The Press., 1896-04-16
Wash1ngtOn Letter,
Washington, April 9th, 1898

1 w nlI0 nODOuy DOII0VoS TOT moment
 that Chairman Hit, of the house com
 mittee on foreign affairs was not perfectly
 sincere when he stated to the house that
 he believed President Cleveland would act
 in accordance with the Cuban concurrent
 resolutions, which have been adopted by
 both house and senate, it is impossible to
 find anybody else who will say that he
 shares that belief. In view of the almost
 senate and house it would seem odd for
 any other president than Mir. Cleveland.
 to ignore them, but odd things are ex-
 pected of MT. Cleveland. A senator who
 is in political sympathy with the presi-
 dent, but not on very pleasant personal
 terms with him, said today on the sub
 ject: "If MT. Cleveland Is wise, he will
 recognize those resolutions, no the extent
 of recognizing Cuban belligerency if no
 further. If he doesn't congress will com
 pei him to do more than that before it
 adjourns, as public sentiment is thoroug-
 ly aroused and will demand that some
 thing tangible be done for the Cubans be-
 fore the session closes. Just remember that"
 Now that it is becoming apparent that there is real movement on foot to make Secretary Carlisle the democratic candi- date for president, the silver democrats in congress from the south are making their | opposition to him known. They do not
 hesitate to say that they will not support him, and if they represent the sentiments of their constituents, as they claim to do, it is difficult to understand where MT. Carlisle can get the support necessary to nominate him. The gold democrats of the east have never fully trusted Mir. Carlisle, but would probably be willing to support his candidacy if he could show them that he had the southern democrats behind him.
 The house committee on territories has taken no further action upon the bills for the admission of New Mexico, Arizona, and Oklahoma, notwithstanding extra ordinary efforts on the part of the friends of the candidates for statehood, but it has favorably reported a bill requiring one years residence for parties to suits for divorce brought in the territories.
 Secretary Herbert wants to know by personal experience how it feels to go to sea on one of our fighting ships, and in order to find out he has gone to Fortress Monroe where the north Atlantic Squad ron has made its qu rters since Dec 9m- Der, suppO -edly being held until it was known what would be the result of the Monroe doctrine message a sort of check for the flying squadron" assembled by Great Britain at about the same time. This week the squadron will go to sea for three or four days and the secretary will go along as guest of Admiral Bunce.
 The political situation in North Caro- lima is attra cting much attention in Con- gress since the disagreement between Sen ator Butler, the pOpulist, and Senator Prichard, the republican, both of whom were elected by the fusion legislature of that state, became known. Senator But Ter believes that the populists can carry the state this year without any help from the republicans, and is opposed to making any concession for republican votes, while Senator Prichards puts toward the same claim for the republicans. but is willing to l make fusion electoral ticket for the l state. Needless to say that the democrat are much pleased at this disagreement, as | they believe they can recapture the state l if the republicans and populists run sep- arate tickets.
 The proposal to investigate the U s. Consular service by means of non-par- tisan commission, which shall be authOri- zed to recommend 8 plan to reo1ganize that service and place it upon business, instead of a political basis, which is con- tainedin bill introduced by Representa- tive Mccall of Mass, is such good one that there should be no doubt of it's be- coming law but as there is absolutely nothing in the idea to appeal to the pro- fesstonal politicians there is much doubt. More than one man thoroughly familiar with the subject has declared that 1t would be decided benefit to this country to abolish our entire diplomatic service, which isso largely ornamental, and spend the money thus saved in improving the the consular service, which is really use-