The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-02-21
Our WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGToN, ID. c., February Il.
Mr.. EDIToR:-Thc Reed tariff bill
is apparently as dead as a last wears
bird nest, and it was killed by republic
can senators at that. The scheme of
the high tariff republican senators was
to take up the free coinage substitute
for the tariff bill, which was reported
to the Senate from the Finance commit
tee. vote that substitute down with the
aid of anti-Silvcr democrats. and then
with the aid Of populistS to pass the
tariff bill without amendment. But it
struck a snag in the shape of a repuh-
lican revolt as soon as the very first
move to carry it out was made. and the
revolt was led by the Chairman of the
Republican National Committec-Car-
ter. of Montana-who. with three 9TH
er silver republican Senators voted
against taking up the tariff bill. The
high tariff republicans are now engaged
in trying to beg or bulldoze the revolt
ing silver republicans into coming back
into line and carrying out the decree
Of the republican caucus by voting to
pass the Reed tariff bill without amend
ment. but there are no indications of
their succeeding.
The vote in the HouSc-2l3 to 90
against the free coinage substitute for
the House bond bill makes it certain
that whether the Senate passes the free
G. image substitute or not, free coinage
is us dead for this session as the Reed
tariff bill. and that brings forward the
question. what is this Congress going
to do anyway? 1t looks now as though
the republicans would spend the time
not devoted to passing the regular APP
preparation bills in making moves for
or against the various presidential cam
didates, and that the final result of the
session would be transportation bills.
1t may be that Representative How
ard, of Alabama. the author of the dirt
lest book ever sold in ashington. was
really i'll when he was taken out of the
House the other day. and not drunk as
he was reported to be- but his reputa-
ton was already so bad that it really
makes little difference. He has never
been associated with by any of his col
leagues except the populistS.
Representative Talbert. of South
Carolina. who made little "break'
several weeks ago on the secession
question, turned the tables very nicely
on Representative Hardy, of Indiana
who tried to goad him into saying some
thing more about secession by abusing
South Carolina. After Mr.. Hardy had
used up his stock of epithctS. covering
South Carolinians from John {. Cal
houn to the present Congressional del
egation. MIR. Talbert etfectually squelch-
ed him by remarking that he was clad
that Canada had been heard FROM
Hardy was born in Canada. and did
not serve in the Union army. Later
MIR. Talbert took occasion to saw that
he had noticed that those who had ia
ken no part i'll the war were loudest in
their proclamation Of patriotism and
their dcnunciations of those who had
fought against the Union. and amid the
laughter of the House he quoted the
expression that those who are invinci-
bic in time of peace are generally inviS-
ible in time of war
Secretary Herbert gave the House
committee on Naval affairs the benefit
of the knowledge he has acquired dur
ing his long service on that committee
and since he became Secretary of the
Navy, at the last meeting of the com
mittee. He stated without qualitca-
tion that the United States can today
beat the world in the building of war
ships so far as efficiency goes. although
it has not quite distanced all countries
in the race to lower the price of con-
struction. but he believes it will in the
near future. Already we are building
warships cheaper than either France
or Germany has been able to do. and
almost as cheap as Great Britain does.
Mr.. Herbert told the committee that
in addition to the specific recommends
tons in his annual report, he was in IA
vor Of any and all proper methods of
strengthening our Navy.
While it is generally recognized that
Senator Quay's candidacy for the re-
publican presidential nomination was
announced solely for trading purposes,
some Of the friends of the other candi-
dates are afraid of him. They know
his ability as a political schemer and
they are afraid that he may be able to
sneak that nomination for himself 4
republican who has before given me
correct information concerning moves
made by Quay says of his latest: Quay
is trying to bring Reed to terms. He
is for Reed and has so declared himself
to Reed, but for once he found ont that
he committed himself too soon, for when
he wished Reed to give him certain
promises the Maine man utilized his
Yankee cunning by adroitlv dodging.
Then it was that Quay determined to
become candidate himself With
Pennsylvania vote behind him he will
compel Reed to voluntarily make him
all and more promises than would have
at first satisfied him. or he will make a
dicker with some other candidate. and
Tom Platt is in the same boat wit tn
QUAY.