Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-12-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
tFrOm Our Special Correspondent,
WASHINGTON, D. G.. Dec. II. .as.


Aldrich compelled the Populist Sena
tor from Nebraska to admit that he
would not vote for the Dingley bill al
it passed the House, an admission
which he tried to qualify by adding
that the bill could be amended 80 that
1t would receive bis vote and that OF
other Senators who are not Republi
cans. The same could be said of any
bill, but after it was SO amended j,
would be long ways from pleasing to
Republicans. Mr.. Aliens motive vas
to make mischief, by making it appear
TO the country that tariff legislation
could be had at this session il the Re-
publican Senators desired IL; and he
knew he made the motion that the
Dingley bill as 1t now stands does not
contain a line relating to the tariff, an
amendment having been at the last
session adopted providing for free coin.
age ofsilver and striking out the whole
Dill, excepting the enacting clause,
that was passed ty the House. This is
probably just taste of what the Re.
publican Senators, helpless because of
lack OF a majority will have to contend
with during this session of Congress.
The wisdom Of the caucus Of Repub.
lican Senators in deciding not to at
tempt to make program for the ses.
sion, and in leaving everything to the
discretion of the Steering Committee,
is already apparent There is no use
OF having a program unless you also
have the power to carry them out. The
Steering Committee, composed of Sena.
tors Aldrich, Allison, Hale. Mcmillan,
Cullom, Perkins, Quay, Davis, Hans
brough and Shoup, has the confidence
OF the party and may be depended
upon TO accomplish all that can be &C.
complished under the circumstances.
which at best is not likely to be much.
Although the six boiling Republican
Sepators-Teller, Pettigrew, Dubois,
Cannon, Squire and Mantle-declined
to avail themselves of the invitation to
attend the caucus of Republican Sena.
tors, four out of the five who are in
Washington-Mr Teller hasn t arrived
have declared themselves to still be
Republicans upon everything except
the silver question. Senator Dubois
for good and all, and announces in ad.
vance that he would vote against the
Dingley bill If it were brought to
vote, and intimates rather strongly
that he would vote against ANYTHING
that originates on the Republican side
OF the Senate. II 10 believed that Mr..
Dubois is playing to the prejudices of
the anti-Republican members of the
Idaho Legislature, in order to save him.
self from being retired to private life.
The Republican House is keeping up
the record it made at the last session
as business body. 1t has already
passed the pension appropriation bill, a
Dill allowing the use of private postal
cards with one cent stamps used on
them, a bill providing for limited in.
demnity of $l0fo the loss of registered
mail matter, bill authorizing private
letter carriers in villages where there
Is no free delivery, and a number of
minor bills. including some private
pensions.
Speaker Reed and Chairman Hanna
met for the first time, in the Speakers
private office at the Capitol, this week,
and very cordial meeting it was on
both sides, according to the six or
eight prominent Republicans who were
Mr., Hanna has made many
new friends during his short stay in
Washington, and some OF those who
made his acquaintance have q very diff
ferent idea of the kind of man he ia
than they had before coming in con-
tact with him. Althoughit Is the gen.
eral opinion Of those who have talked
with Mr.. Hanna that he will not be
member Of the cabinet, he expressed
such a liking for Washington that
some think he will be unable to stand
the temptation OF four years resi-.
dence in the city.
No grass has been allowed to grow
on the Inauguration preparations. On
Monday morning Chairman Hanna ap-
pointed 9. ]. Bell, chairman of the
committee, and today the committee is
established in Its headquarters which,
by the way 10 In the same building in
which rooms have been secured for the
permanent headquarters of the Repub.
lican National Committee,) all the
chairmen of the subcommittee have
been named, and the machinery put in |
motion that Is going to result in our
greatest Inauguration. There is so
much opposition in Congress to having
the inaugural ball in the Library build
ing that the idea will probably be
abandoned and the ball be held in the |
Pension building
n
Some red hot Cuban resolutions have |
been offered in the Senate, two pro.
siding for negotiation OF independence |
and one, by Mills, Of Texas, for forci.
Bile occupation by the U. s. until the
Jubans have organized a government. |
Il is not likely that any of them will be |
adopted.