St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-12-18

Hlttee, tndt IL lS doubtful II Major Nc
kinley Will desire TO take him from that
duty. Governor Bushels friends from his
own state especially are preparing tc
press him for the navy or the postoffice
department.
Mr.. Apsley, as vice chairman Of the
congressional committee, has done ex-
cellent work for the party and 1t Is I'M
derstood that Mr.. Mckinley desires to
recognize this fact in some manner
whether with a cabinet place or other.
wise, Is not determined.
Senator Proctor could doubtless have
the war department II he would accept
1t, but 1t Is known that he prefers to re.
main in the senate, and that the presi.
dent-elect desires to keep his close and
influential friends in that body in their
present positions, for obvious reasons.
One thing may be pretty positively
stated, and 1t is one that will interest
all New England and that is that there
seems no prospect Of other than the most
cordial relations between Speaker Reed
and President Mckinley. While the press
reports have intimated a prospect of
friction between the speaker of the
house and the president, those who are
In a position to speak intelligently on the
subject say there Is not the slightest
prospect Of It, Major McKinley's feel
ings toward Mr.. Reed are of the most
cordial character, and the work which
the speaker did in the campaign for the
election of Mr.. Mckinley puts an end
to the assertions that his sentiments are
other than that Of friendllness.
Senator Plat Of Connecticut Is MAX
ing good progress with his work in re-
gard to the bill permitting the with
drawal of alcohol free of taxation fol
use in the arts and manufactures. He
has made very thorough study Of the
subject sending experts to Europe te
examine int the methods of the various
nations in this matter, and has gath
cred some very valuable Information on
the subject.
He is confident that 1t Is entirely prac.
ticable to frame a law which will permit
the withdrawal Of alcohol for these pur-
poses without opening a door for fraud
on the revenues, and that the increased
demand for alcohol which would be thus
produced would be of great value to the
farming community by making 1t prac-
ticable to turn many millions Of bushels
of corn into alcohol, which in turn would
increase the manufacturing industries
Of this country to such an extent as to
largely benefit the working people.
Many articles largely used in this coun.
try cannot be manufactured here in
competition with prices made by coun-
tries where alcohol is withdrawn free OF
tax for this purpose. Those who have at
tempted to manufacture the articles
used here. but made abroad, in this man.
ner. have been compelled to abandon the
enterprise, because of the large addition
to the cost due to the high tax on the
alcohol used in their manufacture, while
their competitors in Canada and else
where were obtaining their alcohol tax
free. That legislation of this character
would be of great importance to New
England and add large sums to the
earnings Of the working people Of II c
factories, and prospective factories
which will spring up as soon as the law
Is enacted, cannot be doubted.
There is little prospect of Legislation
at this session, aside from the alcoho
bill discussed above. Congress has faller
into a habit of passing but one river
and harbor bill in each congressional
term, and as the regulation measure be.
came law at last session, there is little
probability of anything in that line fol
New England this winter. Public build.
ings are tabood so long as the treasury
continues to run behind in the matter
of revenue collection, and this seems
likely to continue until a new revenue
measure becomes a law, which Is moi
likely to happen at this session. There.
fore, those who have hopes of new pub.
lie buildings or new harbor improve
ments may make up their minds that
they will not get them from the present
session of congress. Even the customary
drydock scramble, which always ends
fruitlessly, because of local conflicts, Is
not likely to be heard of this time, be-
cause of lack of funds to warrant ever
discussion of the subject.
Most of the New England members
were in their seats on the opening of the
session on Monday While they were
not many days in advance of the session
In arriving because of their proximity
nearly every seat was filled when the
hammer fell at noon, on Monday ir
house and senate.
Speaker Reed is to be at the Shorehar
again for the winter, and his rooms will
doubtless be the scene of many i'm
portant conferences regarding the policy
and plans for the next congress. 1t 1!
practically settled that there is to be {
special seso on of the next congress
which will btless be called soon after
the inaugu. tion of the new president
and 1t is quite likely that the new tariff
bill will be pretty we'll shaped up before
this session ends.
Chairman Dingley Of the ways anC
means com. lttee is at his old quarters
at the Hamilton, and expects his famil.
In a few days. He will have a bus,
winter, for the responsibility in regart
to the new tariff measure will be largely
| in his HANDS, whether he is to become
the head Of the treasury department o
remain at his present post for the mex
two years.
Congressman Draper has arrived a
his handsome home on Sixteenth street
and was the subject of many congratu
latlons upoI the prospect that he ma.
be selected to represent the Unit,
States abroad, in some important capa
city, during the next four years. Mr.
Draper, 1t is well known, would not OBJ
ject to representing the government a
Paris under the Mckinley administra
ton, and there is reason to believe tina
he will be given some honors in the gen
eral line of his ambitions, at least. HI