The herald., 1896-12-07
And Clouds ofSpeculations
Are AflOat
NO Interest FELT IN The TARIFF
Because the Program Has Been
Decided Upon
DlNGLEY WILL BE IGNORED
And Special Session Called to Revise
the Tariff
DlNGLEY WILL BE IGNORED
Interest Of Politicians Now Centers In the
Cabinet Possibilities
Proceedings of the First Day Will In
clude Little Besides Listening
to the Presidents Mes
sage to Congress.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-That tonight
was the eve of a new session of congress
was apparent in Washington hotels,
which are always barometers of po-
litical activity under the dome. Sena-
tors and members coming to the city by
every train, reinforced by the attaches
and lookers-on of congress, were drift
ing into the lobbies, greeting one an
other like school boys after a vacation,
with much hardshaking, with remins-
cences OF the campaign and many ex-
plantations of how their reelection or
defeat had been brought about.
There had been comparatively small
interest in the work of the coming ses-
sion itself apart from the presidents
message, but clouds of speculation were
afloat dealing with the policies of the
new administration to be inaugurated
on the 4th of March and with the per-
sonnel of the cabinet.
1t was unanimously conceded that the
Republican program was to ignore the
Dingley tariff bill and to summon an
extra session of the fifty-fourth con-
gress on the 18th of March for the pur-
pose VI pdSSlDf9 lew tdIllL ICoSulSs ~
these features of the situation which
have absorbed the attention of politi-
clans recently had ceased to be of in
terest. In their place came the cabinet
predictions and the message. Curios-
ity was expressed over the reference. i
any, President Cleveland might make
to the issues and the result OF the pres
idential campaign, and particularly as
to his policy upon the Cuban question.
The central figure of the night was M.
A. Hanna, who is looked upon here as the
advance agent of the Mckinley admins
tration, with a commission to feel the
pulse of congress and to communicate
the policy of tire president-elect to the
leaders.
When Mr. Hanna appeared in the Arl
ington lobby, after his dinner. accom-
panied by H. c. Payne of Wisconsin, who
is slated as cabinet probability; c. w.
Dawes of Chicago, member of the Re-
publican committee, and General Hor-
ace Porter, the marshal Of the inaugura-
tion parade, the party was surrounded
by congressman and other politicians
who were escorted to Mr.. Hanna's
rooms.
The Republican chairman would be
invisible during the day, trying to put
aside politics for Sunday, he explained,
but throughout the evening he was be-
set by visitors.
Some of the most conspicuous men
about the hotel, most of whom talked
with Mr.. Hanna during the evening,
We're Senators Platt OF Connecticut and
Aldrich of RhodeIsard; Chairman Bah
cock and chairman Mercer of the
congressional campaign committee.
General Grosvenor of Ohio, Congress
men Lacey of Iowa Gillette, McCor-
mack and Wilson of New York. Foss,
Belknap and Larimer of Illinois, Chair
~ . -. f,,1,
priations of the house, and Deacon"
S. V. White, the New York financier,
who served a term in congress and sell
dom fails to attend the opening ses-
sion.
With most of his callers Mr.. Hanna
did much listening and little talking. The
chief purpose if his visit was to make
preliminary arrangements for the in
auguration ceremonies was dropped
over Sunday, and the local politicians
interested in the matter were not in evil
dence. Mr.. Hanna had breakfasted late
with eX-Congressman Benjamin Butter
worth of Ohio and w. w. Dudley, for
mer commissioner Of pensions, and had
spent the afternoon driving with Sena-
tors Sherman of Ohio and Proctor of
Vermont.
Regarding the position of chairman of
the Inauguration committee, which has
been rendered to Mr.. S. W. Woodward, a
prominent DuSll1eSS ltltll VI lillS CITY ,IhI.
Payne said: Mr. Woodward will give
definite answer tomorrow. He fears
that the duties of the position would
take more time than ne could spare FROM
his business. He has talked with others
who have been connected with inaugu-
ration ceremonies. who tell him he would
be obliged to give up two thirds of his
time this winter to do the work. He
does not feel that he can make the sac
ri0ce."
Mr.. Payne said emphatically that Mr..
Woodward's hesitation was not inspired
by the objections made against him
by local Republicans on the ground that
he was gold Democrat. Mr. Woodward
will give definite reply tomorrow
The visit to Washington of Mr. Dawes
of Chicago is said to be connected with
the proposition to maintain permanent
Republican headquarters at the capt.
tai. which will be discussed with Mr..
Hanna while here.
Chairman Babcock Of the congress-
ional committee was non-ccmmital when
asked whether his organization would
Join with the national committee in the
project, saying that the matter would
have to be discussed by the committee.
Interest in the affairs of the Hawaiian
republic has been rekindled by the din
ner which was given Saturday night by
ex-Secretary of State John w. Foster
to Mr.. Hanna The guests, who num-
bered a dozen, included the Hawaiian
minister Of foreign affairs. Mr.. Cooper,
who is In the city; Minister Hatch and
Secretary Hastings of the Hawaiian le-
cation and half dozen members Of the
senate committee on foreign relations,
among them Senators Morgan~ Hale and
Lodge. who are advocates of annexa~