The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-04-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.



to those Cuban resolutions to ask Spain t"
accept the mediation of the United States in
negotiating with the Cuban insurgents for
peace: but. according 10 current gossip, he
doesn't wish Spain to agree and doesn't ex-
pect it. According to stories whispered in
inside circles, the fine hand of ex Secretary
Billy Whitney is playing the game for Mr..
Cleveland. having succeeded in persuadnr
him that the only salvation of the Democratic
party lies in working up feeling towards II
war with Spain. The offer to mediate is made
for the purpose of convincing the world that
tho administration favors Il peaceablc settle
mrnt and will only resort to other methods
when Spain refuses to entertain mediation.
and to gain time. War is not wanted now; it
might be all over before the meeting of the
Democratic National Convention, not to men
ton the November election. 1t is deep
game, to take advantage of the general sym
pathy of this country for Cuba to boost up
the toitering Democratic party, and to 80
into it it was necessary for Mr. Cleveland to
20 against his real wishes. rs he had been
trom the first apparently on the side of
Spain.
Unless something unexpected tarns up to
prevent. Congress is likely 20 hrca,: tnc long
session record in the date of atljoUiument. SO
far rs the House is concerned. it would ie
easy enough to adjourn 10y the first of Nav.
rs there remain only two appropriation bills
Qualifications, and genera! deficiencies to
10. 4; l,,r 4 a
passed this week. Unless the Democratic
$rcators become ohstru"tionsts Just t. DELAY
adjournment, it is regardeISas probable that
~ iournment will occur somewhere in thu.
l!oighborhood Of May 18th.
Senator CuIlom denies very emphaticaliy
that he has written or intends TO write Il
letter Withdrawing his name ~ II candidate
or the Presidential nomination. and Senato'
Quay's friends make the same denial in his
chaIf.
Secretary Morton is in hct water again.
aud unless the men who are making thu
charses against him are out of their reckon
ing he may get badly scaldrd before he gets
ont Of it. He and his assistants in the agri
cultural department are charged with huvin-,
deliberately and Intentionally miSrepresentrd
facts to Senator Proctor and Representative"
Wadsworth, who acted with Secretary Nor
m us Il committee To award the contract 70:
seeds for free distribution. in order to get the
bid OF Chicago firm which was $40, 900
below that OF the firm which secured the
contract, thrown out. They charge thrt Sec
Marian p.,rpsaptaI that bn Il
submitted rs samples by the Chicago flrE,
were found poor, when as a matter of fact
the Official records of the tests made by the
department experts showed them to be IA
good in every respect as those sent by the
firm which secured the contract that Secre-
tary Morton told his Congressional associates
on the committee of award that the Chicago
firm declined to assume the responsibility
by printin.; their naMc upon the packages q
seeds they proposed furnishing, when that
firm had stated both orally and in writing
that it would ut its bid 10000 if allowed to
print its name and address on every package.
They charge further that Assistant Secretary
Dabuey worked against them because they
refused to use certain patent bag-flliing
machin" advocated 10y him. 1t is very seri-
GUS business i. these charges can b" substau-
tiated. aud the men who make them say they
can Ice.
Public Printer Benedict has had IL collision
with the Civil Service Commission concerning
the eligibility for reinstatement of certain
printers discharged by him after the Govern
mrnt Printing Office passed under the Civil
Service rule, and the matter has got before
the Senate Civil Service COMMITTEE. Accord
ing to ono Of the witnesses before that COM
mite. Benedict said to member of Congress
who called on him to secure the reinstatc-
ment OF one of the dismissed printers, on the
ground OF the Civil Service Commission hav-
ing declared him eligible for reinstatement
without examination: II don't care what
these id wet nurses say The committee
will investigate and make Il report.
Democrats are trying to persuade Senator
Hill TO once more become the Democratic
candidate for Governor OF New York, but
Mr.. Hill has such Il vivid recollection of the
drubbing administered to him by Governor
Morton that he isn't inclined to regard the
matter at all favorably.
The House Republicans held Il caucus to
exchange opinions on the two immigration
bills now pending. one radically restricting
immigration and the other slightly amending
present laws. Owing TO the difference OF
opinion among Republicans it is regarded
probable that the question will DO allowed to
30 over 70 the next session