The Press., 1897-12-16
Washington Letter.
washington, Nov. %, i


washington, Nov. %, 1897.
That members of the diplomatic corps
in Washington do not regard that portion
of President McKinley's message that
deals with Cuba as forerunner Of white
winged peace, is shown by the following
remarks of a prominent diplomat: "From
the diplomatic point of view it is mys-
terry how the American press and public
can consider the presidents language
conservative and peaceful. l think and
am satisfied that every representative
of foreign government in Washington
agrees with me, that his message was
about as radical and warlike in meaning
as he could have made it, unless it had
actually been a proclamation declaring
war against Spain. He tells Spain that
unless it can finish the war in Cuba in a
reasonable time, this government will do
so by force. Now, as every well-informed
person knows that there isn't the slight
est chance that Spain will end the war in
Cuba in a reasonable time, that was about
the same as the Q. S. saying to Spain:
you may as well get ready to fight me, as
you will have to do it in about six
months.
1t is possible, of course, that the house
committee on banking and currency which
has been given permission to sit during
sessions of the house, will report f1nan-
cial bill at this session of congress-, but
the best informed men in congress do not
regard it as at all probable. In the first
pla e, about half of the members of that
committee have bills of their own, each
differing radically from all of the others,
and in the second place, there is gen.
eral belief that if the administration con-
cludes it to be wise to force financial
bill of any sort through the house, it will
have itreported from the ways and means
committee. Secretary Gage will separate
his recommendations into several bills,
which will probably be introduced in the
house and senate as feelers, both of the
congressional and public pulse.
The democratic senators are already
with two exceptions solidly opposed to
the annexation of Hawaii, and the house
democrats are going to declare against
annexation at caucus to be held this
week. Still the advocates of annexation
say that it is certain to be accomplished
at this session. a lobby plentifully sup
piled with money, is working hard against
annexation, and its agents will stave of
settlement as long as possible, if they
cannot defeat it, as their pay will stop as
soon as the question is settled either way.
1t has become apparent that the fight
on the civil service law is no trifiing
matter, even if it is being conducted
against the wishes of the president. Lead
ing republican representatives have at
tackled the law on the floor ofthe house
and sixty odd republican members of tn
house who oppose the law as it now stands
met in caucus to discuss the best way t.
conduct their fight against it. That wa
at least fifty more than were supposed t.
be willing.to be counted as publicly hostil
to the law, and have generally been dis
posed to poke fun at all talk of fighting
it.
History does not repeat itself wit
more certainty than certain phases of I
session in congress. One of these phase
is the short but acrimonius debate whicl
never fails to precede the passage of tn
regular pension appropriation bill by tn
house. Somehow everybody knows tina
these little sharp sentences have got to b
spoken; consequently they do not attrac
the attention they deserve, concerning a
they do, the expenditure of more than on
third of the governments income. TIL
fact is, as most people in Washingto
known, that the average congressman |
MORALLY afraid of the pension question
and desires to see the bill disposed of a
speedily as possible, and if he makes an
remarks at all they are of a genera
nature about the ''saviours of the country
etc. 1t is the exceptional fellows VIII
make the little debate interesting. Their
may have been years when some stron
republican did not furnish these gentle
men with ready-madea arguments, but the
are not recalled just now.
This year it was Gen. Fl. V. Boynton
vigorous newspaper attack upon the pres
ent laws at their abuse that was useC
This question must, sooner or later,
thoughtfully considered. The present ar
preparation exceeds $141,OOO,OOO an
there is a general belief that it is eight {
ten million below what will be spent b
the pension bureau during the next fisc;
year.
Many republicans, while honestly hol
ing that Representative Dingley is tru
prophet when he says there will be a su
plus of ten million dollars during the ne1
fiscal year, have their doubts about it.
TOLLAND.