Crawford avalanche., 1896-02-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 81, 1906.

A joint caucus of republican Scna-
tors and Representatives was he'd
this week to select the members OF
the new Congressional campaign CON-
mittee, and incidentally there was
some talk about pending LEGISLATION,
especially the tariff bill. which sena-
tor Carter, one OF the republicans
who voted against taking that bill
up last week. has moved TO send back
to the Finance committee for further
consideration. No attempt was made
to force any action, but 1t was plain
that the sentiment OF the caucus was
almost unanimous that the bill ought
to be put through the Senate just as
1t passed the House
Oh, no, J. Pierrepont Morgan has
no pull" on this administration.
That was shown by the action of Sec.
retary Carlisle In presenting him with
about $500, 900 OF the peoples mon-
ey, by deciding that the bonds upon
which the original bidders dcfaulted
In the flrst payment-ab0ut $5,O00.-
OO0-shoald go to Mr.. Morgan at his
bid, Notwithstanding the offer of q
higher price by others for them.
Secretary Carlisle ought to be made
answer before the bar of the U. S.
Senate, sitting as court OF impeach.
ment, for this extraordinary and cost
ly favor conferred upon Mr. Morgan.
Lest there should be any misuDder-
standing as to this charge here are
the figures. These bonds are sold To
Mr.. Morgan at less than LII, when
they could have been sold In the open
market, see current quotations. for
LII, a difference of six ceats upon ev-
cry dollar of the bonds. This COO, In
the face of the statement 10 the orig.
inal advertisement for bids, that the
government reserved the right to re-
ject any or all bids sent In. 1t IL
perfectly clear that Mr.. MoIgan had
absolutely no claim to have these
bonds upon which higher bidders de.
faulted awarded to him, and the in
ference is that they are given to him,
because he did not get as many bonds
as he and the administration expect.
ed he would get. But 1t is costly fol
the people.
Senator Hill made a bid for the
whisky vote by speaking against the
presentation CT petitions from tenn
perance people to the Senate and Civ.
ing notice that he would move that
the Senate rules be so amended that
petitions should be handed to the
Clerk, and not be presented In open
Senate and have their titles read, as
has been the invariable custom.
The hearings before the Senate Pa
ciac Railroads committee, ON the va.
rious propositions for the settlement
OF the debt of these roads to the gov
| ernment, have made the railroad lob
byists very conspicuous Ia Washing
ton, but 20 far little has been brought
out that was new and there Ia moth
lag In sight to indicate the nature OF
the bill that will be reported. 1t is,
of course, certain that bills will be
reported both from House and Senate
committees, but whether both com.
mittees will report the same bill. OF
whether any bill will be passed, is
more than can at this time be said.
The country will be fortunate IL this
matter Is disposed OF without Con.
gressionsl scandal
The House, this week, had a little
fun with Secretary Morton, in con-
nection with his refusal to buy and
distribute seeds after the last Con-
gress appropriated the money. A
number of gentlemen helped along
the amusement but the efforts OF
Representative Cousins, of Iowa.
seemed to be most appreciated by
the House. He offered an amend
ment to the Agricultural sppropria-
tion bill, providing that the salary ol
the Secretary Of Agriculture be re-
duced to s25 a year until he should
comply with the law for the distribu
tiOn of seeds. The amendment was
of course, ruled out on point of or
der, but not until Mr.. Cousins ha(
his say, which was not altogether hu
morous For instance, he was seri
Gus enough when he said Secretar!
Morton's course was the grossest usur
patton of modern times, and the @Sec
retary pats the House on the head
strokes the gray beard Of the Senate
scowls at the President, and says tina
there will be no distribution Of seet
this year of our Lord, not II he know
himself" and again, that the mos
powerful branch of the governmen
was that represented BY the Secreta
~ of Agriculture, who took Congress
a nj thu procidont into hto Ian an