Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-01-01
POOR CUBA,
SHE STANDS NO CHANCE AT
PRESENT.
VINO Is Authorized tc Recognize
Beiligerency Will be the Question
-CIevelaEd's Message Incompre-
hensible - Preparing for war
Tariff Lobbyists at the Front
The Funding Bill.

-ClevelaEd's Message Incompre-
hensible - Preparing for war
Tariff Lobbyists at the Front
The Funding Bill.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 25, 1896.
There is no more probability that
the independence of Cuba will be
recognized by the United States during
President Cleveland's administration
than there is of Grover Cleveland be-
coming president of the Cuban
republic, and, unless Mckinley is mis-
represented by Republicans, who are
supposed to enjoy his confidence, the
present policy will be continued by
him until there is some decided change
in Cuba. The resolution for the in
dependence of Cuba which has been
reported to the Senate will, of course,
be made the basis of lot of speeches
when Congress reassembles, but more
Of them will be devoted to the adj
| ninistration, that the President alone
has the power to recognize the in
dependence of a nation, than to Cuba
or anything connected with the I'M
fortunate island. Whether vote on
the resolution itself will be had before
expiration of this Congress is q matter
of doubt, but not much importance,
as it has already been given out by the
Republican leaders of the House that
the resolution will not be allowed to
come before that body at all. The
constitutional question involved in the
claim of the administration is an i'm
portant one, and one upon which men
who are regarded as able lawyers differ
regardless of politics, and the debate
upon it will be in no sense partisan.
There is practically no precedent,
though several have been cited as
having bearing upon the claim. And,
after all, nothing short of decision
of the U. S. Supreme Court will be &C.
cepted as settling it.
Senator Morgan, of Alabama, has
never set up for wit, but if he gets
off few more flashes like his answer
to Senator Vests inquiry as to the
meaning of that clause of the Pres
ident's message dealing with the Pa
ci6c railroads, the title will be forced
upon him. Mr.. Morgan was urging
action to protect the people of the
Pacific coast from those railroads, or
rather from the men who control
them, when Mr.. Vest made his re-
quest. Turning like flash, the Ala
bama Senator said with a deprecatory
gesture: "Now in all Egypt there
was only one man, and he was di
vinely inspired, who could interpret
the dreams of Pharaoh. The Senator
ought not to ask me to interpret the
Presidents message. If any man is
capable of interpreting the Presidents
message it is the Senator from Mis-
souri,"
Among the members of the House
who did not 60 home to spend their
Christmas are q number of Republic
cans who were reelected to the next
House, and who prefer to stand their
office-seeking constituents off with
letters which do not commit them, in
stead of meeting them face to face and
being compelled to commit themselves.
The little postmasterships are es-
pecially troublesome to the Repre-
sentatives-elect on account of the
numerous applicants for them. For
instance, one Representative from
New Jersey has received among other
applications for single postoffice in
his district, one from each of three
men who were delegates to the con-
vention that nominated him and who
took active parts in his campaign.
The Government isn't expecting war
with Spain, but if war comes it is 60
ing to be as well prepared as possible
for it. A secret meeting of high naval
officers was held in Washington few
days ago for the purpose of preparing
complete programme, offensive and
defensive, that might be carried on by
our present navy if there should be
war at short notice, and such pro-
gramme. was prepared and is now in
the hands of Secretary Herbert.
1t is as true to-day as it was when
written by Macaulay that, Where'er
We shed the honey, the buzzing flies
will crowd" There is going to be
honey shed by the Republican tariff
bill, and the flies, in the shape of those
who are anticipating benefits through
protection are already crowding Wash
ington hotels, preparatory to telling
the Republican members of the House
Ways and Means Committee, at the
hearings which are to begin next week,
just how much interest they want on
their campaign contributions.
Representative Barham, of Cal,
thinks the Pacific Railroad funding
bill, which is to be considered by the
House for the four days beginning
January Z, can be defeated. He said:
eff we can get enough time to show
the whole thing up, am satisfied that
many votes will be changed. The
passage of the present bill is present
Of $1O0,OOO,0O0 to c. P. Huntington
and his associates. If it becomes
known that the United States is going
to treat these debtors like it does all
others there will be plenty of buyers
at the full value OF the property.
Dem.
IL Il 1t