West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-01-23
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
CAPITAL CHIT CHAT AND CUR
RENT COMMENT PROM THE
HOME OF UNCLE SAM"
Items OF Interest and News and Notes
Concerning Congress.
From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., !
January IL, 1896. (

""A""J ~ iooo.
Mr.. Reed is allowing his House
to indulge in some pension talk
this week, on the regular pension
appropriation bill, and the Senate
is discussing the free coinage sub
stitute for the House bond bill.
The action of the British govern
ment in affording the same protec-
ton to Americans residing ia the
Transvaal republic that it does to
it's own subjects has been extremely
well received in Washington, and
has done much towards restoring
friendly feeling towards the Eng
lish.
nlag
DR.. Patten, President of Prince
ton College, was recently In Wash.
ington for the special purpose of
inviting President and Mrs. Cleve-
land to attend the celebration of
the 150th anniversary of that insti-
tuition. No official announcement
has been made, but there is reason
to believe that the invitation was
accepted.
Iaaa
Secretary Morton this week told
joint meeting of the House and
Senate Committees on Agriculture
that his action in refusing to spend
the money appropriated for the
purchase of seeds for free distribu
tlon was, in a measure, due TO
abuses, such as Congressman SELL
ing their entire quota of seeds for q
pittance. The department., he said,
had in several instances bought from
outside dealers Congressman en-
tire quota Of seeds which had cost
the government about $500 for
each quota for $75 each. He told
the committees very plainly that he
didn't believe the good accom-
plished by free seed distribution
amounted to even small fraction
of what it had cost.
Illl
Senator Mills, of Texas. made q
speech this week on his resolution,
containing what he believes should
be declared to the world as the
financial policy of the United
States. This resolution contains
seven distinct declarations, which
may be summarized thusly: 1st,
against retirement of outstanding
legal tender notes; End. in favor of
the coinage of the silver bullion in
the Treasury; Ord, in favor of the
issue OF emergency legal tender
notes in case of deficiency In the
revenues; 4th, against the issue of
interest bearing bonds; 9Th. in IA
vor of paying government obliga-
tioEs in both gold and silver; 9Th,
repudiating the theory that a pub
lie debt is public blessing; 9TH,
urging the maintenance of a sink
ing fund for the rapid extinguish-
ment of the national debt.
Commissioner Lochren's report
of the condition of business in the
Pension Bureau is an effectual an
swer to the slanderous slurs upon
the administration of that office
which are constantly made in GER
tain quarters. 1t elbows that on
December 1st the business Of the
Office was practically up to date.
Since then the calls of Congress
men, often nearly 200 a day, and
largely unnecessary, have resulted
IN throwing the business behind.
OF the interior workings of the
office the report says: 81 am salts
fed that the officers and clerks are
bringing every effort to bear upon
the prompt and proper adjudica
ton of all the several classes of
claims now pending. Gases that
are ready for adjudication are
promptly disposed Of, and apparent
delays are usually the result OF
negligence and inability on the part
claimants or their attorneys to sup
/ ply necessary evidence, after being
notified, often repeatedly, OF the
necessity for furnishing such eyi.
dence."
BlHI
"Hurrah for the winner :" That's
what all good Democrats are shout
ing to-day, whether they are mem
bers Of the National Commtttee or