The Press., 1896-03-12
Washington Letter.
Washington, March g, 1896

l Washington March g, 1896 A war between President Clravland and Secretary Olney is, according to current gossip, more likely 10 occur than 8 war between the United States and Spain. It's all about Cuba. Last week statement was given to the press giving reasons why the eadministratio would not obey the con- current Cuban resolution adopted by Con- gress. That statement was written by Secretary Olney and was published as officially declaring the status of the ad- ministration, although his name was not used in connection with it. Several days later President Cleveland wrote 8 state ment and gave it to the press, in which, while not denying the correctness of Sec retary Olney's statement, he said that he was not responsible for it nor related to it. As MT. Cleveland did not deny that his position towards Cuba has been cor rectly stated by the disqualification it is inferred that is only object was to rebuke and humiliate Secretary Olney. Now there are lots of people who think that Secre- tary Olney has more real backbone than President Cleveland and that he will not silently sudmit to such rebuke. There fore, unless the public misunderstood the present status of the matter, Secretary Olney will be heard from again, and it will not be surprise in Washington should it be in the form of his resignation from the Cabinet The man who is credit ed with being responsible for the Venezu- elan position taken by the administration and for the much discussed Monroe Doc urine message isn't the sort of an individual to swallow personal affrOnt.
 Few men realized how rapidly Congress especially the house changes it's personnel. Ex-Representative Post, of Pa., now in Washington, who was member of the House in the forty-eight Congress, has been going over the roster of the House to which he belonged and that of the pres ent House, and he found that only 31 of his old colleagues are members of this House. Surely that ought to satisfy the most ardent devotee of the doctrine of rotation in office.
 The informal White House receptions which were suspended while "COxey's Army" was marching on Washington, from prudence, caution or fear, on the part of the authorities, just according to the view you may take of the matter, were resumed today, and the announcement made that each Monday, Wednesday and Saturday during the remainder of his term | the President will, when in Washington, go into the East Room at 1.15 p. m., for the puspose of shaking hands with such persons as may be there assembled. For nearly two years the inestimable boon Of shaking hands with the President has been denied to those visitors to Washing ton who were not of sufficient importance to be accorded private interview, but it's restoration will probably not largely increase the travel over the railroads com ing into Washington. There are lots of people-right here in Washington--who wouldn't turn on their heels to shake hands with President Cleveland, let alone going to the White House to do it.
 1.-the the Senate agrees to the legislative executive, and judicial appropriation bill as it passed the House, the much abused fee system in connection with U. s. Mar shalls and other U. s. Court officials will pass out of existance with the present fiscal year, and beginning July 1st, next those officisls will be placed on salary. Where there are number of candidates for party's presidential nomination, the man who is in the lead is always the tar get for the friends of all the other can didates. This has always been so and will probably always be so. It accounts for the vigorous fight that is being made upon Mckinley by the supporters of the other candidates. That Mckinley is in the lead is generally admitted, but the claim that he already has enough SUD- porters to nominate him on the first ballot is answered by the fight that is being made upon him. The average politician is nothing if not practical. If Mckinley had i enough votes to nominate him already in sight those who are now so openly work | ing against him would be falling over each other in their eagerness to prove their loyalty to him. They think they canbeat him, or you may be sure they wouldn't fight him. They want to be on the side of the man who gets nominated and with the most of them there is little care as to who the man is. In Washington, aside from the prejudiced friends of Mckinley, it is generally believed that the combina- tion of the field against him is going to be too much for the Ohio man; but whether the Reed men who are leading the field can win, is question about which there is much difference of opinion. MT. Reed himself is supremely confident that he will get the nomination, but he doesn't tell why. In fact, he doesn't talk at all for publication on that subject.
 | The 1898 New England Rusiness Di-