The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-20
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Tribune Bureau,



5l5 Fourteenth street, N. W.,
Washington, Dec. 49,
| The Hon. Charles \. Boutelle, of Maine,
| who has been known as the great cham
| pon of the American flag In the house,
| is such bitter partisan that he is willing
to allow that emblem of liberty to be
trailed In the dust for the sake of making
a political point. Boutele has probably
made more speeches in defense of the flag
| than all the other members of the house.
He seldom rises in his seat that he does
| not work in the flag somewhere in his
| speech. For that reason he is known as
| the flag defender"
But since President Cleveland issued his
| now famous message on the Venezuelan
question Mr.. Boutelle. either through
| jealousy or some other reason, has
changed his tune. When the resolution
was brought up in the Gnouse on Wednes-
day appropriating $780, 900 for the purpose
of defraying the expenses of a commission
| to be appointed by the president to estab-
| lish the boundary line between Venezuela
and British Guiana, Mr. Boutelle objected
to it's passage. His reason for objecting
| was that the subject was too grave and
serious for the house to tackle in an off,
| hand manner. Mr.. Boutelle's friends as
| we'll as his antagonists were very much
surprised to see him forsake the flag in
this ats hour of need. The general impress
| sion among his colleagues Is that Mr..
Boute!le didn't want president Cleveland
CT his party to get any glory at the flag 5
expense.
The resolution introduced in the senate
on Wednesday by Mr.. Call, of Florida.
providing for the appointment of a select
committee to investigate organized efforts
of corporations to control the election of
| ~lar Of nd 90 inf q
islation in congress- is calculated to cause
some trouble in both houses. The fact
that it was opposed by certain eastern
and western senator's who, 1t Is charged,
owe their seats in the upper house to the
organized efforts and systematic benefi-
| cence of corporations directly and vitality
interested in legislation, is being generally
commented upon.
Senator Quay did not speak on the reso-
luton, but he voted for it, His approval
of an inquiry into elections in which the
influence of corporations enter, recalls his
speech on the floor Of the senate last jan
| uary, in which he denounced In strong
language the methods which a corporation
employed in Philadelphia elections Sem
ator Cameron opposed 1t for reasons best
known to himself.
1t is noteworthy that Senator Sewell, of
New Jersey, opposed the resolution Of Mr..
since becoming member Of the senate
the second time. Sewell's connection with
| the Pennsylvania railroad no doubt
prompted him to oppose the resolution.
Senator Chandler. who probably had In
mind his arch-enemy, the Boston and
Maine Railroad company, sustained 1t
| with his vote and strongly urged its pass
age. 1t has not been many years since
Mr. Chandler offered n resolution. the pur-
of tvht1h UNI ap n n
the election of his New Hampshire COL
league. Senator Gallinger, whom he inti-
mated hal been elected by the organized
support of railroad corporation.
The Call resolution Is considered most
timely, as it is strongly hintad that in
the makeup OF the senate committees and
the appointment of chairman of commit
tees, into whose hands fall the considera-
tion of important legislation affecting GER
tain corpora tions, the influence of those
same corporations figure most conspicu-
ously.
Such resolution can hardly pass the
house, but II one like that which Senator
Call introduced Is presented there the dis
cussion which :. will provoke will at least
be interesting. 1t is openly asserted that
In congressional campaigns in the west
the participation of railroad corporations
Is notorious. An instance was cited to me
that of southern rSilrosN company
which, he said, expended $50, 40 to secure
a denomination for a member of congress
who was the roads attorney and whom
the corporation wanted returned to con-
grecs.
Both houses Of congress will adjourn to-
morrow for the holidays. They will recon-
vene on Friday, Jan. g.
A pension has been granted to Edwin ID.
Campbell, of South Auburn, Susquehan-
ma COUNTY. Also, TO Thomas English, of
Pittston, and Benjernin r. Newer and
Dantsl Shovlin, Of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne
| county.
Congressman Scranton, Leisenring and
Codding will spend the holidays with their
families at their respective homes. Mr..
Scranton will have time to explain to his
| 'bone" hunting cons stituents how he came
to fare SO badly in the combines divide of
the spoils
i J.
Congressman Jack Robinson is in
daily receipt of encouraging letters re-
sar6.ng his candidacy FOR Camerons seat
in the United States senate. Jack says
his chances up to date for election are as
good as any other candidate. He is not in
The race for fun nor for his health. 1t
might be wise for the Opposition to keep
, an eye on Jack"
| Speaker Reed IS going to appoint three
committees on contested elections. Each
committee will have ten eases to consider.
two of the thirty-two contests having been
dropped on account offthe, contestants fail
Ing to comply with the law. w. X. B.