The citizen., 1896-04-10
FROM THE CAPITOL.
Our Correspondent Talks in Sage
Manner of Things in General
About Washington.
Especial to the Citizen.I

WASHINGTON, April 9th, 1896.
Everything comes to an end sooner
or later. Congress has at last finished
its consideration of the Cuban question,
so far as it is dealt with in the original
in the Senate concurrent resolution,
declaring for immediate recognition Of
the Cubans as belligerents and for the
ultimate independence of Cuba, which
were to-day accepted by the House.
President Cleveland has not indicated
his intentions concerning the resolu-
ton, if he has any, and those who en-
Joy his confidence are equally reticent.
Consequently, there is much doubt
on the subject, but recent events in Gu
ba have increased the number of those
who believe that the President will
shortly recognize the belligerencY of
the revolutionists, regardless of the
Congressional resolutions.
North Carolina Democrats in WASH
ington are delighted at the break which
has occurred between the Senators
from that State, and they say that if
Senator Pritchard can control the Re-
publicans and Senator Butler the Pop
ulists, to an extent to prevent the fu-
sion of those parties again, that the re-
turn of the State to the Democratic
column is a certainty, and that when
it comes back it will come back to stay.
There are reasons for the belief that
Senator Hill is going to have some fun
with Senator Chandler when he comes
back to Washington, in connection
with that New Hampshire Conven-
ton which "Little Bilee" let get
away from him the other day. By the
way, speaking of Chandler, Speaker
Reeds friends say that he has done
more to hurt Reeds chances for the
Republican nomination than all of his
opponents have done. The hoodOo is
no new role for "little Billee"; he has
played it in the anti-convention Nat
ional campaigns of his party for the
last twenty years.
Mr.. Joseph Manley, of Maine, w1o
is chief custodian of the steering appa-
ratus of the Reed boom, has made
wager with a newspaper Matthew's
paper men are, of course, privileged to
do naughty things in connection with
their business, but just think of saint
ly politician like Joe Manley actually
making bet-that Mckinley will not
be nominated by the St. Louis Con-
vention. Making heavy wagers has of
late years become one of the recOgniZ-
ed methods of influencing political
events, but this wager cannot be class
ed as Il heavy one; hence was probably
not made for its effect The stake is a
box of cigars, and as no price was stip-
ulated tue winner is likely to be the
greatest sufferer, unless he shall be
wise enough to let his friends smoke
them all.
Senator George, of Miss, will have
charge of the Voluntary Bankruptcy
Bill which the Senate judiciary Com
mittee has ordered to be favorab,y re-
ported to the Senate, and he says that
Congress will not adjourn until the
Senate shall have been given full op-
portunity to show whether it wishes
to pass this bill. The bill provides
that no preferences shall be shown to
creditors by those who make assign
ments, except debts due the United
States or any State or Territory, to
servants or labOrers for work performed
within one year, and to leins or encum-
branceS on hODesteads to the extent of
81 900. The chances are against the fl
nal disposition of he bill at this session.
Considerable discussion has followed
the decision of Speaker Reed upon that
long-disputed question of whether
majority of the full membership of the
House was necessary to make quor-
um or whether majority of the living
members was quorum. In the fifty
first Congress Mr.. Reed ruled that the
former was necessary. In his last rul
ing he reversed himself aud declared
that majority of the House are u
quorum. He says his first ruling was
hurTiedly made. He isn't the first man
who has been on both sides of ques-
ton.
Although opposed to the free distrib-
utiOn of seed, Secretary Morton very
promptly arranged to carry out the
mandate of Congress and Senators and
Representatives were notified several
days ago that their quotas of seeds were
ready and would be mailed by the
seedsmen from whom they are pur-
chased, under Congressional Frank, as
fast as addresses were sent in. The
quota of each Senator and Representa-
tive will be 200 packets of vegetable
seeds in packages Containing Is ass :rt-
ed varieties, and ], 400 packets of flower
seeds in packages containing five va
| rieties.
The introduction of the A. p. A. into
the Republican fight for the Presiden-
tial nomination may prove to have
been very unwise move on the part
of somebody. especially if the A. P. A.
man wins. 1t is understood in WASH
ington, although your correspondent
is not in a position to vouch for it, that
the A. p. A. is working Tor McKin-
ley's nomination. If it is true, it adds
another to the many strong reasons
why Democrats should wish for Nc
Kinley's nomination.