The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-12-17
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. ID. c., December 18th

WASHINGToN, ID. c., December 18th.
MIR. EDIToE:-Thc man who would have
predicted the present condition of the
Washington end of the republican partya
little more than Il year ago, when it had
just elected Il President and a majority of
the House, would not have been given
credit for sound judgment, even by the
bttercst enemy of that party. In fact. it
is now difficult for one not in Washington,
to believe the extent of the disruption of
the party. Nothing can better illustrate
this than the attitude Of the republicans in
Congress towards the recommendations
made by Mr.. Mckinley's message. Not
single one of them has the support of any
where near the solid republican vote in
either branch of Congress. Mr.. Mex inley
asked indirectly, Secretary Gage directly,
for the retirement of the greCnbackS, but
if the democrats and the populsts refrain
from voting, it is doubtful whether bill
providing therefor could pass either
branch of Congress; Mr. Mckinlcy's Gu
ban policy is constantly and openly as
mediate ratification of the treaty for the
| annexation of Hawaii, but not a move has
been made in that direction in the Senate,
and abandonment of the treaty is looked
for he defended the civil service law, and
one-half of the republican members of the
House are openly engaged in an effort to
break down that law. In fact, everything
is tending towards a restoration of the
democratic party to power, and the once
boosted solidity of the republican party,
which was for years its most noted trait,
has gone, apparently forever
The House Banking and Currency Com
mittec is laboring hard to produce finan-
clal bill, but it is only another case of
Much ado about nothing as there arc
about as many different opinions in the
Committee as there are members, and each
opinion is represented by bill framed by
its owner. 1t has been said that Car
Reed, in selecting this Committee, CHI sc
me-. whom he knew would never agree on
bill, and it looks that way
Representative Sullivan, of Mississippi,
in his speech against the payment of pen
sions to wealthy men quoted extensively
from Gen. H. V. Boyntons recent arraign-
ment of the in Justice of the Pension law
as now administered, because he endorsed
what that gentleman had said and knew
that nobody could raise any question of
Gen. BoyntOn's right to criticise. AL
though the Pension bill passed by the
House, carries an appropriation of more
than Sal 100000, something like 50 for
each man, woman and child in the United
States-it was rushed through the House
in an hour or two and every amendment
proposed by democrats was voted down.
Representative Dingley's remark that of
every s. paid out by the government So
went to pay pensions and fifty cents to
pay interest on the public debt, although
probably not made for such purpose.
ought, in view of the probable pension de-
flcit of $lO,Oo0,00O in the next fiscal year,
and the announced desire of the admins
tration to increase our bonded indebted
ness, to cause many persons to put on
their thinking caps.
1t is practically certain that at the eau
Gus of the democrats of the House, to be
held this week, it will be decided to make
Cuba party question, declaring for the
recognition of Cuban belligerency, adopt
ed by the House; also that the caucus will
declare the party opposed to each and
every financial recommendation made by
the administration. 1t is not likely that
the caucus will say anything about the sill
yer question. The position of the party
is too we'll known to need any new decla-
ration in favor of silver. The caucus will
probably declare against the annexation
of Hawaii, either by treaty or legislation,
and it may also declare against the enact
ment of the bankruptcy law, but there is
doubt about the latter action, as there are
some strong advocates of the bankrupt
law among the democrats, and others
who doubt the wisdom of trying to make
it party question.
The report that Gar Reed is in svmpa-
thy with the fight on civil service reform,
because he recognizes in it means of
lessening Mr. McKinley's chances for a
denomination, was partially confirmed by
the attendance at IA caucus of republican
Representatives called to consider WAYS
and Means of fighting the present civil |
service law, and bring about its modifica-
ton or complete repeal. In view of the |
absolute control Mr.. Reed has over the re-
publican members of the House in about |
everything else, it does not seem likely |
that as many as seventy-two ofthem could |
have been persuaded to take part in this |
movement unless they knew that Mr. Reed |
had no objection to it. The average dem |
ocrat has never favored the civil service |
law, with its one part real reform to nine |
parts of the most arrant humbuggery, so |
it will not be surprising to see them vote
with the kicking republicans, if their kick
inc goes as far as n vote