The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-01-17
Neutrality-suspicious..
From our Regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, January ID, 1S96.-Demo-
Gratis are naturally disposed to look compla-
Gently upon the deadlock which has followed
the first attempt of the Republican Senators
to make use of the power they acquired by
taking possession of the Senate committees,
through II deal with the POpuliStS. IL Is Al he
publican funeral, and the Democrats. while
willing to DC spectators have no idea OF taking
the part of mourners. The Republicans
Thought they were playing il very tine when IA
bull for the free coinage OF silver was reported
to the Senate us substitute for the House
bond hill, which they never wanted sent To the
President, anyway. They found their mis-
take when the Finance Committee attempted
to carry out the caucus decree to report the
House tariff bill without amendment. Senator
Teller, OF Colorado, informed them that The
tariff bill must be amended so as To provide for
the free coinage of silver, and ne rubbed II i'll
by telling his fellow Republicans that no bill
dealing either with finance or the tarH shOu!u
be reported to the Senate without amendment.
providing for the free coinage OF silver. The
result was Il deadlock, which so dlsEuStcd Sena-
tor Aldrich of Rhode Island, IL Republican anti
silver member of the Finance Committee, that
he at once left town, announcing that he would
not return for II week or more. The anti-siiver
Republican Senators now deeply regret that
bargain with the PopuliStS, which resulted in
the reorganization of the Senate committees,
and the Democrats are very well satisfied to
play waiting game, prepared to take all the
advantage which come their way.
Secretary Olney took part in the second
meeting of the Venezuelan boundary commits
sion. AS matters pertaining to the plans 10 he
followed in the work of the commission We're
discussed, the meeting WAS not II public one.
Secretary Olney's relation to the commission is
merely that of an adviser. The commission
will, of course, make use OF the knowledge
Secretary Oney has acquired by q long study
of the case, hut its action will be entirely indie
pendent of either Mr.. Olney or the President.
Representative Hepburn, of Iowa, is Il he
publican, but he does not wear the collar of
Speaker Reed, as do most of the Republican
members of the House. He has spasmodc at
tacks of independence. One of these caused
him to propose an amendment 10 the Heed
rules, compelling the Speaker of the House to
recognize the member who was the first to at
tract his attention. While the attack lasted
Mr.. Hepburn charged that Speaker Reed had
abused the right of recognition by gradually
evolving from the long established practice
rule of his own to overlook all such as he
chooses not to recognize on the floor and to
recognize only those whom he thinks ought to
be allowed to address the House, and very
truly said that business i'll the House should be
done by the peoples representatives ana not
by the Speaker alone, but alter Representative
Bell of Colorado, who said the speaker had
not recognized II single Populist up to ms
time, had strongly seconded his amendment'
Mr. Hepburn's Independence suddenly desert
ed him-he couldn stand the presSure-and he
showed the white feather by Withdrawing his
amendment, thus closing the incident as the
diplomats say.
Senator Jones, of Arkansas. is credited with
having made one of the best speeches in favor
of the free coinage of silver ever hear i'll the
Senate. While as strong in his belief in silver
any man in Congress, Mr.. Jones Is Tree from
the radical opinions, the expression Of which
by some OF the SILVER men mas uOllc tne cause
for silver far more harm than good. He spoke
Tor about two hours and made very conscrv-
alive statement, calling especial attention to
the unfaVorabe attitude to Great Britain,
Germany and France towards silver, and the
certainty that this attitude is not likely to be
changed for Il long time 10 come. While ad
hitting the great responsibility OF the L nlted
States in attempting the re-eStablishment of
bimetalism alone, he advocated it as Il duty
which should not be stunned.
The impression appears to be growing among
Intelligent Democrats that the custom of the
party in power, holding the first National Con
vention. will not be followed this year, and
that the Democratic Convention will not be
held until after the Republican Convention has
made its platform and nominations. The Ma
tiunal Committee will this week decide both the
time and place for the convention TO be held.
The House and Senate ForeignC Committees have
referred all the resolutions which have been Of
fered concerning Cuba to subcommittee,
which indicates that no hasty action will be
taken, notwithstanding the clamOr in and
about Congress for the reporting of a resolu-
ton for the recognition of Cuban belligerency.
The only thing that would bring about that
action on the part of Congress would be the
capture of Havana by the insurgents.
The Monroe doctrine is to be upheld by
strong resolution. That has been formally de-
cded upon the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations, and subcommittee appointed to
draft the resolution.