Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-12-05
National Capital News.
Silver Men to Hold IL Confer
ence. Improvement in
the Senate.

try to determine the attitude of the
silver men in Congress, not only
towards legislation that is strictly
financial in its nature, but also towards
revenue legislation, which is indirectly
financial. The result of that con
ference will come very near to deciding
whether there will be any revenue
legislation at this session, assuming
that the Republicans really desire that
there shall he any, which is by no
means certain. The silver Senators
are III a majority, and il they act
together can dictate the legislation 50
far As the Senate is concerned, but
there is doubt as TO whether the
Republican silver Senators will agree
to act with the silver Democrats on
revenue Legislation and at least one
Populist Senator is also in doubt.
These doubts are expected TO be cleared
up at the conference.
The luxury loving Senators will
have no cause for complaint when
they meet in the newly-done up Senate
chamber. Everything looks spick and
span new and most of what is in sight
is. There are new mahogany desks
for the solons and richly upholstered
leather covered chairs. all of one
pattern. instead of each being the
selection of the Senator who occupies
it. The old wood benches have been
removed from the galleries and folding
opera chairs put in their place, while
everything is of color harmonizing
with the mahogany on the main floor
and, as a wag has suggested, with the
noses of several OF the Senators. There
is also new ventilating machinery and
a fine electric lighting outfit. The
House shares in the last-named i'm
prOvement, but in none of the Others.
The House, which is willing to follow
the Senate IN appropriating money for
luxurious fittings for its chamber,
hasn't yet been elected. The average
member Of the House is Just little
bit afraid Of the effect Of such fixings
upon his constituents.
The reputable patent lawyers of
Washington and, Judging from advices
received, of everywhere. are awakening
to the existing necessity OF doing some
thing to stop the degradation OF their
profession by those who are trying to
make gamblers out of inventors by
Turing them into paying a cash fee for
entrance into a lottery competition Of
ideas before making their applications
for U. S. patents. admitting all who
pay the price. even when knowing that
their idea is not patentable and that
its rejection by the Patent Office would
be certain. In the matter OF suspend.
ing patent solicitors from practice
before the Patent Office. the power of
the Commissioner of Patents is limited,
even in cases Of wrong doing on the
part of the solicitor, after an applica-
ton is filed in the Patent Office, and
he has no authority at all in cases in
which no application is filed 1t is
believed that the organization of
Patent Bar, with rules of practice as
stringent as those which are enforced
in any court of law, would stop such
practices. and until there is such the
inventor will do well to be certain that
his patent business is put in the hands
of honorable and Trustworthy lawyers.
Everybody who knows Hon. John
Sherman knows that an iceberg isn't
in the same class with him when he is
disposed to lower the temperature
around his immediate presence. There
fore it is believed in Washington that
il Mark Hanna carries out his reported
intention OF offering Mr. Sherman
seat in McKinley's cabinet if he will
agree TO join in the deal to make
Hanna his successor in the Senate. he
will meet the coolest wave Of his life.
1t has been understood for some time
by those who are near to Mr.. Sherman
politically that the old man not only
wants to stay in the Senate to the end
of his present term, but also to be re-
elected to another, and that he has
already began to pull wires 10 bring
about his desires. If Mr.. Hanna tries
to bluff him by telling him that he
and Gov. Bushnell and Foraker will
see TO it that he shall be defeated if he
refuses to fall in with their plans and
goes before the legislature for reelection
two years hence, he may find that Mr..
Sherman is somewhat OF buffer
himself. He has already made one
by denying any knowledge OF Hanna's
intention.
There will he circus among the
Republicans when Mark Hanna comes
to Washington to appoint the Chair
man of the Mckinley Inauguration
Committee, especially if he carries out
the original plan Of appointing Mr.. :.
w. Woodward, n gold Democrat, who
was heavy contributor to the cam.
paign fund, as he probably will. The
rank and file of the local Republicans