The Press., 1897-03-04
Washington Letter.

NOW the IuDAn eXClIement cOnneCteu with the news of Consul General Lees threatened resignation, on account of the failure of the Cleveland administration to properly back him up, and the debate In the senate on the resolution demanding the unconditional release of Julio Sangui- ly, which was brought to a sudden close by the pardon of Sanguily by Spain, pardon which the talk of senators brought about in forty-eight hours after Secre- tar Olney had apparently been trying to secure 1t by diplomatic methods for twenty three months, and congress has settled down to the work ot disposing of the regular appropriation bills, a work which 1t Is not certain will be completed, the in- auguration Is the all absorbing topic in Washington.
 The city Is putting on its inaugural at tire as fast us several thousand decora- tors, working night and day, can get 1t in place, and 1t promises to outshine all previous efforts, in that line, from an art lstlc point of view. The hotels are all, full, but there are plenty of comfortable quarters to be had in private residences. One half of President McKinley's cabinet are already in Washington.
 Two men who figured conspiciously in the late campaign, on opposite sides, were at the capitol today at the same time, but they did not meet. They were Hon. w.. J. Bryan and Hon. Mark Hanna. MT. Hanna spent the most of his time confer ring with the leading senators of his party while MT. Bryan remained longest on the house side, where he was pleasantly re- ceived by his friends and opponents alike. He also paid visit to the press gallery where he has some warm friends, and also where 1t was evident he wanted to make e more. Mir. Bryan has been cordially in- vited to remain to the Inauguration, but so far he has good-naturedly declined. The senate committee on public lands made quick work of Investigating the Perrine land patent and announcing that the patent was regularly and legally is- sued by the interior department.
 Only three members of the house were sufficiently staunched in their support of the single gold standard to vote against the international monetary confer ence bill when 1t was passed by the house. There were Quigg, of N. Y, Henry, Of Conn.,, and Johnson of Ind.
 It now looks as though there might be some truth In the talk about some sena- tors being determined to head of the plan of Speaker Reed to confine the legislation of the extra session to the tariff by not appointing the house committees which would have to report upon other legisla- tion before 1t could be taken up, by causing the failure of several of the appropriation bills. If there really Is such plan, il will be very easy matter to carry 1t out owing to the condition of several appro. priation bills at this time.
 There Is more or less talk about the removal of the yellow and the white dec. orations from the treasury building which were being put up for inauguration day and rumor says that the removal was made on orders from Mir. Cleveland, who objected to 1t because of the newspaper publications that the blending of the two colors was intended to be symbolical O the union of silver and gold in the financi al policy of the government. While many persons think the magnificent simpliciiy of the treasury building Is marred by decorating ifs fronts with gaudy colors O. any sort, the opinion is unanimous tha the ordering down of decorations because of their color, was bit of childIshness or the part of somebody.