The Press., 1897-03-11
Washington Letter.
Washington. Mar. sth 1ss

The new administration, probably real izing the impossibility of doing any work until the edge has been taken off of the flying wedge of office seek CTS of the larg- est class-men who are after the places not covered by civil service rules-is talk ing things as Ieisurely as possible. To- day the new members of the cabinet are for the first time all in their offices, but, like President Mckinley, they are devot- ing their time to visitors and not to work.
 The holding of a caucus by the republi- can senators, ostensibly for the purpose of electing MT. Allison chairman of the caucus in place of John Sherman, but really to consider the advisability of att tempting to fill the committee vacancies, has stirred up the silver senators to fever heat, and if men like Senator Teller can have their way, the republicans not only will not be allowed to take their choice of the existing committee vacancies, but will lose all the important committee chair manshtps they now hold. The silver sena- tors, populists, republicans and democrats combined are majority, and if they can be induced to vote together, it will be an easy matter to reorganize the senate con- mittees and put the control of all the im- portant ones in the hands of the silver men. Should this be done it would not necessarily imply that the tariff bill would be in danger, as number of silver sena- tors have pledged themselves not to an- tagonize that measure, but it would in numerous other ways be unpleasant for the new administration.
 Now that Senator Hanna, who is chair man of the republican national committee occupies seat adjoining that of Senator Marion Butler, who is chairman of the populist national committee, it has been jokingly suggested that Senator Jones, of Arkansas, who is chairman of the demo- cratic national committee should move his seat alongside of those of the other chairmen, so that when things get dull, the trio could amuse themselves exchang- ing campaign experiences. It does seem little odd that the chairmen of these three national committees should all be in the senate together.
 It is already evident even to those who are not particularly close observers, that President Mckinley is trying to put him. self and his administration upon friendly terms with the senate, something that neither President Cleveland nor President Harrison succeeded in doing, and in fact which neither tried very hard to do. Whether President Mckinley will succeed is a question that only the future can answer, but if he maintains his present attitude towards the senate he cannot be accused of not treating it with proper re- spect, as both Cleveland and Harrison were. MT. Mckinley is not only trying to keep on good terms with the senate as body, but also with individual senators, regardless of their party. He has caused it to be intimated to every senator that he will always find cordial welcome at the White House, and that his advice will always be listened to when matters affecting his state are under consideration. Along the first opposition senators to cali on President Mckinley were German and Mills, neither of whom had been to the White House for long time.
 While there is difference of opinion as to whether the failure of four appropri- ation bills, sundry civil, agricultural Indian deficiency, to become laws was brought about by those who oppose con. fining the legislation on the extra session of congress, which meets next week, to the tariff, there Is none as to the effect of their failure. Money will have to be provided by congress at the extra session but it is now said that an attempt will be made to do it by resolution extending current appropriations instead of by seperate appropriation bills. If that at tempt is made, there will probably be { hot fight.
 Whether President McKinley's idea O having the extra session of congress, 1T addition to passing the tariff bill, author ize the appointment of non-partisaI financial commission to investigate anC report what is needed in the shape o changes in our currency law, can be pu
 through will depend entirely upon the at titude the silver senators take toward the idea. It can be put through the hous'
 easy enough.