The Press., 1897-11-04
wnsh,nrson Letter.
Washlnrton, bod. {, bod.

WMA4AuE N0as W. VI Aosss
 The publication officially of the financi- al recommendations that will be made in Secretary Gage's annual report to con- gress, created the suspicion that the synopsis of those recommendations, pub- lIshed several weeks ago, came directly from Secretary Gage, or some one sufici- ently in his confidence to know just what he intended doing. The material facts arc precisely the same-the funding of our entire bonded debtedness in 24 per cent. gold bonds; the Increase of the gold redemption fund; the reduction of the class of notes that are redeemed up on demand in gold, and an increase in the number of national banks by allowing the establishment in towns of less than 2,OOO people of banks with . capital of $25 900, and an increase of national bank notes by allowing the issue of notes to the par value of bonds deposited by them with the U. s. treasury. While these recom- mendations will not please the silver men as they all tend towards increasing the strength of the grip the single gold stand ard has upon the country, they will not surprise them; they are mostly natural sequence of the St. Louis platform, and the petition assumed by the republican party in the national campaign. It Is certain that no member of the administra- ton seriously believes that legislation authorizing the Issue of gold bonds can be secured from the present congress therefore. that portion of the recommen- dstions may be said to have been made for effect-to state to the world what the administration would do if it had the power.
 Ex-Senator Ingalls, has engaged quart CTS in Washington for the winter for him. self and family, and there Is more or less guessing as to what he intends doing. The favorite guess is that his vitriolic pen Is going to be used for @ newspaper, or syndicate of newspapers, but respect able minority guess Is that he intends fol- lowing the usual occupation of the mem- bers of the ''ex" brigade, who spend their time in Washington, during a session Of congress-lobbying.
 The opinion Is growing in Washington that the civil service law will have to fight for its existence during the coming session of congress. Gen. GrOsvenor, of Ohio in long speech at the extra session, made the positive statement that he had enlisted for the war and that his bill for the repeal of the entire law would be pushed thls winter. Some of those who have made 1t 0 point to ascertain how members of the house would stand on . vote on the Grosvenor bill, expressed the opinion that 1t would pass. Speaker Reed has not made known his attitude towards the bill, and upon that depends whether 1t can be got to a vote. Some of his personal friends think that whether he favored or opposed the bill, 1t would be good policy, if he has not abandoned his presidential aspirations, for him to allow the bill to be voted upon. It Is hinted that although President Mckinley favors the civil service law personally, he will not feel called upon to enter into a fight with congress to prevent It's repeal, and that he would not veto a bill for It's repeal, but this probably has no better foundation than surmise. But there Is no surmise about the interesting fight on the law, that Is an absolute certainty. The report Is current In naval circles that the board officers who have been in- specting numerous places will report in favor of locating the government plant for the making of armor plate for fighting vessels at Birmingham, Ala, If congress decides that one should be established, which Is more than doubtful since Secre- tary Long announced his opposition to the whole business.
 | Attorney General McKenna Is very pround of the part taken by himself and the rest of the administration in the ne gotiations which resulted in a bid for the Union Pacific railroad sufficiently large tc cover the claims of the government against that company, and he thinks il somewhat unreasonable on the part O. those who still insist that the administra- ton should have had the sale postponed, In order to give other syndicates a chanc. to bid. The average individual who ism prejudiced either way, thinks that Uncle Sam was playing in deuced good luck tc get out whole on his loans to the U. P and the accumulated interest.
 "I'll tell you," remarked & diplomat "why neither this government nor that O Spain is willing to give out the answer of Spain to Gen. WOOdford's communica ton. There Is nothing to give out. IT other words, the long communication fl merely an exemplication of Talleyrand' definition Of the duty Of diplomat t. talk without saying anything. That il what the spainish ministry has beer doing. In about sixty days think there will be some talk on both sides that vii Il mean aomethin0n v