Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-12-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 1897.

Ihe man who would have predicted the
present condition of the Washington end
of the Republican party little more than
a year ago, when it had just elected a
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, to believe the ex-
tent of the disruption of the party. Moth
ing can better illustrate this than the atti-
tude of the Republicans in Congress towards
The recommendations made by Mr.. McKin-
ley's message. Not a single one of them
has the support of anywhere near the solid
Republican vote in either branch of Con-
gress. Mr.. Mckinley asked indirectly,
Secretary Gage directly, for the retirement
of the greenbacks, but if the Democrats and
Populists refrain from voting, it is doubtful
whether bill providing therefor could pass
either branch of Congress Mr.. McKlnley's
Cuban policy is constantly and openly as
sailed by Republicans he asked for the
immediate ratification of the treaty for the
annexation of Hawaii, but not move has
been made in that direction in the Senate,
and abandonment of the treaty is looked
for; he defended the civil service law, and
one-half of the Republican members of the
House are openly engaged in an effort to
break down that law. In fact, every thing
is tending towards a restoration of the
Democratic party to power, and the once
boosted soliditY of the Republican party,
which was for years its most noted trait
has gone, apparently forever.
The House Banking and Currency Com
miUtee is laboriDg hard to produce
financial bill, but is only another case OF
Much ado about nothing" as there are
about as many different opinions In the
Committee as there are members, and each,
opinion is represented by bill framed by
It's owner. 1t has been said that Gar Reed,
in selecting this Committee, chose men
whom he knew would never agree on
bill, and it looks that way.
Representative Sullivan, OF Mississippi,
in his speech against the payment OF pen
sions to wealthy men quoted extensively
from Gen. Fl. V. Boynton's recent arraign-
ment of the injustice of the pension laws
as now administered, because ne 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 House, car
ries an appropriation of more than $141,-
100000, something like 81 for each man,
woman and child in the United States-it
was rushed through the House in an hour
or two, and every amendment proposed by
Democrats was voted down. Representa-
tive Dingley's remark that of every S. paid
out by the government So went to pay pen
sions, and fifty cents to pay interest on the
public debt, although probably not made
for such a purpose, ought, in view of the
probable pension deficit of $10,O00O00 in
the next fiscal year, and the announced
desire of the administration to increase our
bonded indebtedness, to cause many per
soDs 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 oppor-
tunity to attempt to get the Senate resolu-
ton, declaring for the recognition of Cuban
belIigerency, adopted by the House also
that the caucus will declare the party op
mendation made by the administration. 1t
is not likely that the caucus will say any
thing about the silver question. The posi-
ton 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 legislation, and it may also declare
against the enactment of the bankruptcy
law, but there is no doubt about the latter
action. as there are some strong advocates
of the bankrupt law among the Democrats,
and others who doubt the wisdom of trying
to make it party question.
The report that Gar Reed is in sympathy
with the fight on civil service reform
because he recognizes in it a means OF
lessening Mr.. McKinley's chances for re-
nomination, was partially confirmed by his
attendance at a caucus OF Republ can Rep
resentatives called to consider Ways and
Means of fighting the present civil service
law, and bring about its modification or
complete repeal. In view of the absolute
control Mr.. Reed has over the Republican
members of the House in about everything
else, it does not seem likely that as many
as seYenty-two of them could have been
persuaded to take part in this movement
unless they knew that Mr.. Reed had no
objection to it. The average Democrat has
meyer favored the civil service law, with its
one part real refsrm to nine parts of the
most arrant humbuggery, so it will not be
surprising to see them vote with the kick
ing Republicans, if their kicking goes as
far as vote.