Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-02-28
RIGHT OF PETITION.
ITS ALLEGED ABUSE MAY REsuL T
IN RESTRICTION.

Republicans Don't Know What IN
DO With the Tariff-They Unite
TO Down the Tin-God-vest OBJ
jects TO Being Pulled Down
Morton shows What lie Knows
About Farming-The Huntington
Lobby.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb. 81, 1896.
Senator Hill is on the right tack in
his attacks upon the abuse OF the right
OF petition to Congress. 1t has been
made cheap way OF getting notoriety
Tor this or that organization to send
OFT thousands of printed petitions to
be signed and sent to Senators and
representatives wish the request that
they De presented to Congress, know
ing when so presented the titles OF
the petitions and the purpose for
which they are sent would be read in
open session and printed in the Record
and in many newspapers. Senator
Hill proposes to at least partially re-
form this abuse by having the petition.
handed to the Clerk OF the Senate who
will put them on file, instead of their
being formally presented by Senators,
as now.
The Republicans are still unable to
do anything with their tariff BILL
Senator Carter, who voted against
taking it up the other day, has given
notice of his intention to move that
the bill be sent back to the Finance
Committee for further consideration.
The matter was brought up at Joint
caucus of Republican Senators and
Representatives, held last night, but
nothing was decided upon.
The Mckinley men declare the
sudden epidemic of candidacy fever
among Republican Senators and ex-
Senators is nothing more nor less than
an attempt TO make combination Of
the field against Mckinley, and there
is apparently foundation for the
declaration. The Quay.Platt.Ree
combine seems to have become afraid
that Mckinley might get nominated
on the first ballot if they didn't cut up
the vote. They found plenty of will
ing tools in the Senate, where Nc
kinley has not one single sincere
friend, and the vote will be cut up.
Senator Vest, of Mo-, is one OF the
professional funny" men of the
Senate, but he knows how to raise a
laugh with the best of them when he
wishes. An instance showing this fact
was given this week. Mr.. Vest was
making few remarks when Senator
PETER got up and began to address the
chair. BY the time Senator Vest had
turned his eyes upon "His Whiskers,"
Senator Sherman was also on his feet
and addressing the chair. "Mr. Presi.
dent" shouted Senator Vest several
times without attracting the chair
mans attention, and then he asked if
he might make parliamentary inquiry.
That caught the chairman's attention,
who at once said: 1.-THE gentleman
from Missouri, will state it," Mr..
Vest then said with much solemnity:
al believe was addressing the Senate,
and had the floor, but it seems that l
have no longer got it. If can't get it
in any other way, rise to a parli-
mentary inquiry to find out how lost
it," A litter ran aronnd the Senate,
Mr.. Sherman apologized for his inter-
| ruptivu, Mr.. PETER sat down, and Mr..
Vest proceeded with his remarks.
Secretary Morton's dinner to Presi-
dent and Mrs. Cleveland, this week.
has been widely discussed on account
of the original manner in which the
table was decorated. A big pillow made Of
red carnations was the center piece OF
the table, and upon each side of it
were hay stacks made of yellow spun
sugar, under which were piles of
vegetables and farm implements all
made OF sugar. At each OF the fou:
corners OF the table was wheelbarrow
made of candy cabbages, containing
connections in the shape of vegetables
and fruit. The ices were served in
candy hay wagons, and the punch in
little cups made to initiate apples,
peaches and pears, and the individual
dishes for the stewed terrapin were
china terrapins. This was the last of
the formal cabinet dinners for this
season.
Mr.. C. P. Huntington can talk a
Congressman weary on the benefits of
his proposal to extend the debt due the
government from the Pacific Railroads
one hundred years al per cent. but
when it comes to giving substantial
information as TO the actual workings
of the roads he is about as poor wit
ness as could be found. Senator
Morgan is proving himself thorn in
the side of Mr.. Huntington, by driving
the railroad magnate into \ corner
with his pertinent questions, but about
all that Mr.. Morgan has yet been able
to show is that Mr.. Huntington could
tell much that would throw light upon
the subject if he would. Washington
is fairly swarIning with Huntington's
lobbyists, determined to buy every
Congressional vote that's purchasable,
either with money or other COM
modities. and to bulldoze, ave and
blackmail, those who stand out against
their persuasions. A man who knows,
think, Gays private detectives are
shadowing the movements OF every
Senator and Representative who is
known to oppose Huntington's scheme,
for the purpose Of getting evidence
which can be used to control his vote.
Some Of the Congressman who have
indicated friendliness to the Hunting
ton scheme are living higher than ever
before in their lives and it isn't costing
them q cent. Dem.
The Olyn.pian says that Republican
clubs should be kept free from "poli-
tics" By the word politics is meant
shYster maninulatinn. In this our