The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-01-17
FROM THE CAPITOL.
Our Correspond ent Talks in Sage
Manner of Things in General
About Washington.
Especial to the Citizen.J

w WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 1910.
Democrats are naturally disposed TO
look complacently upon the deadlock
which has followed the first attempt of
the Republican Senators to make use
of the power they acquired by taking
possession of the Senate committees,
through a deal with the populists. 1t
is a Republican funeral and the DEM
ocrats, while willing to be spectators,
have no idea of taking the part of
mourners. The Republicans thought
they were playing it very fine when
bill for the free coinage OF silver was
reported to the Senate as a substitute
| for the House bond bill, which they
never wanted sent to the President,
anyway. They found their mistake
when the Finance Committee attempt
ed to carry out the caucus decree to re-
port the House tariff bill without
amendment. Senator Teller, of Colo,
informed them that the tariff bill must
be amended SO as to provide for the
free coinage of silver, and he rubbed it
in by telling his fellow Republicans
that no bill dealing either with finance
or the tariff should be reported to the
| Senate without amendment providing
for the free coinage of silver. The re-
suit was deadlock, which so disguised
Senator Aldrich, of r. L., Republican
anti-silver member of the Finance Com
mittee, that he at once left town, an
nouncing that he would not return for
week or more. The anti-silver Re-
publicans now deeply regret that bar
gain with the pOpulists which resulted
in the reorganization of the Senate
committees, and the Democrats are
very we'll satisfied to play a waiting
game, prepared to take all the advan-
tages which come their way.
Secretary Olney took part in the Sec
Ond meeting of the Venezuelan Bound
airy Commission. AS matters pertain
ing to the plans to be followed in the
work of the commission were discussed,
the meeting was not a public one.
Secretary Olney's relation to the COM
mission is merely that of an adviser.
The commission will, of course, make
use of the knowledge Secretary Olney
has acquired by a long study of the
case, but its action will be entirely IN
dependent of either Mr.. Olney or the
| President.
Representative Hepburn, of Iowa, is
Republican, but he does not wear
the collar of Speaker Reed, as do most
| House. He has spasmodic attacks of
independence. One of these caused
him to propose an amendment to the
Reed rules, compelling the Speaker of
the House to recognize the member
who was the first to attract his atten-
ton. While the attack lasted Mr..
Hepburn charged that Speaker Reed
had abused the right of recognition by
gradually evolving from the long es-
| tablished practice rule OF his own to
overlook all such as he chooses not TO
recognize on the floor and to recognize
only those whom he thinks ought to be
allowed to address the House, and very
truly said that business in the House
should he done by the peoples repre-
sentatives and not by the Speaker
alone, but after Representative Bell, of
Colorado, who said the Speaker had
not recognized single Populist up to
this time, had strongly seconded his
amendment. Mr.. Hepburn's iGIepen-
dence suddenly deserted him-he
could not stand the pressure lie
showed the white feather by with
drawing his amendment, thus clearing
the incident, as the diplomats say.
Senator Jones, OF Ark, Is credited
with having made one of the best
speeches in favor of the free coinage of
! silver ever heard in the Senate
While as strong in his belief in silver
| as any man in Congress, Mr.. Jones is
| free from the radical opinions, the ex-
| preston of which by some of the silver
men has done the cause of silver far
more harm than good. He spoke for
about two hours, and made a very
conservative statement, calling espec-
ial attention to the unfavOrable att-
tude of Great Britain, Germany and
France towards silver, and the certain
ty that this attitude is not likely to be
changed for long time to come.
While admitting the great responsible
ity of the United States in attempting
the establishment of bimetallism
alone, he advocated it as duty which
should not be Stunned.
The impression seems to be growing
among intelligent Democrats that the
custom of the party in power holding
the first National Convention, will not
be followed this year, and that the
Democratic Convention will not be
held until after the Republican Con-
vention has made its platform and
nominations. The National Commit
tee will this week decide both the time
and place for the convention to be
held.
The House and Senate Foreign Com
mittees have referred all the resolu-
tions which have been offered con-
corning Cuba to subcommittee, which
indicates that no hasty action will be
taken, Notwithstanding the clamor in
and about Congress for the reporting of
a resolution for the recognition of Gu
ban belligerency. The only thing
that would bring about hasty action
on the part of Congress would be the
capture of Havana by the insurgents.
The Monroe Doctrine is to be upheld |
by strong resolution. That has been
formally decided upon by the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations, and
a subcommittee appointed to draft the
roonluti.,n