The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1897-12-17
The entire. cabinet of Chilli has
resigned, causing great surprise.
Washington Letter.

From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON, December l3.-The man who
would have predicted the present condition OF
the Washington end of the Republican party a
little more than year ago, when it had just
elected President and a majority of the
House, would not have been given credit for
sound Judgment, even by the bitterest enemy
of that party. In fact, it is now difficult for
one not in Washington, 10 believe the extent OF
the disruption of the party. Nothing can bet
ter illustrate this than the attitude of the Re-
publicans i'll Congress towards the recommen-
dations made by Mr.. McKinley's message. Not
II single one of them has the support of any
where near the solid Republican vote in either
branch of Congress. Mr.. Mckinley asked i'll
directly, Secretary Gage directly. for the It,
tirement OF the greenbacks, but il the Demo
Gratis and Popuiists refrain from voting, il is
doubtful whether bill providing therefor
could pass either branch of Congress; Mr. Nc
kinley's Cuban policy is constantly and openly
assailed by Republicans; he asked for the i'm
mediate ratification of the treaty for the an.
neXation of Hawaii, but not u move has been
made i'll that direction i'll the Senate, and aban-
donment of the treaty is looked for; he defend
cd the civil service law, and one-half of the Re
publican members of the House are openly en-
gagged in an effort to break down that law. In
fact, everything is tending towards restora-
ton of the Democratic party to power, and the
once boosted solidity of the Republican party,
which WAS for years its most noted trait, has
xrO1e, apparently forever.
Inc House Banking and Currency Committee
is laboring hard to produce financial bill, but
il is only another case of Much ado about
,nothing, Y as there. are about As many different
opinions In the committee as there are inena-
bers, and each oplnioh'fs represented by a bill
framed by its 1t heep-slid
Gar Reed, in selecting this committee, chose
men whom he knew would never agree on q
bill, and IL looks that way. =
Representative Sullivan, of Mississippi, in his
speech against the payment of pensions to
wealthy men quoted extensively from Gen. II.
V. Boynton's recent arraignment of the injus-
tice of the pension laws now administered,
because he endorsed what that gentleman had
said and knew that nobody could raise any
question OF Gen. Boynton's right to criticize.
Although the pension bill passed by the Hous-,
carries an appropriation of more than SILL,
900, 900, something like 81 for each man, wO
man and child III the United States, il wu>
rushed through the House i'll an hour or two
and every amendment proposed by Democrats
was voted down. Representative Dingley's re-
mark that of every 81 paid out by the govern
ment, 81 went to pay pensions and 50 cents to
pay interest on the publ. c debt, although prob
ably not made Tor such purpose,
ought, in view of the probable pen
sion deficit of S1O,ooo,ooo in the next
fiscal year, and the announced desire of the
administration to increase our bonded indebt-
edness, to cause many persons to put on their
thinking caps.
1t is practically certain that at the caucus of
the Democrats of the House, to be held this
week. it will be decided to make Cuba party
question, and to use every opportunity to ut
tempt to get the Senate resolution, declaring
for the recognition of Cuban belligerency,
adopted by the House; also that the caucus
will declare the party opposed to each and
every financial recommendation made by the
administration. 1t is not likely that the eau
Gus will say anything about the silver question.
The position of the party is too well known to
need any new declaration in favor of silver.
The caucus will probably declare against the
annexation of Hawaii, either by treaty or legis-
latiOn, and it may also declare against the en-
actnent of the bankruptcy law, but there is
doubt about the latter action, there are
some strong advocates of the bankrupt law
among tho Democrats, and others who doubt
the wisdom of trying to make it party ques-
ton.
The report that Car Reed is in sympathy
with the fight on civil service REFORM because
he recognizes in it means of lessening Mr..
Mckinley's chances for a denomination, was
partially confirmed by the attendance ut eau
Gus of Representatives called to consider ways
and means of fighting the present civil service
law, and bringing about its modification or
complete repeal. In view of the absolute con-
troll Mr.. Reed has over the Republican mem
bers of the House in about everything else, it
does not seem likely that as many as seventy
two of them could have been persuaded to
take part in this movement unless they knew
that Mr.. Reed had no objection to il. The
average Democrat has never favored the civil
service law, with its one part real reform to
nine parts of the most arrant humbuggery, so
it will not be surprising to see them vote with
the kicking Republicans, if their kicking goes
as far vote.