The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-12-24
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.


Of his confidence in the principles for
which he has. been fighting SO long.
He made this plain III short speech
he delivered this week. Although he
based his remarks upon the Dingley
bill, he prefaced them by saying that
he knew it was dead issue and that
he only did SO because many we'll
meaning people were urging Congress
to act upon it. Later, the death of
the Dingley bill was announced by
Sherman. Apropos to the late cam.
paign, Mr.. Vest said: "While | may
be subjected to the charge of being a
lunatic, an anarchist and repudiator,
/ assert that the only relief for the
people is to give them more money.
If we are lunatics and anarchists be-
cause we ask for the opening of the
mints to the free coinage of silver,
then over six million American free
men who voted for VIM. J. Bryan are
lunatics, and may God help the Re-
public But it is vile SANDER The
men who supported the great leader,
VIM. ]. Bryan, are as loyal and as in
telligent a body of men as any in this
country. The gold standard, which
is the root of this evil, is the vilest
monopoly ever conceived in the mind
of mortal man."
The whole Cuban business was
virtually postponed until January when
the Senate adopted Senator Morgan's
resolution asking the President to
furnish all the information about the
present situation in Cuba he has, as
President Cleveland is hunting on the
coast of South Carolina and Congress
has already adopted a resolution pro-
viding for recess from Dec. 22 to
Jan. S. The speeches made on the
subject in the House and Senate have
been about as effective as the excited
meetings held throughout the country.
The executive committee of the
Bimetallic Union has been here for
several days, preparing to continue
the educational work for silver. All
the prominent silver men in Congress
have been comforting with members
of the committee at different times,
but there has been no single meeting
OF all the silver men yet.
Although Senator Aliens resolution
for the appointment of Senate com
mittee to investigate the alleged
wholesale use Of money in the late
National campaign was offered with
out consultation with Democrats, its
spirit meets their appreciation. Dem,
ocrats have ever since the remarkable
results Of the election IN a number of
states were announced been anxious
to investigate the why and wherefore
of the abnormal increase in the total
vote cast. Senator Allen had read in
connection with his resolution list
of states in which Bryan's vote largely
exceeded the winning vote of 1892
and yet he was defeated by heavy
majorities. Senator German says he
is certain that the total alleged vote
of Maryland was at least 10000 in
excess of the adult male population on
the first of last January, and he would
like nothing better than to find out
where the excess came from. Ac-
cording to some of the best Parlia-
mentarians, Mr.. Aliens resolutions
will have to be changed little in
order to be effective. For instance,
Senator Morgan said: "If Senator
Allen makes his resolution joint, and
it should pass the Senate and House,
there would be no doubt of the au-
thority of Congress to probe the mat
ter to its furthest depth. The Senate
alone, as l view it, cannot enquire
into an election in state, or even
into the election of President"
1t is not probable that Secretary
Francis, whose nomination has not
yet been acted upon by the Senate,
will be among those which will be left
pigeon holed when the Fifty-fourth
Congress expires at noon on the 3rd
of next March, although it is alto
gether out of the usual for action to
be deferred on a Cabinet nomination.
1t is a good I6 to I bet that the nom-
nations of considerable number of
gold Democrats will be killed by non
action.
Representative McMillin, the rank
ing Democratic member of the House
Ways and Means committee, says of
the reckless haste of the Republicans
in getting tariff bill ready for the
extra session of Congress: "The Re
publicans are determined to return to
the old p inciple of high protection.
They are not satisfied either with the
present law or the Dingley bill. They
propose to again try to increase
wealth by increasing taxes Such
legislation is not needed in the least,
There are now in the Treasury $a3o,-
900, 900, or I3o, ,ooo,oo in excess of