The Press., 1897-12-02
Washington Letter.

death penalty.
Washington Letter.
washington, Nov. 90, 1897.
"Many men of many minds, just about
fits the condition of the representatives
and senators now pouring into Washing
ton by every train Upon whether these
many minds can be got together, or at
least a majority of them, will depend
whether this session of congress will be
productive of important legislation, aside
from the regular appropriation bills,
which, important as they -disposing
of somewhere in the neighborhood OF a
billion dollars, are always regarded as
matter of course legislation. A few
senators and representatives are express
ing flat-footed opinions as to what will or
will not be done, but the most of them,
knowing how largely the matter will be
determined by circumstances, are quiet
and trying to find out what their col
leagues think. President Mckinley Is
paying special attention to republican
senators, as he has an idea that if he can
get them to act as a unit, enough other
votes can be secured to pass several
measures he wants. The house will, of
course, do whatever he wishes.
While it may be true that the admin
stration desires peace and expects peace
with Spain and all the rest of the world,
it has been doing a number of things OF
late which indicate both the desire and
the intention to be prepared for war in
case it should come. One of these things
was the placing of contract for war
material, in the shape of the latest i'm
proved armor-piercing ammunition, and
light calibre guns, such as can be used
with advantage upon auxiliary cruisers.
This contract, which is the largest placed
by the government since the close Of the
civil war, was marked urgent" and the
delivery of the material will be rushed.
When this contract, and others which
preceded it, have all been filled, every
gun in the U. s. navy will have about
five hundred rounds of ammunition of the
very highest grade, which naval officers
say is more than any navy in Europe has,
and will be prepared for any emergency.
Secretary Longs annual report is an
unusually peaceable sort of a document
to emanate from the heads of the navy
department, and indicates no expectation
on his part of war He recommends that
If add 70 he
navy to be provided for at this session, to
one battleship for the Pacific coast and a
few torpedo boat destroyeIs, and says
that the policy of his department will be
mission and put them into reserve, in
order to reduce running expenses.
If the radical opponent of the civil
service law in congress can be induced to
stop their agitation for the repeal of the
entire law, and to unite with those who
believe that the law is all right, If it be
restricted to covering only those positions
which are purely clerical, there is very
little doubt that they could win their
fight, notwithstanding the opposition of
President Mckinley to any change. They
will be given the opportunity when the
committee now investigating the subject,
shall present its report to the senate,
which Senator Pritchard, chairman of the
committee, says will be done in January
1t is almost ceItaiL-that the report of
the committee will be in favor of exempt
ipor oil q v aoufiya y,Ooihiopc FrOro th., omar
alton of the civil service law and rules.
Many votes can be obtained for bill pro-
viding for this change that could not be
had for repeating the whole law.
Talk among southern senators and re-
representatives. indicates that if the Gage
proposition to allow national banks to
issue notes to the par value Of the bonds
they have deposited with the U. S., to
reduce the taxation on national bank notes
to the actual cost of government super
vision, and to permit the establishment
of national banks with capital of $685.
600 in towns of less than 1000 inhabi-
tants, be Incorporated in bill by them
selves, that the bill will have a good
chance to become law. While number
Of southern senators might be willing to
vote for this bill because they believe it
would result in benefitting their section
by increasing its banking facilities and
making money easier, it is doubtful If a
single one of them would support the bill
If any Of the other financial recommends
lions of Secretary Gage are included
Quite number of influential republicans
in both branches of congress have private
ly expressed themselves in favor of not
attempting anything further in the way of
financial legislation than the above amend
ments to the national banking laws.
Agents of the A. P. A. are circulating
among senators and it is understood that
they are trying to ascertain whether 1t
would be worth while for that organize
ton to make fight on the nomination Of
Attorney General McKenna to succeed
Justice Field on the bench of the supreme
court. The organization has been very
successful in controlling the senate.