The herald., 1897-01-07
OUR washington LETTER
A Lull of Rest Reigned at
the Capital
some VISITORS FROM CALIFORNIA
Who Are in Search of Legisla.
ton and Grants
THE u. S. ATTORNEYSHIP
For the Southern District Of California.
A Keen Race
Flint and McLaehIsn Are Both Very Anxious
THE U. S. ATTORNEYSHIP
For the Southern District Of California
A Keen Race
Flint and McLschlan Are Both Very Anxious
to Oct the Plum
Cap" Merry May Pull Out Plum
An Extra Session Pretty Sure to
Be Called About the End
of March.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 3l.-The halls Of
congress are closed for the holidays, and
save for an occasional bridal couple, who
are seeing the sights of the capital city,
scarcely any one enters either chamber.
The great building is deserted and the
steady tramp of the patrol can be heard
through the corridors. The noise and
hustle incident to a session of congress
have been displaced by quiet and peace.
On the 5th of January. however. the old
life will be renewed and crowds will
flock into the building to listen to the
fiery speeches which have been prom
ised. Senators Allen. Morgan, Chan
dler, Vest and others have intimated
that they will have something to say as
soon as congress reconvenes. The fun1-
ing bill Cuba and civil service are go
ing to have their innings, and some inter-
esting incidents are sure to happen
CALIFORNIAN VISITORS
DR.. Mclean of Alameda is here in the
interest of Oakland harbor. incidental
ly, the doctor is endeavoring to convince
Uncle Sam that the latter should pur
chase his turnpike into Yosemite val
ICY. ic QOClct was HCiS ldSN SSsSlOir
and his Uncle was almost persuaded" I"
but not quite.
Prof Jordan of Stanford spent some
time here in an endeavor to set the land
department to act i'll the matter of the
forest reservations Of California. The
principal trouble experienced by the de-
partment is in defining the lines of the
various reservations. 1t is understood
that an agent from the interior depart
mont will he ont California wit n
in short time TO establish the lines. and
then keepers can be appointed. The
commissioner is favorabiy disposed to-
ward the preservation of these lands to
the public and states that such further
aid as this department may be able 10
render will be cordially given when the
lands desired for reservation shall have
been particularly described" Prof. Jor-
dan worked hard and faithfully in the
matter and deserves much credit for his
untiring efforts Senators White and
Perkins have done much to further the
project. and to their efforts is due
great deal of the credit of reserving to
the people the beautiful lands embraced
within these reservations.
NEW TARIFF BILL
Work on the new tariff bill will be COM
menced by$e ways and means commit
tee today, when the first of the series of
hearings is to be held. The interest In
the measure is great and large number
of business men will appear before the
Two or three schedules of
the bill will be covered each day the ses-
sions lasting from 10 a. m. to 4 p m.
Several labor organizations have signi-
fled their intention of sending represen-
tatives to make arguments before the
in the interest of protection
for the industries in which they are
workers. The usual number Of import
erS. producers and manufacturers will be
present also. The new tariff bill which
the committee will report to the house is
certain to be one for protection. but in
a somewhat modified form from the act
of 1890. Chairman Dingley said last
evening that he preferred to have writ
ten statements forwarded to the commit
tee. as public hearings undoubtedly hin
der the work of that body. The hearings
will continue twelve days.
THAT REPUBLICAN MAJORITY
The majority, which the Republicans
have claimed will exist in the senate at
the opening of the next congress, seems
to be dwindling. and it is now possible
that that side of the house will have no
ma jority at all Sergeant-at-A
Bright seems to look at the matter in this
light, and he is accordingly endeaVoring
to retain his position during the next ad
and with fair prospects Of
success. If the silver Republicans refuse
to vote with the regulars then no tariff
bill will be enacted, and no Republican
majority will be visible. 1t is, however,
absolutely impossible to tell with any
certainty, what the complexion Of the
next senate will be, and the various es
Inmates which have from time to time
appeared in the newspapers can be put
down as mere guesses.
BIMETALLJSM
The committee recently appointed un-
der Senator Wolcotts resolution has al
ready taken steps looking to the calling
of an International bimetallic confer
ence. 1t has been submitted to the var
ious members of both houses, and pro-
poses that the United States shall take
the initiative in calling conference of
the European powers. Senator Garter
believes that the sanction of congress
can be obtained this session. lie states
that the conference will have to be held
the coming summer. but when asked
it would be held in Washington,
replied that as it was very hot here
in summer months, it would most like
Iy be held abroad The way the banks
are breaking all over the country dem
onstrates the kind OF prosperity we may
expect under the single gold standard,
IL
do something Tor silver in order to pre-
vent that Issue arising four years hence.
Senator Wolcott prepared the draft of
bill TO embody the ideas OF the caucus
committee on an international monetary
1t is probable that the SEN
ate will take this matter up immedia te-
y after the holidays. The members of
the committee generally favor the Sc
lection Of the conferees entirely by the
president. There is also proposition
to leave a number of the cCnferces to the
discretion OF the president. depending
upon the action of other countries. The
committee win advocate an appropria-
ton to make the act effective. The Re-
publican leaders claim that Mr. Mckin-
ley will require only the means TO pro-
ceed with to cause him to use his utmost
endeavors to secure an international
agreement 1t Is understood that France
favors bimetallism. and that the stumb-
ling block in the way of ermany's adher-
ence to the double standard is the EN-
peror-a very formidable obstacle.
SEED DISTRIBUTION.
The secretary of agriculture has re-