The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1896-02-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, D. G. Feb. II, 1896.

was killed by republican senators at
that. The scheme OF the high tariff
senators was to take up
the free coinage substitute for the tar
if bill, which was reported to the sen.
ate from the finance committee, vote
has substitute down with the aid Of
anti-silver democrats, and then with
the aid OF populists to pass the tariff
bill without amendment But it struck
a snag in the shape of a republican re-
volt rs soon as the very first move TO
carry it out was made, and the revolt
was led by the chairman of the repub-
lican national committee-Carter, OF
Moutana-who, with three other sill
yer republican senators voted against
taking up the tariff bill. The high
tariff republicans are now engaged in
trying TO beg or bnlldoze the revolving
silver republicans into coming back
INTO line and carrying out the decree
OF tue republican caucus by voting to
pass the Reed tariff bill without
amendment, but there are no indica-
tious Of their succeeding.
The vote in the house-215 to 90
agaiust the free coinage substitute for
the house bond bill makes it certain
hat whether the senate passes the
rec coinage Substitute or not, free
coinage is as dead for this session as
the Reed tariff bill, and that brings
forward the question, what is this con-
gress going to do, anyway 1t looks
low as though the republicans would
spend the time not devoted to passing
the regular appropriation bills in max
ing moves for or against the various
presidential candidates, and that the
final result OF the session would be the
appropriation bills
1t may be that Representative How
ard, of Alabama, the author OF the dir
tiest book ever sold in Washington,
was really i'll when he was taken out
of the house the other day, and moi
drunk as he was reported to be, but
his reputation was already SO bad that
it really makes little difference. He
has never been assocsated by any OF
his colleagues except the populists.
Representative Talbert, OF South
Carolina, who made a little "break
several weeks ago on the secession
question, turned the tables very nice
~ on Represen alive Hardy, of Indi-
ana, who tried to goad him into say
.ng something more about success ion
by aousing South Carolina. After Mr.
Hardy had used up his stock of epi
thets, covering South OarQlinains from
John G. Calhoun to the present con
gressional delegation, Mr.. Talbert ef
tectuaIy squelched him by remarking
that he was glad that Canada had
been heard from Hardy WAS bonn in
Canada, and did not serve in the un
ion army Later Mr.. TaIbert took oc'
casion to say that he had noticed thai
thts who had taken no part in tht
war were loudest in their proclama
ion of patriotism their denunciationl
OF thus who had fought against the
union, aud amid the laughter of thu
house he quoted the expression tha
those " ho are invincible in the limt
of peace are generally invisible in time
of war"
Secretary Herbert gave the house
committee on naval affairs the benefi
OF the knowledge he has acquired dur
ing his long service on that commit
tee and since he became secretary o
the navy, at the last meeting of tn'
committee. He stated without qualifi
cation that Tie United States can to
day beat the world in the building o
warships 80 far rs efficiency goes, al
though it has not quite distanced al
countries in the race to lower the price
of construction, buthe, believes it vii
in the near future. Already we ar,
building warships cheaper than sithe
France or Germany has been able t,
DO, and almost rs cheap as Grea
Britain does. Mr.. Herbert told thI
committee that in addition to tn
specific recommendations in his an
uusl report, he was in favor Of any an
all proper methods of Strengthening
our navy.
While it is generally recognized tha
Senator Quay's candidacy for the re
| publican presidential nomination wa
announced SO ely for trading purpose
some Of the friends of the other cand
date, are afraid Of hun. They kno'
his ability as political schemes an
they are afraid that he may be able
sneak thst nomidation 'or himself