The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-12-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From Our Regular Correspondent

lEHOm OuV Aso8uiot OoktootohuoA"I
WASHINGTON; D. O., December 10, 1897.
The most astounding thing brought to
light by the first week Of the session of
Congress is the audacity of the agents
Of the lobby which is trying to prevent
the annexation Of Hawaii. It is only
necessary for Senator or Representa-.
tive Of prominence to express in private
conversation the slightest doubt of the
wisdom of annexation to have these
agents announce through such news.
papers as they control or can by hook
s,or crook obtain space in-cash is un.
questionably paid in some instances
that the Senator or Representative in
question is straining every nerve to de.
feat annexation. They have thus mis-.
represented Senators Morrill, and Hoar
and Speaker Reed. It seems as sure as
anything can be that such audacity is in
the end bound to react upon those who
employ it, and to result in making more
votes for annexation than against it.
This lobby was started by the sugar
trust, but there are reasons for believ.
ing that portion Of the money it is
spending 80 literally comes from the
secret funds of three foreign nations
\ which desire to prevent annexation, but
have no reasonable excuse for attempt.
ing to do so openly Some of the Dem.
ocratic Senators who talked the loudest
against trusts, during the campaign,
are acting in concert with the sugar
trust now. In fact, with two exceptions,
German and Morgan, all the Democratic
Senators appear to have landed, bag and
baggage, in the lobbyists camp. Senator
Davis, of Mimi, chairman of the com.
mittee on Foreign Relations, which
has charge of the treaty, is thoroughly
confident that annexation will be &C.
complished through the treaty, and alb.
solutely certain that bill providing for
annexation can be passed by both Sen.
ate and House, shuld the power of the
lobby be sufficient to prevent the ratif.
cation OF the treaty. It is his intention
to push the matter to a conclusion in
the Senate at the earliest possible mo.
ment.
Senator Chandler, chairman of the
committee of Elections and Privileges,
says that committee will decide upon it's
report in the Oregon case at it's next
meeting and that he has no doubt the
report will be in favor of seating Hon.
H. w. Corbett, as successor to Hon. II.
H. Mitchell, whose term in the Senate
expired last March. If the Democrats
who have expressed themselves in favor
of seating Mr.. Corbett vote that way he
will be seated.
The House committee and Appropria-
tions broke the record when it reported
the Pension Appropriation bill to the
House this week, thus furnishing evi.
dence that Chairman Cannon and the
industrious members of his committee
intend to do their part towards pushing
the imperative business Of this session,
in order to help along the project for
early adjournment, which is generally
favored by Republicans. The Pension
bill carries $141, 1,21S, 5000 which $l4O,.
100000 is for the payment of pensions.
1t has already been made apparent
that serious attempt is going to be
made at this session of Congress to mod.
lily the civil service rules. President
Mckinley having stated in his annual
message that he believed many posi-.
tions were now embraced by the civil
service rules which ought not to be, Re.
publicans in Congress do not feel that
they are antagonizing him or the party
platform in taking part in this move.
ment, although go good Republican as
Representative johnson, of Indiana. has
told them in q speech made in reply to
Gen. Grosvenor, of Ohio, that he disa.
greed with them. Gen. Grosvenor's
idea, which he will endeavor to get
through in the shape OF bill, is that
the only employees Of the government
who should be embraced by the civil
service rules are the clerks, whose duties
are not executive, in the departments at
Washington and employees of the postal
service in all branches. All other posi-.
tions he desires to have thrown open
and the Democrats who now fill nine.
tenths of them thrown out to make room
for the Republicans.
President McKinley's being detained
at Canton by his sad duty has not in any
manner inconvenience Congress, as he
arranged all matters requiring his per.
sonal atte alton before starting upon his
last trip to the bedside OF his dying
mother. Everywhere his name is men.
toned the deepest sympathy is expressed
for him.