The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-04-02
WASHINGTON.
from our Regular Correspondent.

An open confession of the inability
of the republicans to legislate is con-
tanned in Senator Platt's resolution
providing for the adjournment OF Con
gress on May 2, and Mr.. Platt
clinches the confession by saying of
his resolution "It is perfectly clear
that there will be no important legis-
lation this session except the appro-
priation bills, and l see no reason for
remaining here merely for the purpose
of introducing and talking upon agi-
tating resolutions, and am persuaded
that the country would be better
satisfied to have lis at home than to
have us here" If that isn't humila.
ting, coming from party which con-
trolls both branches of Congress and
which made such wonderful promises
of hat it was going to accomplish in
a Legislative way when it again got
control, pray what would you call it
The Reed and Mckinley republi-
cans are now at daggers points, SO to
speak, and they are growing more bit
ter towards each other every day.
Each side is charging the other with
being guilty of all sorts of disgraceful
tactics. The Mckinley men are
charged with frying the fat out of the
manufacturers in order to buy dele
gates, and the Reed men are charged
with every species of duplicity in con-
nection with the favorite son scheme,
the latest being that they originated
the story of combine to nominate
Harrison SO as to prevent the Indiana
delegates committing themselves to
Mckinley. The average democrat
regards it merely as another case of
"the pot calling the kettle black"
and feels like shouting "go it Mac~
ago it Tom !" and enjoying the fight
all the way through without caring
continental how it ends.
Boutelle, of Me. had another at
tack of contrariness last week which
resulted in considerable exposure OF
ears as he stood up and brayed
against the purely sentimental bill for
the repeal of the law prohibiting
Confederate officers who held COM
missions in the U. S. Army previous
to the war being commissioned again
therein. Everybody admitted that
the bill, which unanimously passed
the Senate Christmas eve, was merely
an evidence Of cordiality towards the
ex-Confederates, and that there is not
even a probability that any ex-Con-
federate will thereby become an
officer in the U. S. Army, except in
the very improbable event of an early
foreign war. But Boutelle would not
see it that way. He ranted against
it for the greater part Of one session
of the House, and finally cast the
only vote that was recorded against
the bill in either branch of Congress.
Boutelle's constituents must be differ
ent from other men if they are not
heartily ashamed of him and his
antics.
Although there is little expectation
that the bill will be acted upon at this
session, even if reported, joint sub
committee composed of three mem
bers Of the House and three of the
Senate Pacific Railroads Committee
has been selected to see if it is posi-
Bile for both committees to agree upon
one bill dealing with the Indebtedness
of the Pacific Railroads to the gov
ernment.
1t looks like the Cuban business
was ended so far as Congress is con-
Cerned But to many who did not
catch the drift when the Senate sent
the Cuban resolutions back to confer
ence things did not look promising
But they soon saw that the confer
ence had only to agree to the origin
al Senate resolutions and the House
to do likewise to end the affair.
The equestrian statue OF Gen. w.
S. Hancock, which is 20 be erected
in Washington, has arrived and will
be in position inside of two or three
weeks. The unveiling of the statue
is to be made the occasion of big
public celebration, military and civic,
under national auspices. Art critics
say the statue will be the best of its
kind at the National Capital. The
date for the formal unveiling has not
been definitely set, but it will be on
or about May I. Gen. Hancock had
many enthusiastic admirers and they
will all be glad of an opportunity to
honor his memory.
The National advisory board of the
A. P. A. held a secret meeting here
last week, it is said to agree as to
which of the republican candidates
for President should receive the sup
port of the organization.
Gen. Thomas Lincoln Casey, U.
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