The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-04
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Tribune Bureau.
Jl5 Fourteenth street. y. w.

biJ FOuTIeentn street, y. W.,
Washington. Jan. 3.
The fight now going on between eN-
Speaker Crisp and Hoke Smith. secretary
or the interior, for the senatorship to sue
of the prettiest political bouts ever carried
on from the national capital. OF course.
the official duties of both gentlemen keep
hem in Washington most of the time. Sec
retary Smith has endeavored to convince
the people of Georgia that he WIS the ad-
ninistrat!on candidate, and was successful
N measure until congress met a month
ago. One of Smiths strong plays was to
demonstrate, through Congressman Tur-
Ter. of Georgia, that Crisp was not the real
leader of the Democratic minority In the
house. and therefore not entitled to cleo
ion to the senate
Since congress convened Smith has en-
dsavored 10 force Turner to the front as
sader of the house. Crisp at once saw
through the game Smith was putting up,
md vaulting into the saddle took the lead
.rship himself There Is no comparison
between Crisp and Turner. The latter Is
low and deliberate, while the former Is
luiciS TO grasp situation and make the
best of 1t. Nobody knows the relative
landing of the two men as leaders of the
minority in the house better than President
Cleveland. In these trying times the ad-
ninistration needs a man or eX-SpeaRer
Crisps calber in the house. For that
eason Secretary Smith finds himself los
ng his grip on the administration, and Is
now practically out of the senatorial race.
.nS nice things about General Gordon ana
/. will not be at all surprising to find them
supporting him for reelection II they
think they can defeat Crisp by so doing.
The personal and political hatred which
exists between Crisp and Smith Is very
strong, and they are both ready to wreck
their own political fortunes to ruin each
other.
That is the status of the senatorial fight
in Georgia up to date.
The latest political gossip Is to the effect
that Senator Quay and Speaker Reed are
not as chummy as they were supposed to
be previous to the meeting of congress or
rather since the speaker announced his
committees just before the holiday re-
cess. The committee assignments made
by Speaker Reed do not suit Senator Quay
He wanted Congressman Dalzell turned
down. but instead the little Pittsburger
turned up sailing and is a member of two
of the most important committees of the
said Reed promised Quay before congress
met that he would place the Pennsylvania
member wherever he, pleased. Another
member Quay had IL in for was Reyburn,
of Philadelphia, who was a member of the
famous combine last summer. Reyburn,
who had been member Of the committee
on rivers and harbors,. was to be side.
tracked for Acheson, of the other end of
the state. The latter and his friends were
almost willing to bet good money against
bad that he would succeed Reyburn on
that very important committee. ~ few
days, however, before the speaker an
noufced his committees, he sent for
Acheson and informed MIN that he would
have to be content with something else.
Congressman Acheson is one OF Quays
most ardent supporters in western Penn
sylvania, and his turn down Is still rank
ling in the craw Of Senator Quay.
1t is said that the Quay people in Pitts
burg Will put strong fight "a, ngainsi Dai,
against him Murray Werner, Traction
magnate, who lives in his district.
1t would not be at all surprising to see
come out 1at-footed for ex-Vice President
Morton, when the proper time comes.
Representative Sulzer. of New York,
who has been the target for nearly cv-
cry newspaper paragrapher in the country
since he entered national politics, is
destined to at least make friends of the
letter carriers. He has introduced bill
in the house Increasing their pay; lie pro-
poses that in cities of more than $1,000
population the pay for the first years
service shall be $500. the second year $500:
the third year $1,000 and the fourth ana
thereafter $1,000 The same biii was m
troduced In the last congress. but on
account of the economic policies pursued
by the Democrats 1t was side-tracked.
President Cleveland has a great liking
for college statesmen. If you want big
fat job under the government all you have
to do is TO fash sheep-skn on Grover
and you will get it. His selection OF nene-
zuelan commissioners had proved this AS
sertiOn. or course all of the gentlemen
named are college graduates, but two of
them are college professors. VIZ: AndreW
ID. White, of New York, and Daniel {. Gil
man, of Maryland. The latter Is presi-
dent of Johns Hopkins university ana the
former was at one time president OF Cor
neil university. President Cleveland is
not a college graduate himself. which fact
he seems to regret very much and Tor that
reason. probably, he has great faith IN
learned gentlemen. College professor, so t, are
bnvn aver made great American states
men. professor Wilson, the present post
master-general. Is Il sample OF the pro-
fessor-statesman
Congress is expected to now buckle
down to real business. A snort session Is
predicted.
Edward Keating. of Wilkes-Barre, mas
''e' W. II. B.