Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-12-22
Washington Letter.
rom our Regular Correspondent


Congress will take an old-fashioned
Christmas recess, adjourningfr from to-
morrow, the 18th inst, until Wednes-
day, January 5. No time will really
be lost, as the members of commit
tees will make use OF the long recess
to familiarize themselves with the
various bills before their respective
committees and in deciding just what
business outside Of their appropria-
ton bills shall be taken up at this
session.
The caucus of thehouse Democrats,
held this week, was afraid to carry
out the will of the sugar trust lobby
and try to make opposition to the
annexation of Hawaii a party ques-
ton. They could easily have done
SO, as about three-fourths of them
oppose annexation, under the orders
of the lobby, but among those who
favor annexation are men whom the
others did not dare to attempt to
bind by a caucus decree. They, of
course, declared themselves against
the presidents financial recommend
ations, and in favor Of the recogni-
ton Of Cuban belligerency They
also adopted an ambiguous resolu-
ton in favor of q lust and wise"
bankruptcy law, which leaves them
free to oppose any bankruptcy bill.
Hon. A. z. Greeley, acting commits
sioner OF patents, who made a repu-
tation as IA fearless and honest judi
cial and executive officer by his able
conduct Of the Investigation that led
to a partial purging OF the patent
office bar and many reforms in prac-
tlce before that Office, is now making
another investigation, the object OF
which Is to break up that class Of
crooked patent attorneys who rob
inventor. by making pretense of
obtaining and selling foreign patents
on their inventions, knowing that no
valid foreign patents can be obtained
for them, and that they cannot be
sold.
The designation of the committee
chosen by the conference OF Republic
can sentatives-'The commit
tee on reform. IN the administration
Of the civil service law''-who oppose
continuation of the present rules
and classlfcatOns under civil service
law, to draw up a bill to meet their
objections, is of itself sufficient evil
dence that these gentlemen are not
opposed to real reform in the civil
service. 1t is only the sham reform
they wish to abolish. This commit
tee, composed of Representatives
Hepburn, of Iowa; Pearson, of North
Carolina, and Evans, of Kentucky,
believe that they can construct a
bill that will be accepted by major
ity in both branches of congress and
by President Mckinley. Thes same con-
ference also appointed Representa-
tives Tawney, of Minnesota; Steele, of
Indiana, and O'Dell, of New York, a
committee to investigate the admin
istratlon Of the civil service law and
rules for the past fveyears, and their
report will be used as an argument
for the proposed change. The mod
Grafton of these gentlemen has great
ly strengthened their position.
Secretary Gage tumbled over a pile
of lies as high as the Washington mon
ument when he appeared before the
house committee on banking and cur
rency, this week, and submitted a
single bill embodying all the financial
recommendations of his annual re-
port, together with statement in
their favor. The committee will con-
slider this bill during the holiday
recess, and when congress reassembles
in January, it will be able to deter
mine whether any agreement upon a
bill is likely to be reached by the ma
jority.
Speaker Reeds we'll deserved re /
! utation for level-headedness should
have been sufficient answer for any
! intelligent person, to the cock and
! bull stories sent out from Washing
! ton as to his Intention to include
! in the new house rules, which
are to be reported after the holt
! day recess, one against the senate
! attaching ''riders" to appropriation
bills. The prese Mt house rules, those
of the last house, do not allow Grid
ers" to be attached to appropriation
bills by the house. and the new rules
! will probably contain the same pro
hibltion. But the house would have
as much right to say what the Brit
lsh parliament should or should not
do, as to make rule to govern the
senate. Any school boy ought to
know that.