The Press., 1896-04-16
Washington Letter.
Washington, April 18th, t8'


 For the first time since congress met the probable democratic candidate for the presidency is one of the leading topics of convers atiOn among politicians. This is largely, if not entirely, owing to the con- ference at the white-house several days ago which was participated in by Presi- dent Cleveland, Ex-Secretary Whitney and Secretary Carlisle. The conference was held at night and was strictly secret, but rumor says that MT. Whitney has laid aside the hard feelings against MT. Cleveland, which caused him to refuse to meet that gentleman for several years, and has agreed under certain conditions to attempt to have MT. Cleveland again nominated by his party. This rumOr has been anything else but pleasing to the silver democrats. They know what Mir. Whitney's manag cement means. MT. Cleve- land never would have been nominated the last time had it not been for MT. Whitney's clever work among the dele gates after they got to the convention.
 It is also said that the Cuban question is involved in the Whitney, Cleveland deal, and is to be used to help MT. Cleve- land. In this connection it is understood that the offer to mediate between Spain and the Cuban revolutionists was made more to gain time than with any eXpec- taton of it's being accepted by Spain, and that it will be sometime before the real policy of the administration is made public. The friends of Speaker Reed in the house and of Senator Allison in the senate, who are doing everything to bring about an early adjournment of congress, may discover after they accomplish their purpose, as they now seem likely to do, that they have played into MT. Cleve- lands hand. There are good reasons for the belief that he would much rather have congress out of the way than in session when he gets ready to display his real Cuban policy.
 this congress has spent more time look ing for trouble abroad than it has in at tending to useful home legislation. The latest reach after trouble is resolution now before the senate judiciary committee requesting that the president intervene with the British authorities to secure the release of Mrs. Maybrick, now serving a life sentence in British prison as a result of having been found guilty of poisoning her husband. Mrs. Maybrick is an Ameri- can, and there has always been much sympathy for her in the United States, and a general belief that she was innocent of the charge upon which she was found guilty, but that does not give the presi- dent any right to intervene with the British authorities in her behalf; hence the reso- lution offered by Senator Call, of Florida, is merely another reach after trouble. It ought to die in committee, but nobody can tell what senators will do these days.
 A Chicago firm of seedsmen have filed some ugly charges against Secretary Morton and several of his assistants in connection with the1 ecent awarding of the contract for furnishing the seeds to be dis tributed free this year by congressman. This firm claims that it's bid was thrown out although it was $10,000 lower than the bid of the successful firm, by reason of false statements made by Secretary Mor- tOnto Senator Proctor and Representative Wadsworth, who acted with him as a committee to award the contract. Sec retary Morton denies all charges. The matter may get into congress where Sec retary Morton has fewer friends than any other member of the Cabinet.
 The civil service commission and public printer Benedict have locked horns over question of authority to decide the status of certain printers who were dis missed from the government printing of flee after that establishment was put un der the civil service rules, and the senate committee on civil service is making ar investigation, under authority of senate resolution to try to find out which is right.
 The newest candidate for the presi dential nomination is Representative Lfn ton, of Michigan, who is being supported by the A. P. A.