Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-09-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Sept. Goth, 1897

In view of the officially estimated deficit
in the payment of pensions for the current
fiscial year, there may be some emphatic
talk on this subject at the coming session
of Congress. Lest some of your Republic
can readers should say that this idea of a
pension deficit was concocted by the oppo-
nents of the administration, the following
language used by E Clay Evans, Commits
sioner OF Pensions, is gisen:-'I estimate
that the total payment for the year will
not exceed $l47, 500, 900. and the appropria-
ton for the year is SAL 1858 $780," MI.
Evans speaks of this probable deficit of six
and quarter millions of dollars as indif-
ferently as though he were talking of pur-
chasing pint of peanuts, and when his at
tention was called to the probability that
the failure of the new tariff to produce the
Estimated amount of revenue might cause
Congress to object to passing deficiency
pension appropriation bill for this year, he
gave away the Republican plan for meet
ing such contingency by saying:-'It
there should be an unexpected falling off
in the revenue, the pension payments
might be curtailed towards the end of the
year"
The Home Rule Plank of the Republi-
can National Platform cuts no ice when it
comes to providing for cousin of Mr.. Nc
Kinley, as was shown by the announce
ment that Frederick E. Mckinley, of New
Mexico, had been appointed receiver OF
public moneys at Guthrie, Oklahoma. A
cousin of the Vice President was also pro-
vlded with an Office, but not quite SO big
an Office as he applied for. This was Ed
ward F. Hobart, who aspired to be COVER
nor of New Mexico, and who was appoint
ed receiver of public moneys at Santa Fe.
Indian Commissioner Jones hasn't re-
signed, and is not likely to do SO volun-
tarily, although Boss Hannas man has
been appointed assistant commissioner over
the protest of Jones. This is another stra W
showing the uslessness of Republican OBJ
jections to the carrying out of any Of
Hanna's wishes.
Ex-Secretary Hoke Smith passed through
Washington day or two ago and he was
fairly bubbliDg over with satisfaction al
the bright prospects ahead Of the United
Democratic party, which always wins. He
thinks the success of the Democrats in
Greater New York is certain, and that il
will start a wave of party harmony that
will result in the election of Democratic
house next year and of Democratic Presi
dent in 1900.
All the talk about Gen.. Fitz Lee remain
ing at home and taking part in the Vir
ginia campaign, was settled for good and
all, when General Lee, in Difference to &
request of Mr.. Mckinley, made during 6
long conference between the two men al
the White House, agreed to resume hi
duties as U. S. Consul General to Cuba al
soon as the leave of absence, upon which
he came home, expired, which will be early
in October General Lee is mum abou
the situation in Cuba, but his opinions al
well as the drift of his sympathy are pretty
well known. and it is not believed that hi
would have agreed to return to Cuba had
he not been given to understand that some
action was soon to be taken by this Govern
ment that will put an end to the present
deplorable condition there.
Boss Platt is using all his wiles to gel
Mr.. Mckinley to take sides against the
candidacy of Seth Low for Mayor O.
Greater New York, and he is very sly
about it, too. He is trying to convince Mr.
Mckinley, and has almost succeeded, that
If he doesn't help to kill the aspirations o.
Low, he will have him to fight as candi-
date for the Presidential nomination at the
next Republican National Convention, Mr..
Mckinley is somewhat of a politician him.
self, and will not do all that Platt wants
him to do, without exacting loyalty from
Plat in 1900, but present indications are
that he will join Patt in fighting Low,
which will make it all the easier for a
Democrat to be elected Mayor of Greater
New York
| At last man has been found who is
| willing to acknowledge having had hand
in the putting of Section % into the tariff
bill, while that measure was in conference.
1t is Senator Elkins, of West Virginia, who
says that the discriminating duties pre-
scribed are intended to shut out freight
now brought into the United States by the
Canadian Pacific railroad. But it will also
shut out much stuff brought by other
transportation lines, both by rail and sea.
The New Orleans papers are righteously
indignant over the appointment of the seal
lawag negro, Demas, to be naval officer at
that port. The Times Democrat prints an
article on the character of the appointment
and says
"That the President should take up a
man Of this type, and insult not only the
people of Louisiana but those of the whole
Union by disappointment, is scandal and
4 disgrace. Mr.. Mckinley knew the kind
of man he is. All the facts of that disrepu-
table negro's career had been laid before
| him, with confrmatory evidence.
The people of Louisiana have to suffer
under this gross indignity, perpetrated upon
| them by the Presidents unfortunate weak
ness and the dictation of Hanna. The in
suit is to Louisiana; the disgrace to the
whole country"
Other New Orleans papers use much
stronger language in, denonncing the APP
pointment.