The Press., 1897-12-02
Washington Lotter.
Washington, Nov. %, ls

Washington Lettsr.
 Washington, Nov. 20, 1877.
 Many men of many minds, just about fits the condition of the representatives and senators now pouring Into Washing ton by every train. Upon whether these many minds can be got together, or at least q majority of them, will depend whether this session of congress will be productive of important legislation, aside from the regular appropriation bills, which, important as they are-disposing of somewhere In the neighborhood of billion dollars, are always regarded as matter of course Legislation. A few senators and representatives are express ing fat-footed opinions as to what will or will not be done, but the most of them, knowing how largely the matter will be determined by circumstances, are quiet and trying to find out what their col leagues think. President Mckinley Ia paying special attention to republican senators, us he has an idea that If he can get them to act as 6 unit, enough other votes can be secured to pass several measures he wants. The house will, of course, do whatever he wishes.
 While 1t may be true that the adminl- stration desires peace and expects peace with Spain and all the rest of the world, it has been doing a number of things of late which indicate both the desire and the intention to be prepared for war in case lt should come. One of these things was the placing of contract for war material, in the shape of the latest im- proved Rrmor-pleroing ammunition, and light callbre guns, such as can be used with advantage upon auxiliary cruisers. This contract, which is the largest placed by the government since the close of the civil war, was marked urgent" and the delivery of the material will be rushed. When this contract, and others which preceded IT, have all been filled, every gun in the U. 5. navy will have about five hundred rounds Of ammunition of the very highest grade, which naval ofncers say Is more than any navy in Europe has, and will be prepared for any emergency.
 Secretary Long's annual report Is an unusually peaeeable sort of a document to emanate from the heads of the navy department, and indicates no expectation on his part of war. He recommends that congress restrict the additions to the navy to be provided for at thls session. to one bRttleship for the Pacific coast and a few torpedo boat destroyeIs, and says that the policy of his department will be to gradually take war ships out of com mission and put them into reserve, In order to reduce running expenses.
 If the radical opponent of the civil service law in congress can be induced to stop their agitation for the repeal of the entire law, and to unite with those who believe that the law Is all right, If 1t be restricted to covering only those positions which are purely clerical, there is very little doubt that they could win their fight, notwithstanding the opposition of President Mckinley to any change. They will be given the opportunity when the committee now Investigating the subject, shall present It's report to the senate, which Senator Pritchard, chairman of the committee, says will be done in January. It is almost oeItaIL-that the report of the committee will be in favor Of exempt ing all executive positions from the oper- alton of the civil service law and rules. Many votes can be obtained for bill pro- viding for this change that could not be had for repeating the whole law.
 Talk among southern senators and re- pressntatives indicates that R the Gage proposition to allow national banks to Issue notes to the par value of the bonds they have deposited with the U. s., to reduce the taxation on national bank notes to the actual cost of government super vision, and to permit the establishment of national banks with a capital of $25,- 900 in towns of less than 4,00O inhabi- tants, be Incorporated in a bill by them selves, that the bill will have a good chance to become law. While a number of southern senators might be willing to vote for this bill because they believe 1t would result in benefitting their section by increasing It's banking facilities and making money easier, it is doubtful if a single one of them would support the bill fl any Of the other financial recommenda- tions of Secretary Gage are included. Quite number of influential republicans In both branches of congress have private ly expressed themselves in favor of not attempting anything further in the way of financial leglslation than the above amend ments to the national banking laws.
 Agents of the A. P. A. are circulating among senators and 1t Is understood that they are trying to ascertain whether it would be worth while for that organIza- ton to make fight on the nomination. of Attorney General McKenna to succeed Justice Field on the bench of the supreme court. The organization has been very successful in controlling tho senate.