The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-01
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Tribune Bureau,
515 Fourteenth street, N. W.,
II Ii.


51J Fourteenth street, N W.,
Washington, Dec. 81.
From the looks of things down In KEN
lucky the jig Is up with Senator Joe Black
burn. Only a split among the RepuDli-
cans can save him, and that is not likely
to happen. Biackburn's term in the senate
does not expire until March 3. 1897. which
will make twelve years he has served IN
the upper branch of congress. He was
member of the house for ten years pre-
yious to his election TO the senate. lie
also served in the Kentucky Legislature
In fact, he has been pulling at the public
teat ever since he left the Confederate
army at the close of the late unpleas-
antnesS.'
1t is u hard blow to Blackburn to be
forced to leave public life. He Is good
for nothing else, except as Il criminal law
yer. He has the most abusive tongue Of
any man In the senate. That Is his strong
point An argument by Blackburn with
out being allowed to abuse his antagonist
Is rather a tame affair. He is bully by
nature, and IN debate is rufilan and
blackguard. During discussion IN the
senate a few years ago he locked horns
with Senator Chandler of New Hamp-
shire, and when Blackburn saw he was
getting the worst of the argument he
walked over to the Republican side of the
chamber and pulled Chandler's ear. Not
satisfied with thus humiiiatng his antag-
onist and fellow-senator, Blackburn fur
wanting to fight IL duel with the New
Hampshire senator. Luckily for Black
burn Senator Chandler declined to partici-
pate in warfare of that kind.
Less than two months ago Blackburn
met his match in another Kentuclsian--
Lieutenant Lucien Young, of the navy
They had Il misunderstanding at Il dinner
In an uptown restaurant. The lie passed
Blackburn pulled u gun on Young. The
latter snatched ii out of the senator's
h
burn by the throat and made him apolo-
gize. which he did very promptly and
humbly.
The day for blackguards in the United
States senate Is gone, and when Joe Black
burn steps down and out there will be few
regrets and no tears. The South, which
has been furnishing this class of states
men, is sending better material TO the
senate.
If the emergency tariff bill, which the
house passed last week, passes the senate,
1t will be with the assistance of German,
Murphy, Brice and Smith, known as the
big Four" who opposed the passage of
the Wilson bill on the ground that it would
not raise sufficient revenue to meet the
expenditures of the government. 1t will
be remembered that these four senators
so loaded the Wilson measure up with
amendments that its author could scarce
ly recognize it. They predicted then that
there would be a deficit in the treasury II
the bill became law, and their prediction
has been verified. The house tariff bill, II
1t passes the senate at all, will doubtless
resemble a crazy quilt. If there is too
much patchwork about it when it reaches
the president he will not sign it. He has
his mind set on relieving the treasury by
the issuance of bonds, and bonds it will
be.
The prospects of the senate passing
bond measure are not bright at this writ
ing, unless the sound money senators con-
cede q free silver clause. If they DO
that the bill will run against a snag when
IL reaches the white house. President
Cleveland will not sign any bill that pro-
vides for the free coinage of silver. He
despises the white metal so that he would
rather see the government go bankrupt
than to recognize silver
There seems to be no doubt now about
the issuance of bonds by the treasury
The president and Secretary Carlisle have
made up their minds that that is the only
means left for relieving the strain on the
surplus. and the sale of 100000. 900 or $780,
100000 of bonds any day need occasion no
surprise.
Congressman Jack" Robinson Is in
PittsburS on business and incidentally
looking after his senatorial boom in that
section of the state. Jack is in the fight
to stay. 4
a new press club is TO be organized by
the Washington correspondents. 1t viii
start with a membership of 100, and that
number is expected to be more than dou-
bled in short time. The old club. which
made an assignment for the benefit of its
creditors last May, had a membership of
nearly 400.
Information has reached here that the
Dos Pasos committee, representing the |
New York bondholders of the PHILADELPHIA |
and Reading railroad is about to ask Judge |
Dallas, of the United States circuit court |
at Philadelphia, TO remove j. Lowber |
Welsh from the receivership of that rail- |
road. Among other things they will cite |
that Mr. Welsh is Overburdened with re-
spOnsibilities and business cares. In ad- |
ing railroad, he is president of the Union |
Traction Trust of Philadelphia, trustee |
of the Drexel estate, a member of the Su- |
gar Trust. being the owner of large si- |
gar refinery in Philadelphia. has large |
sugar interests in Cuba, and is inter- |
ested in public and private business con-
Germs.
The main point to be urged for Mr.. |
Welsh's removal will be that during the |
recent strike OF the motormen and con- |
ductors in Philadelphia he so manipulate |
ed affairs that the Fourth and Eighth |
line, which is an active competitor of the |
Reading road for local traffic. and which is |
In Union Traction Trust. was the last to |
20 out. The Reading was thus. financially |
Injured. Hence the effort to remove Mr.. |