The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-02-25
OUR wAsHINGroN LETTER.
WASHINGTON. Feb. %. 1Sg

Quoted by the Senate Committee on
public lands may lead to a scandal in
volving Mr.. Cleveland, although every
patriotic American will hope not. The
investigation is of a land patent re-
Gently issued by Secretary Francis to
Pergine, Mrs. Clevelands step-fatber,
and his associates. The patent covers
$4,000 acres of land in Florida, and if
it has been legally issued, the present
occupants of the land will have to
move or to make terms with Mr.. Per
rine The original grant OF this land
was made to DR.. Perrine, father Of
! the present Mr.. Perrine, and his asso-
ciates, in 1871, and the contention Of
the settlers on the land, who are rep
/ resented by ex-Congressmau Brook
shire, of Indiana, is that it was for
ieited by failure to occupy it within
the legal limit. The odd part of the
issuing of this land patent is the man
ner in which it has been hurried along
since Mr. Francis became Secretary Of
the Interior and the apparent anxi-
/ ETY. Of Assistant Acknowledgement
! LiOnberger, who was put in ofstsaz,oy
! Secretary Francis, to get the SssslC7-ts'
issued for the land before the close of
the present administration. The
Committee may find the transaction
all right, and that the relationship of
/ Mr.. Perrine to Mr.. Cleveland has not
figured in the matter at all, but there
is a lot Of ugly gossip about it just
now, and it viii probably get into
court anyway.
/ The smart alexis who have been
industriousIy circulating reports as
to the intention of the House Com
mittee on coinage to smother the Sen
ate bin authorizing President McKin-
ley to appoint delegates to any inter
national monetary conference called
by any other nation, or to one called
by himself if in his discretion he sees
fit to cal! it, got a knock-down blow
when that Committee reported the
bill favorably to the House with two
amendments, one broadening the au-
thOrity of the President by author
ling him, if ne sees fit, to appoint
one or more special commissioners or
ENJOYS to negotiate with other ma
tiOns for the calling of such confer
ence, and the other repeating the Act
of 1885 for the same purpose, so as to
prevent any complications that might
ject.
Congress did u sensible thing in
abOlising the title of Private Secre-
tary to the President" and making
the title of that very important and
useful official Secretary to the Pres
ident." OF late years, especially dur
ing the first term of Mr. Cleveland
and during President Harrison's term,
this position has been filed by men
who have been in reality confidential
advisers of the President, and it was
farcical to designate them as private
secretaries, in view of the popular
idea of the duties performed by a
private secretary. The change was
made in compliance with q request Of
President-elect Mckinley.
While no Republican in Congress
believes that the reelection of Sena-
tor Kyle, by the aid af Republican
votes III the South Dakota legisla-
ture, was brought about by any deal,
there is a general belief that Senator
Kyle will, if necessary, help the Re
publicams OF the Senate to pass a tar
if bill at the coming extra session.
And owing his reelection to Repubh-
can votes will not be likely TO make
him antagonistic TO other Republican
measures. SO long as a straight-out
Republican could not be elected, there
is 10 occasion for Republican grumb-
ling al the reelection OF Kyle His
pOpulism is much less fanatical than
that Of Others who might be named,
and personally he is very likable
sort of fellow.
Nothing but praise is heard of the
arrangements that are being made
for The inaugural parade by General
Porter, chief-marshal His idea OF
making the parade attractive by its
| quality, rather than imposing and
tiresome by its quantity and length,
is generally approved. At previous
inaguratiOns few of the spectators.
except those who were obliged to re-
main, saw the whole parade, which
upon several occasions did not nd
| until after dark According to Gen.
Porter's arrangement, $4,000 men in
line will pass Il given point in one
| hour, which will bring the entire pa
rade inside of four hours, which is
about as long as that portions of the
spectatOrs-by far the largest-not
comfortably housed and seated, can
| get enjoyment out of such a spectacle.
Other plans are also being perfected
to make the spectacular part of the
Inauguration more compact and con
sequently more enjoyable.
The time within which the remain