Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-12-01
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent


President Mckinley has completed
the first draft OF his annual message
to congress, and to day it Was read
at the cabinet meeting and every
recommendation it contains was IN.
animously approved, as it will be by
the Republican party at large when
it is made public. Some effort has
been made by the Democrats to give
the public the impression that differ
ences existed between the president
and Secretary Gage as to the finan-
clal legislation that should be recon.
mendtd to congress, but it can be
stated on the highest authority that
all such stories are purely imaginary
The president and his secretary of
the treasury, and in fact his entire
cabinet, are Of one miud on this sub
ject and President Mckinley believes
IN the possibility OF securing financial
legislation at this session of congress,
perhaps not all that will be asked
for, but something in the line OF
strengthening acknowledged defects
in our present financial system.
Such veterans IT. the congressional
arena as Senator Burrows, of Mlchi-
gan, and Representative Dalzell of
Pennsylvania, are not carried away
by the prophecies OF this being a
short session of congress made by
men of less experience. They recog-
nlze that a numt er ofsubiect certain
to be taken up, especially finance,
will consume much time, in debate,
whether anything is accom- plished or
not, and consequently they expect
the session to be we'll up to the
ave. age III length of the long sessions
of congress. Senator Burrows places
me date of adjournment in the
neigh borhood of August l.
IL has been taken for granted that
any bill carrying out President Nc
Klniey's financial recommendation
would receive the support Of the gold
Democratic senator's, and possibly of
several other Democratic senators
who supported Bryan and the Chica-
60 platform last year because they
were party men and not because of
any sympathy they had with either,
and who are believed to be favorable
to legislation that would result in
removing the silver question as a
national issue The latter class of
Democrats, l, there really be such,
could not be expected to announce
any such intention; with four-ffths
OF their party shouting for free silver
1t would be suicide for them to do so.
With the gold Democratic senato rs
1T is different, as they are already out
OF the Democratic party; therefore
no hesitation was felt in asking Sena-
tor Lindsay, Of Kentucky, the first
one Of them to arrive in Washington,
what, it any, policy they would have
as to financial legislation at the
coming session of congress. He re-
piled: awe have had no conference
among ourselves and therefore have
not agreed upon any policy. If the
Republicans have any policy as to a
line OF action, [ have not been in
formed what it is. Hence, [ am not
IN position to give the information
desired. [ may say, however, that [
think the country still wants cur
rency reform and [ believe that if the
Republicans would agree among
themselves, it would be possible for
them to accomplish that end"
Unless some senators are badly
mlsinformed, about the first business
in the senate when congress meets
will be an attempt to adopt a report
OF the committee on elections and
privileges declaring Hon. Ell. w. Cor
bett, OF Oregon, who was appointed
by the governor, to be entitled to the
vacant seat left by the failure of the
legislature to elect a successor to
Senator Mitchell whose term expired
on the 3rd of last March. No report
has yet been made in this case and
members of the committee naturally
decline to discuss it. The talk among
the senators is believed to be based
on the knowledge that Senator Hoar,
to whom Mr.. Corbett's credentials
were referred by the committee, re-
ported to the committee in favor of
seating Mr.. Corbett. The full COM
mlttee has never taken vote on the
case. Republicans are, of course,
anxious to secure the vote which this
vacant seat represents, if it can be
properly done-that is to say, in &C.
cordance with law and precedent.