A resolution for
the saving Of those millions los auIhori-
zng the isSue of . per cent gold bonds
But nothing can he hoped from the
senate, where 1t has been announced 10y
those vino are sJrOLg enough TO make
good their language that the only tinan-
cial legislation they will agree to Is the
bill for the unlimited coinage Of silver,
which has been favorably reported from
the finance committee. This bill pro
vides tiEat the government snail coin and
deliver for each dollars worth Of bullion
presented at the minis one silver 90 lar.
and that the difference in weight shall
be retained as seigniOrage. and was ori
ginally IA section of a general financial
bill introduced by Senator Jones, OF Ar
kansas.
1t would seem that Secretary CarIisles
at first making public all the details OF
the contract made for that purchase Of
gold with bonds was that it might ham
per the other contracting parties, and
that the administration had nothing TO
conceal should have been sufficient. but
1t has not prevented some OF the sena
tors from making exhibitions Of them
selves.
Senator Hill had a little fun with ''his
whiskers otherwise known as Senator
PETER, this week. His whiskers''
wanted to know why his resolution ask
ing the senate judiciary committee to
report on the legality Of the bond issues
by this administration could not at once
be acted upon. Senator Hill, II member
of the Judiciary committee. said. in the
absence of the chairman OF the commit
tee, he was not at liberty To explain WY
a report had not been made, but ne
stated that the committee would be dis
posed to get the opinion of the attorney
general before acting upon such queS
ton. This angered his whiskers'' who
said: ''Oh, | do not want to hear from
the attorney general. | regard my own
opinion on this point as good as that of
the attorney general" Then" said
Senator Hill amidst laughter on the floor
and in the galleries? II have nothing
whatever to say, after that statement"
The sarcasm was lost upon "hiS whiSk-
ers'', who prompted by his egousm con
tlnued: Il have no doubt that | have
given 1t not only more careful consider
alton, but more intelligent cOusidera
ton, This time Senator Hill Joined
in the laughter which closed the farce
The senate amendment to the diplO-
matte and consular appropriation
bill, apprO priating $500, COO
to start the laying of government
cable to Hawaii, has many bitter enc
mics IN the house, which has refused 20
concur therein. The bill Is now in con
ference, and unless the senate recedes
contest lasting to the closing days Of the
session, and maybe resulting in the fail
IRE of the appropriation bill is ineyita-
tie.
Secretary Carlisle took some Of the
cOnceit out of eX Speaker Reed this
week, but he still has enough left to sup
ply dozen ordinary men. The Incl
dent occurred when Secretary Carlisle
was explaining to the ways and means
committee of the house, of which Mr
Reed Is a member, why and how that
bond contract was made by the admin
IstratlOn. Mr.. Reed pompously inquired
of Secretary Carlisle why his substitute.
which was last week defeated bv the
house, was not satisfactory to the ad-
mlnIstratIOn. Secretary Carlisle ans
wered by reading clause OF the act Of
1874, which had been overlooked bv all
the speakers during the financial discus
sion, and which would have nullitied
any benefit that might have been de
rived from the Reed substitute For
once Mr.. Reed was lost for an answer
The law read by Secretary Carlisle gives
the holders of national bank notes the
right to have them redeemed by treasury
notes, If they desire, and as the treasury
notes are redeemable in gold, it practi-
cally makes national bank notes also re-
deemable in gold. The Reed substitute
only recognized the greenbacks as re
deemable in gold. There is heap of
ignorance, in congress as well as among
the people, on this financial question.
Boss Platt took day off from the ar
duous duty of directing the Republican
majority of the New York legislature
and came over to Washington this week
to issue a few orders to the New York
Republican members Of the House. and
to give Lemuel Eli Quigg Il few pointers
for the editorial page OF the New York
City Platt organ. NJ.
Uncle Sans Big Lumber SUIT.