Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-12-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
FROM our regular Correspondent
WAapIsoTos. u. G.. Dec. 8. II

which have made upon my tour, 1t
is my candid judgment that the
change we have experienced from
universal depression and dissatis-
faction to general prosperity and
contentnent in the short period OF
eight months under the administra-
ton of Mckinley is phenomenal, in
comparable and without precedent
in our history" That is the testi-
mony Of Assistant Secretary Of War
| Meiklejohn. who has Just returned
! from six weeks tour Of the military
post of the government from the At
| lantic to the Pacific, during which
he came in contact with all sorts and
conditions of men, and had good
| opportunity to observe the general
| conditions Of affairs. The fact that
Mr. Meiklejohn travelled through the
same states and territories in De-
| cembrr, 1894, when the country was
| Just beginning to fully realize the
terrible effect of Clevelandism and
free trade, enabled him to form more
vivid impressions of the contrast be-
tween then and now. OF the trip
from which he has just returned, he
| said: II made point Of converslng
with men in all walks of life, and
sought to get the views of those who
were engaged in variety of occu-
pations. 1t was the universal testi-
mony, and my personal observation
confirms it, and a. era of prosperity
has dawued for the United state $
such as has not blessed our people
since the good times we enjoyed un-
der the Mckinley tariff
Judge Day, assistant secretary of
state, settled all rumors connecting
his name with the successorship to
Attorney General Mckenna, when
that gentleman succeeds Justice
Field the bench of the us. supreme
''Hll' ny StdlihS thaN nc hhb W. i'i
sonal reasons declined the portfolio
Of attorney general, which President
Mckinley offered him. SO far as
anything to the contrary is known in
Washington, Judge Day finds his
present position congenial and has
no intention of leaving it.
With few exceptions republican
senators and representatives are of
the opinion that President McKin-
ley's handling Of Cuban matters has
been such as to justify congress in
leaving it entirely in his hands.
Many who were in favor OF the house
adopting the joint resolution, adopted
by the senate, at the extra session,
declaring in favor of the recognition
of the belligerency of the Cubans,
now express their willingness to
leave the whole business to be dealt
with by the President. Representa-
tive Cannon, the veteran chairman
of the appropriation committee, said
iocularly Of the situations: II don't
know what in the world We shall do
for speeches, now that they have
turned all the Americans free"
Chairman Cannon, of the house
appropriation committee, speaking
of the general policy of that commit
tee in preparing appropriation bills
at this cessiuu said IL believe in a
liberal, but not an eNtravagant poll
icy in making appropriations, and
until our revenue increase shall OPP
pose entering upon new enterprises
requiring the expenditure of govern
mout funds As an expert upon h-
naucial matters, there is no man in
congress whose opinion carries m,re
weight than that of Mr., Cannon, He
says that by the close of the present
fiscal year, the Dngley tarin bill
viii be producing sufficient revenue
to meet the legitimate expenditures
OF the government. As to the prob
able length Of the session he said
We should he away from here east
ly 10y the first of june He doubts
whether any important legislation
will he accomplished, owing to the
condition of the senate