The Press., 1896-03-26
Washington Letter.
Washington, Ma

because final action was expected that the galleries were filled, but to hear the spirited debate. Senator Morgan said he offered his resolution to accommodate those of the senators who had said in their speeches that they referred a joint reso- lution, upon which the president would be compelled to act one wayOr the other, to the pending concurrent resolution; but the fate of his resolution was not hard to predict. To have had any show to get voted upon it should have been reported from the committee on foreign relations.
 The republicans in both senate and house are iustnow devoting much more attention to presidential candidate making than to legislation, while the democrats and pOpu- lists are interested spectators of the game. The Reed men say they will soon stop tn Mckinley wave and will eventually sweep it aside, but the Mckinley men insist that they have already won the game. Many doubt the ability of either to win, and pre- dict the success of some of the other candi- dates, among whom Ex-President Harri- son has again been placed. The pace is growing hot.
 The opinion seems to be growing strong CT that Col. Dupont will not be seated as senator from Delaware. To pass, the resolution declaring him entitled to the seat must receive the vote of every repu- blican senator and of at least one pOpulist. No republican has yet spoken against the resolution, but around the Capitol it is understood that several of them are in doubt and may refuse to vote for it.Senator Allen, the only populist who has spoken, opposes the resolution, but it is not known to certianty ,how the other populists stand. It is claimed that Senators Jones and Stewart, of Nevada, have both pro- missed to vote. for the resolution.
 The senate committee on territories has reported favorably on Senator Carter's bill for the admission to statehood of Arizona.
 It having come to the knowledge of members of the house committee on con- merce that the express companies were doing large business in the carrying of obscene literature and articles for indecent and immoral use that committee has pre- pared and reporteda bill making it unlaw- ful to deposit with any express company for interstate transportation any articles of such nature, and providing penalty of five years in prison and $5, 900 fine for it's violation.
 If they can make terms with the silver people whereby protection will be given them, they are willing to do so. They understand fully that no tariff bill can pass the senate unless concessions are made to silver. It is a cold matter of business with them and they are eager to give and to take, especially to take. They do not think free silver is an unmitigated evil and they are anxious to see something done to start the wheels of commerce once more. That conference may prove of far reaching importance" It is strongly as- serted by others that the conference was a complete failure by reason of the fsiklre of the manufacturers and silver sc
 to agree.
 The house committee in charge of the Nicaragua Canal bill is going slow. It will grant hearings both in favor of and in opposition to the canal before deciding what to do.
 The politicians are somewhat worried about what may grow from that meeting of Pennsylvania manufacturers and the republican silver senators who held up the house tariff bill. These manufacturers are said to represent total capital of $15O, 100000, and to be the same men who contributed to the much talked abou Wanamaker purse which furnished con- siderable portion of the campaign fund used to elect MT. Harrison president. Ac- cording to a gentleman who professes to know, this is the way those manufacturers reason: "Their business is stagnant and the immediate future holds no promise.
 Whether Speaker Reed had any SUD- porters among the delegation of officers ofrailway labor organizations, which call ed on him several days ago for the purpose of asking his aid in getting through the house several bills in which they are in- terested is not known, but it is quite cer- tain that none of them were supporters of his after that call. He did not treat tn em with as much consideration as they thought themselves entitled to, and gave them no idea of whether he favored or op- posed the bills they are interested in. The didn't say much, but, as one of them in- timated, they thought lot.