The Coconino weekly sun., 1896-05-07
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Silver Question in the National
 Conventions.
Senator Gorman's Speech on Naval Appropriations-rhe Nicaragua
 Canal scheme.

I '~~ee~~~~~t s~~s'J "~ J't3 - tup with silver," said prominent sil
 yer man, "so far as the Republican
 National convention Is concerned
 That has been apparent for some time
 and the recent publication of Senator
 Wolcott's letter declaring his intention
 to stand by the Republican party re-
 gardless of the financial platform
 adopted at St. Louis. and the declar
 ation to the same effect made by Gov.
 Mcconnell of Idaho. are additional
 proof that the silver Republicans are
 fully aware of the situation" Senator
 Teller openly served notice upon the
 Republicans that he would not support
 a gold ticket or platform. At this
 time it seems almost certain that the
 Democratic National convention will
 have majority of silver men. but
 many of the silver Democrats admit
 that it is very doubtful whether pro-
 nounced silver man will be nominated
 or free silver platform adopted, ow-
 ing to influences which are being
 exerted to prevent. The Populists
 would prefer that neither of the old
 parties declare in favor of silver, as
 they think that would enable them to
 draw silver men from both.
 Speaker Reed got black eye when
 the Vermont Republicans endorsed
 Gov. Mckinley as their first choice for
 the presidential nomination. and was entirely unexpected. too. It has. of course, resulted in making the Nc Kinley men more jubilant than ever.
 The Senate this week listened to eulogies of Father Marquette from Senators Villas and Mitchell of Wis consin, and Kyle of South Dakota, and adopted a resolution offered by Senator Palmer of Illinois, accepting the statue of Father Marquette and return. ing the thanks of Congress to the State of Wisconsin for the same. The A. P. A. will probably make fight on thls resolution when it gets in the House.
 No speech made at this session of Congress has attracted more attention than that of Senator German attacking the large naval appropriations, not be- cause of his opposition to the navy, but because of the fact that more money by 100000 is being ap- than it Is estimated that the government will receive from all sources during the fiscal year beginning July l next. He said that one of three things must be done, cut down appropriations, increase taxation, or issue more bonds. He called the Bl62. .000, ,000 received from the sale of bonds by the present administration ''blood money" but gave notice that if the naval appropriation Jill was not reduced he would offer to amend It by | providing for an issue of $50. .000, 900 h short term, low interest certificates. because of his belief that it was better o issue that form of indebtedness than ,he long high term interest bonds which the Treasury will otherwise have o issue. Referring to the determined purpose to put this nation on war ooting and inaugurate on this eonti. ,ent the principle of military control. lpon which the European powers are based, Mir. German said: "Ours is a tronger structure, tuilt up by a people who have no arms in their lands and who need not standing rmies to defend or protect them." ie presented figures showing that rom 1891 to 1895 the appropriations ad exceeded the receipts to the {, normous extent of $39s, ,OOO, ,O00. , his excess, he said. had been met in f art by the money received from the ale of bonds, and the rest had been I cid back by the Secretary of the f 'reasury. who had been compelled to revent improvements being madc and ! ) withhold money justly due to $ tizens. There should not be the slightest \ oubt about the House agreeing to the n enate amendment to the naval appro- riation bill, prohibiting officers of the avy entering the employ of private rms who have contracts with the overument, as it has been very clearly town that tho practice has been oused almost to the extent of a