The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-10
Gossip at
the Capital
Special to the Scranton Tribune.

Special to the Scranton Tribune.
Washington April 9.-It is beginning to
look as though the tariff bill VIII not
have as smooth sailing in the senate as
it's friends anticipated. Murmurings OF
dissatisfaction are being heard among
some of the Republicans who were eX-
pected to vote for any measure the ma
jority might choose to submit TO the sem
ate, and unless there is quite modlhca-
ton made in many of the schedules in
the bill as passed by the house there is
danger of deadlock if not failure to en-
act bill which will raise sufficient reVe-
nue. to run the government ana at the
same time give the necessary protection
to American industries. Senator Chand-
Ter has sounded the alarm, and it remains
to be seen whether he is a wise or raise
prophet. 1t is true that the New Hamp-
shire senator is a little erratic at times,
but he usually keeps his ear sufficiently
close to the ground to hear the rumDllnSS'
which are pretty good indicators as 10
what is going on in the world at large
The whole trouble seems to be that some
sections of the country imagine they are
not protected as well as others, and Tor
that reason the senators, Republicans,
Democrats and Populists alike, from
those localities are not inclined 10 SUD
nit to the party lash. Even II all the
Republicans in the senate should vote
for the bill it cannot pass without out
side assistance. The principal bones OF
contention are wool coal, hides, lumber
and lead ore. The fate of the new taritt
bill depends largely upon what sort or
a substitute the finance committee OF the
senate will report for the Dingley bill
The outcome is awaited with more than
ordinary interest. In all events, 1t Is not
at all likely that the measure, in what
white house for the presidents signature
until late in July.
Public Printer Palmer is evidently not
much of civil service reformer he hau
scarcely taken charge of his office when
he lopped off several heads which were
supposed to have been protected by the
civil service law. OF course, the afore-
said headess officials have entered pro-
test against being removed and submitted
their cases to the civil service commis-
sion. What the outcome of the inVestlga-
tions will be can only be conjectured
The chances are that Mr.. Palmer will be
asked to explain why he decapitated GER
tain employees who are all said to be DEM
ocrats and who had been placed under
the protecting king of the civil service by
President Cleveland without passing an
examination. The pressure for appoint
ments in the government printing office
applicants and politicians behind them II
may be necessary for President McKin-
ley to revoke his predecessors order
placing the employees of this department
under the civil service. Mr. Palmer be-
lieves that "to the victors belong the
spoils," and it will take a pretty strong
! law to make him think otherwise.
General Daniel E. Sickles, who has
been conspicuous figure in both war
! and politics for upwards of fifty years,
and who lost a leg at the battle of Gettys-
| burg, was here the other day in search
| of an office under the present administra-
| tion. He was one of the old Democratic
! soldiers who composed the Generals
| Party" in the last presidential campaign
| and toured the country in the interest OF
| Mckinley. He says he has left the DEM
! ocratic party for good unless it returns
! to first principles and declares for honest
| money. General Sickles' has held many
/ Offices in his time. The first one of i'm
portance was the ministership to Spain
! curing President Grants administration
In discussing his qualifications for a for
/ eign mission, for which he is candidate
General Sickles said TO a party of friends
the other evening:
"I think / am a mascot in diplomacy
l was minister to Spain for several years
under Grant, and there were several gen
tlemen in my service during that time
See what has become of them. Adee was
| my secretary of legation. He is now per
manent under secretary of state, ano
bosses ambassadors making them un
comfortable or otherwise. John Hay was
| also secretary of my legation. Now hC
is the biggest ambassador we have, anC
| will have Adee bossing him in few days
| John Russell Young was with me fol
months. Afterwards he was envoy tC
China. Charlemagne Tower, who has
just been appointed ministe to Austria
was an attache of my LEGATION, anC
learned his Spanish in Madrid, SO yol
see what a school for diplomacy l kept
If Mckinley does not make me governor
| of Cuba, the only office for which | an
| filing my papers, | shall ask his permis
sion to open preparatory school o
diplomacy and refer to my Madrid pupils
as my record"
With the president out of town and tn
house not in session very few of tn
Pennsylvania members of congress ar
here this week. Most of them have re
turned home for a rest to avoid the rusl
of office seekers. If Speaker Reed doe
not appoint his committees there will b.
very little necessity for any of the mem
bers being here during this session.
There is not much style about Secretar.
of the Navy Long. He is often seen ol
the streets wearing a short coat and plul
hat and a pretty rusty looking one a
that. In this respect he differs from hi
predecessor, Mr.. Herbert. who alway
wore the conventional long Prince Alber
coat and highly polished silk hat.
Judging from letter recently receive
here by a friend of Consul General Lee
he has no idea when he will leave Cuba
1t was thought some time ago that h
would be relieved from duty on tina
island Immediately after the inauguratio
of President Mckinley. He writes tha
he does not know when he will return
and has had no intimatiOn from tn
president when his successor will be an
pointed. He is believed to be willing I
serve as consul general to Cuba as lon
as the administration desires.
Thnrn Is one annllcnn nj fnr ANA nnnan