The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-10
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondent

". 4. d.,
Republican conferences are the Or
Ger OF the day, as Senators and Repre-
sentatlves arrive in Washington.
President Mckinley having finished
his annual message to Congress and
got it into the hands of the printers,
Is devotlng considerable portion of
his time to comforting with prominent
members of the party as to the legisla-
tlon OF the session. He is particularly
anxious that whatever party measures
are brought before Congress shall have
the united support of republicans, and
he is losing no opportunity to impress
that idea upon those with whom he
talks. While not expecting that all
his recommendations, financial or
otherwise, will be tavorably acted up
on by Congress, he believes that by
good management, some of them can
be put through. There are reasons
Tor the belief that sufficient number
OF Senators will under certain circum-
stances vote with the republicans in
the Senate to pass several bills that
Will greatly strengthen the admins
tration and benefit the country. 1t is
not deemed expedient to specify these
measures at this time, but just wait
and see if the President does not lust
lily his reputation as a harmonizer.
1t is refreshing after reading the
numerous lingo schemes advanced
just now to find the following sensible
language in the annual report of the
Secretary of the Navy: "Additions
to Cur fleet may be hereafter necessary
to bring it up, in case of an emergency,
to an extent commensurate with the
growing necessities of the country,
especially in view of the development
of Alaska, which is continent in
itself, and of the possible annexation
of islands in the Pacific. On the
other hand, it is a mistake not to
recognize that our Naval power has
more than doubled within the last few
years; that the case of any emergency
beyond our present resources is the
very rare case; that until it comes
ships will be gradually taken out of
commission and put into reserve in
order to reduce running expenses; and
that due regard is necessary to the
relation of the National expenditures
to the National revenues. The de-
partment therefore recommends that
the authorization of new ships by the
coming Congress, be limited to one
battleship for the Pacific coast, where,
after the five now under construction,
are completed, there will be only two,
while on the Atlantic there will be
seven; and also to few torpedo boats
and torpedo boat destroyers, both of
which are comparatively of little cost,
and more of which are desirable in Or
der to bring this swift, mobile, and
handily effective arm of the service
up to its place in the general scheme
for coast defense"
Senator Pritchard, of North Caro-
lima, Chairman of the Committee that
is. under Senate resolution, investi-
eating the workings OF the civil SER
vice law, says the Committee will re-
sumo work during the first week OF
the session of Congress, paying par
ticular attention to the internal reve-
nue. service, and that its report will
probably be submitted to the Senate
early in January.
Ex-Speaker Keller, OF Ohio, is re- !
newing old acquaintance IN Washing
ton. He says he isn't in active poll
tics, but tries to know whats going on.
OF Ohio matters he says: "Senator
Hanna will be elected if he lives; no
possible combination can be made TO
beat him." and of the silver question
"It is very effete question IN my
section. 1t is seldom that you hear
any mention of the subject In Ohio,
and out in Nebraska, where | visit my
oldest son occasionally, | observe that
there is really but little interest taken
in the I6 to l ideas. It is true that
the republicans were beaten this year
in Nebraska, but it was merely re-
buke administered by the voters on
account of the conduct Of former re-
publican state officials. Later, you
will see Nebraska getting back into
the republican column and the same
will be true of Kansas, where the
furore over free silver, has, | think,
permanently abated."
@.ns..za.zez.E1
Those who Endure