The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-01-21
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.


A new scheme is being hatched by
republican Senators to enable their
party to control the Senate after the
4th of March, that is as daring and
audacious as anything ever attempted
IN this country in the political line.
The first step in this scheme was
taken this week when Senator Chand-
Ter, who is an adept in tricky politics,
offered petition in the Senate from
Henry A. Du Pont and eleven men,
bers of the Delaware legislature, ask
ing that the Senate reconsider the
vote whereby it declared Mr.. Du Pont
not entitled to a seat in the Senate.
This scheme never would have been
sprung had it not become certain that
the democrats would elect a Senator
to fill the Delaware vacancy. Those
who are behind it do not expect to
seat Du Pont, but they hope by get
ting his claim before the Senate again
to prevent the seating of the demo
crat who will be elected by the present
Delaware Legislature. With one
vacancy in the Senate as will be a
majority, but if that vacancy is filled
by democrat, the republicans must
have 40 votes to control the Senate,
See ? The petition was referred to the
committee on Privileges and Elections,
which consists of five republicans and
four democrats, but as Senator Palmer,
Of Illinois, is one of the latter, the
republicans may, be said to have two
thirds of the committee.
Senator Vest, who has just return
ed from triumphant reelection,
revived the dropping spirits of those
who believe that something ought to
be done tor Cuba before this session
of Congress closes by declaring his
intention to devote his time exclusive
ly to getting something done for Cuba,
because he believes that to be the
most important question before this
Congress. When Senator Yes. de.
votes his exclusive time to anything,
the country is pretty certain to hear
about it. So, look out Speeches
were made this week by Senators
Mills and Bacon in advocacy of the
Mills Cuban resolution, which pro-
vides for recognition of Cuban indie
pendence and the appointment of a
u. S. Minister to Cuba.
At last Speaker Reed has filled the
democratic vacancies on the House
committees. Representative Bailey,
of Texas, got the place on the Com,
mittee on Rules, Representative Boat
ner, of La, goes on the committee on
Ways and Means, Representative
Stokes of S. c. on the committee on
Agriculture, and Representative Crisp,
of Ga, son Of the late ex-Speaker,
who is known as the ''boy member"
was given the vacancy on the Post
Office committee.
One episode occurred in connec-
ton with the Pacific Railroad Fund
ing bill, that was this week defeated
by the House, that in the old days
would have resulted in a duel, or
perhaps two. Representative Johnson,
of Cal, the only member from that
state who supported the funding bill,
made an unprintable speech in which
he made unprintable charges against
w. r. Hearst, whose New York and
San Francisco papers had made hot
fight against the bill. For this he was
called coward by Representative
Cooper, of Wis, and in addition to
beng called a coward by Representa-
tive Mcguire, of Cal, Johnson was
reminded of his having been indicted
In Syracuse, N. Y. some years ago.
for forgery. This last speech was toe
much for the House and it was order
ed to be struck out of the Record
Instead of challenging one or both o.
the men who had called him a coward
as the old-timer would have done
Johnson merely dared them to do i,
again, outside, in these words 81
either the gentleman from Wisconsin
or the gentleman from Callfornia
thinks l am cowardly, let either re
peat to me outside this chamber wha
he has said inside, and his curiosity
will be appeased."
Representative Dockery, of Mo.
who spent the Congressional recess a
home, says: "The samples of pros
perity we have out there are not salts
factory. The advance agent is toe
far ahead of his show"
There may be honest differences o.
opinion as to whether Secretary O,ney
is great statesman, Notwithstanding
the qualified endorsement of him as {
statesman and a diplomat by ex
President Harrison, but no Senator
will deny that he has a great gall. He
has set the whole country laughing a
the Senate, and the Senate has nc
way to get even with him, except te
prevent ratification of the arbitration
treaty batween the TT 9 opJ n