The true northerner., 1896-04-15
GETTING IMPATIENT.
Congressman Urged to Quit and
Go Home.
MEMBl HsFLOODED WITH LETTERS

Business Men Complain Of Doubt and Un-
certsinty-An Interesting Story About
the War In Cuba Uncle Sans Old
Debts.
WASHINGTON, April Is. = Special. -
Members of congress are flooded with let
ters from their constituents imploring
them to quit and go home. 1t Is said by
veteran statesmen that they have never
known time when the people were ap-
parently so much out of patience with the
lawmakers. There is prevalent feeling in
the country that congress Is not doing
any good and that its continued sitting
only adds to the uncertainty as TO what is
going TO happen and prevents business as
suming normal aspect. Some of the let
ters received by senators and representa-.
tives are abusive in tone, vulgar and
coarse. But the majority come from busi-
ness men who say the uncertainty about
legislation, and particularly concerning
the prospects for trouble with Spain over
the Cuban question, is holding the coun-
try back and stopping the wheels of trade.
Voice Of the People.
So many letters of this sort have been
received that there is almost a panic in
congress in favor of adjournment at as
early day as possible. There is talk of
closing up the session by the middle of
May, and here and there an enthusiast is
heard saying congress will quit and go
home, as the country wants it to do, with
in a month The most probable thing is
that the business Of the session will be fin
ished up about June 1. This is the date on
which Speaker Reed has set his heart and
q ha nha ~ ri ha mi
about 1t. But it is agreeable to note that
the people are able to impress themselves
upon the statesmen who assemble here to
make laws and who do not work them
selves to death while at it,
Something of the same force of public
opinion appears to have reached the White
House Also where President Cleveland
and his cabinet have been holding long
consultations over the Cuban question.
Leading men in the business and financial
world complain bitterly that the cloud of
Cuban disturbance between this country
and Spain Is the greatest obstacle in the
way OF "a return Of better times, and they
have urged the president to end the uncer-
tainty one way or another. This demand
has made a serious impression upon the
president, and he has ''sat up nights with
the Cuban problem, in the language of
one of his official family.
Patriotic Havana Ladies'.
One of the most interesting stories
have heard concerning the war in Cuba
comes from Charles Cramp, the famous
shipbuilder, who had it direct from a gen.
tleman who had spent some time in Ha-
vana. 1t explains in part how the insur-
gents get their supplies of ammunition.
According TO this traveller, many of the
ladies of Havana are openly or secretly in
sympathy with the cause OF free Cuba.
But IL Is the fashion for the women there
to entertain the Spanish soldiers and
minor officers In a social way. The ladies
of Havana are nothing If not hospitable.
When the soldiers pay visits to their fair
friends, they carry with them their belts
and cartridge pouches, and when they take
their leave the cartridges, strange TO say,
are missing. In great embarrassment the
hostess explains that her servants are adj
dicted to pilferng, but begs that nothing
be said about the matter TO the authori-
ties, as it would get her into trouble OF
course the gallant soldier promises silence,
for his own sake as much as for hers
This sort of thing is going on all the time,
and the supplies of ammunition thus Sc
cured are smuggled through the lines into
the hands Of the insurgents In this way
the patriotic ladies of Havana contrive TO
contribute to the cause of Cuba libre.
Here's a State of Things.
A curious fact appears in an official re-
port recently submitted TO congress by
Secretary Carlisle. 1t is that the govern
ment of the United States still owes about
500 900 of "a loan floatcd more than a cen
tury ago. Aug. 4, 1890, the congress au-
thorized the issuance Of something like
$65, 600, 900 OF scrip. some of IL per
cent and other per cent stock. OF these
issues there are still outstanding and un-
paid $685. 757 80. OF course the claims will
never be presented, as 1t Is supposed the
scrip has been destroyed. But what nice
little pickup 1t would be for some poor
fellow II he were TO find, on rummaging
through his great -grandfather's papers up
In the attic, thousand or two of this
stock What would the interest amount
to up to the present time, los years after
issuep
There are nearly $500, 600 of old loans
issued prior to the war, still outstanding
Included In this amount Is about $50, 900 in
treasury notes issued prior to 1S46. They
also, 1t Is supposed, have been lost or de-
stroyed, though some of them may be still
in existence in the hands of persons who
do not know their value. Not including
the bonds issued during the present ad-
ministration the great items In the obliga-
tions of the government now outstanding
are the following: Legal tender notes
(greenbacks) of 1862, s348, 6s1, 900; per
cent loan due in 1907, $500, 900, 600; silver
certificates, s346, 600, 900; Pacific railway
bonds, $6l 200, 900; gold certificates, $4O,-
900, 600; loan at per cent due in 1904,
800, 900, 600; per cent loan due In 1895
s62, 900, 600, and treasury notes of 1890,
s13S, ZOO, 600. Uncle Sam owes good deal,
does he notY But no one doubts his ability
TO pay. WALTER WELLMAN.
Card Party Prizes.